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VOA慢速英语--Expressions From a Thanksgiving Meal

时间:2017-11-19 16:36:40

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(单词翻译)

 

Now, it’s time for Words and Their Stories from VOA Learning1 English.

In the United States, it is almost time for something else. In a few days, smells of roasting turkey, buttery mashed3 potatoes and pumpkin4 pie will fill homes from coast to coast.

With schools closed, many children will settle down in front of a television to watch a big parade in New York City. They see people dressed like superheroes and storybook characters pass before their eyes as the parade moves down the street.

Later in the day, many adults will watch one or more football games on television.

It is all part of the American holiday of Thanksgiving.

Now, for some people, spending Thanksgiving with extended5 family is not possible. In the U.S., members of the same family often live very far apart.

Others have family members they don’t want to spend the holiday with. This is where the custom of Friendsgiving comes from. “Friendsgiving” is a fairly new term for spending Thanksgiving with friends and not family.

A big part of the holiday is the food! The turkey is the star of most Thanksgiving meals. The cook in the home wakes up early to prepare the food. After adding seasoning6 to the turkey, it is heated in an oven7 for several hours.

Just because this large bird is the star, that doesn’t save the word “turkey” from having some bad meanings. For example, in American English, a “turkey” is something that fails or a person who is not all that intelligent. When a film loses money, we can call it a turkey. And if we meet someone who is foolish, we can call them many names – one of which is “turkey.”

Now, a turkey is big; so, there are always leftovers8. People often cook too much, so there is always food left over for the next day and the next … and the next.

You may have heard the expression cold turkey. This might sound like a tasty meal that you eat from Thanksgiving leftovers.

But it’s not.

“Cold turkey” is when you immediately give something up, usually something that is not good for you. Some people can stop smoking cold turkey. They decide one day to stop and never smoke again. For many people, giving up smoking or drinking alcohol9 is not something they can do cold turkey. They must do it slowly over time.

Let’s say you have a friend who smokes too much. You may have to talk turkey with them.

When you are talking turkey, you’re not sharing recipes for your Thanksgiving leftovers. This expression means you talk to someone in a plain, clear and honest way, usually about something unpleasant.

Now, let’s talk turkey about … turkey itself.

Sometimes turkey can be dry and tasteless. A dry turkey is probably the number one food complaint at a Thanksgiving dinner. However, even if you overcook your turkey and it comes out dry, don’t worry. Just make sure to make a really good gravy10 to pour all over it.

Gravy is made from the juices of cooked meat. Mashed potatoes and gravy are usually a favorite at the dinner table. In the U.S., we also use the word “gravy” to suggest something valuable or more than what you expected. For example, let’s say your office gives you a really big end-of-year bonus. You can say the money that you received in addition to your wages was gravy. You didn’t expect it. It was like getting extra money!

Turkey covered with gravy is usually the main course at Thanksgiving. But many people love the side dishes just as much, especially the ones made with potatoes! Whether baked, mashed or scalloped, it is important to have a potato side dish. But be careful not to bring a hot potato to the table!

The term “hot potato” means an issue or question about which people feel very strongly. People may argue about divisive issues, also called “hot potatoes.”

Other favorites at the Thanksgiving Day table are the vegetable side dishes, such as green bean casserole, roasted Brussel sprouts11 and creamed corn.

Well, corn is a grain plant and not a vegetable. But did you know that the word “corn” can be an insult12 when talking about someone or something?

“Corny” is a way to describe something so simple and old-fashioned13 that it is unpopular or even annoying. Americans often describe outdated14 ideas, old jokes and overly-emotional poems as corny.

Let’s leave corn and turn to stuffing15.To be stuffed16 means that you ate so much you can’t possibly eat any more.

Traditional stuffing is a food made with bread, herbs, eggs, celery and onion. They are mixed together, put inside the bird and cooked. A roasted brown, stuffed turkey is a thing of beauty! Having a room full of stuffed guests is also nice. It means everyone had enough to eat – or, maybe too much!

That was a look at a few words and expressions related17 to the Thanksgiving holiday. Now, let’s hear how they are used at the dinner table.

Pardon me, could you pass the gravy, please? So, like I was saying, I told my supervisor18 that it was time to talk turkey. I told her exactly how I felt about the new worker.

I predict that didn’t go over very well. Your boss doesn’t sound like a person who likes to talk to employees directly.

She’s not. But it paid off. I got a great year-end bonus! And since I’ve already paid my bills for the year, the money is pure gravy! So, I think I’ll use it to take a trip.

Good for you! But let’s not talk about work anymore. I have a great joke! What did the zero say to the eight? ... Nice belt! Ha! Get it? Nice belt. Belt.

You told the same corny joke last year at Thanksgiving.

I like simple, old-fashioned jokes! They’re a lot better than the dirty ones you hear these days. By the way, who cooked the turkey this year? It is really moist19 and tastes great.

Thanks! I did. And don’t forget the gravy. I slow-cooked it for an hour and used fresh herbs to flavor20 it.

Oh, that is so good. I haven’t had homemade gravy in years!

So, did anyone hear what the President said about …

No, no, no! Not at the table. I’d rather hear silly, corny jokes than talk about politics, thank you very much.

I agree. There are too many hot potato issues these days. You never know what is going to make someone angry.

So true. Hey, who would like a glass of wine?

Not me. I gave up all alcohol last month. I quit cold turkey and haven’t had a drop since.

Wow. That’s not easy. My friend stopped smoking cold turkey last year. He said it was difficult. But it was the only way he could quit. Would you like more stuffing?

Yes, please!

How can you still be hungry?! I’m stuffed.

What can I say? I like stuffing and I only get it once a year … at Thanksgiving. Hey, it might sound corny, but why don’t we go around the table and tell one thing we’re thankful for.

Yeah! I remember my grandmother would always ask the people invited to her Thanksgiving meal to do this. I’ll go first! I am most thankful for my good health this year.

And that brings us to the end of Words and Their Stories!

As we thanks during this time of the year, all of us here would like to thank all of you for spending time with us!

I’m Anna Matteo.

And I'm Jonathan Evans.

Grateful for what's understood,

And all that is forgiven;

We try so hard to be good,

To lead a life worth living.

Father, mother, daughter, son,

Neighbor, friend, and friendless;

All together everyone

Let grateful days be endless.

Words in This Story

roast – v. to cook by exposing to dry heat (as in an oven or before a fire) or by surrounding with hot embers, sand, or stones

mash2 – v. to make (something, such as a type of food) into a soft mass by beating it or crushing21 it

parade – n. a public celebration of a special day or event that usually includes many people and groups moving down a street by marching or riding in cars or on special vehicles (called floats) < the annual Thanksgiving Day parade >

dress – v. to prepare (food) for cooking or eating

oven – n. a piece of cooking equipment that is used for baking or roasting food

leftovers – n. food that has not been finished at a meal and that is often served at another meal

complaint – n. a statement that you are unhappy or not satisfied with something

scalloped – adj. baked in a sauce usually with bread crumbs22 on top

old-fashioned – adj. of or relating to the past: such as : no longer used or accepted : replaced by something more recent

annoying – adj. to cause (someone) to feel slightly angry


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1 learning wpSzFe     
n.学问,学识,学习;动词learn的现在分词
参考例句:
  • When you are learning to ride a bicycle,you often fall off.初学骑自行车时,常会从车上掉下来。
  • Learning languages isn't just a matter of remembering words.学习语言不仅仅是记些单词的事。
2 mash o7Szl     
n.麦芽浆,糊状物,土豆泥;v.把…捣成糊状,挑逗,调情
参考例句:
  • He beat the potato into a mash before eating it.他把马铃薯捣烂后再吃。
  • Whiskey,originating in Scotland,is distilled from a mash of grains.威士忌源于苏格兰,是从一种大麦芽提纯出来的。
3 mashed Jotz5Y     
a.捣烂的
参考例句:
  • two scoops of mashed potato 两勺土豆泥
  • Just one scoop of mashed potato for me, please. 请给我盛一勺土豆泥。
4 pumpkin NtKy8     
n.南瓜
参考例句:
  • They ate turkey and pumpkin pie.他们吃了火鸡和南瓜馅饼。
  • It looks like there is a person looking out of the pumpkin!看起来就像南瓜里有人在看着你!
5 extended Utcz1H     
adj.延伸的;伸展的;延长的;扩大的v.延伸(extend的过去式和过去分词);伸展;延长
参考例句:
  • an extended lunch hour 延长了的午餐时间
  • France has greatly extended its influence in world affairs. 在世界事务中,法国的影响已大大地扩大了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
6 seasoning lEKyu     
n.调味;调味料;增添趣味之物
参考例句:
  • Salt is the most common seasoning.盐是最常用的调味品。
  • This sauce uses mushroom as its seasoning.这酱油用蘑菇作调料。
7 oven iJuxQ     
n.烤炉;烤箱
参考例句:
  • You put food inside an oven to cook it.你把食物放进烤箱里热一下。
  • She baked bread in an oven.她用烤炉烤面包。
8 leftovers AprzGJ     
n.剩余物,残留物,剩菜
参考例句:
  • He can do miracles with a few kitchen leftovers.他能用厨房里几样剩饭做出一顿美餐。
  • She made supper from leftovers she had thrown together.她用吃剩的食物拼凑成一顿晚饭。
9 alcohol AxCzB     
n.酒精,乙醇;含酒精的饮料
参考例句:
  • The law forbids shops to sell alcohol to minors.法律禁止商店向未成年者出售含酒精的饮料。
  • The alcohol is industrial.这些酒精是供工业用的。
10 gravy Przzt1     
n.肉汁;轻易得来的钱,外快
参考例句:
  • You have spilled gravy on the tablecloth.你把肉汁泼到台布上了。
  • The meat was swimming in gravy.肉泡在浓汁之中。
11 sprouts 7250d0f3accee8359a172a38c37bd325     
n.新芽,嫩枝( sprout的名词复数 )v.发芽( sprout的第三人称单数 );抽芽;出现;(使)涌现出
参考例句:
  • The wheat sprouts grew perceptibly after the rain. 下了一场雨,麦苗立刻见长。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • The sprouts have pushed up the earth. 嫩芽把土顶起来了。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
12 insult T5xxs     
vt.侮辱,凌辱;n.侮辱的言词或行为
参考例句:
  • You will insult her if you don't go to her party. 你要是不去参加她举办的聚会,就对她太无礼了。
  • I can't sit down with that insult.我不能忍受那种侮辱。
13 old-fashioned FmIzps     
adj.旧式的,保守的,挑剔的
参考例句:
  • Why do you still dress in an old-fashioned mode?你为什么还穿款式陈旧的衣服?
  • Here is an old-fashioned pump for drawing water from a well.这里有一个旧式水泵可从井里抽水。
14 outdated vJTx0     
adj.旧式的,落伍的,过时的;v.使过时
参考例句:
  • That list of addresses is outdated,many have changed.那个通讯录已经没用了,许多地址已经改了。
  • Many of us conform to the outdated customs laid down by our forebears.我们许多人都遵循祖先立下的过时习俗。
15 stuffing ChpzDc     
n.填充物vt.填充(stuff的现在分词)
参考例句:
  • We had a chicken and stuffing, and new potatoes from the garden. 我们吃了只百宝鸡,还有园子里种的新鲜马铃薯。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • She had already mixed the stuffing for the dumplings. 她已经把饺子馅和好了。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
16 stuffed c07925943917d17397a704e4a3632ff2     
adj.充满的;饱的v.塞住( stuff的过去式和过去分词 );把…装进;把…装满;(使)吃撑
参考例句:
  • stuffed animals in glass cases 玻璃柜里的动物标本
  • I was stuffed to the gills with chocolate cake. 我嘴里塞满了巧克力蛋糕。 来自《简明英汉词典》
17 related vkGzSv     
adj.有关系的,有关联的,叙述的,讲述的
参考例句:
  • I am not related to him in any way.我和他无任何关系。
  • We spent days going through all related reference material.我们花了好多天功夫查阅所有有关的参考资料。
18 supervisor RrZwv     
n.监督人,管理人,检查员,督学,主管,导师
参考例句:
  • Between you and me I think that new supervisor is a twit.我们私下说,我认为新来的主管人是一个傻瓜。
  • He said I was too flighty to be a good supervisor.他说我太轻浮不能成为一名好的管理员。
19 moist 46Yzq     
adj.潮湿的,湿润的;(果物)多汁的;[医]有分泌物的,湿性的;n.潮湿
参考例句:
  • There were no windows to admit moist atmosphere to enter.没有窗户使潮湿的空气进入室内。
  • Winds from the sea are usually moist.海风通常是潮湿的。
20 flavor 6jexf     
n.味,滋味,味道;风味;vt.调味,加味于
参考例句:
  • I like the flavor of chocolate.我喜欢巧克力的味道。
  • Each flavor was totally unique.每一种味道都是独一无二的。
21 crushing crushing     
adj. 打破得支离破碎的, 使不能在站起来, 压倒的 v. 动词crush的现在分词形式
参考例句:
  • a crushing defeat in the election 在选举中的惨败
  • The attack on Pearl Harbor was a crushing calamity. 偷袭珍珠港(对美军来说)是一场毁灭性的灾难。
22 crumbs crumbs     
int. (表示惊讶)哎呀 n. 碎屑 名词crumb的复数形式
参考例句:
  • She stood up and brushed the crumbs from her sweater. 她站起身掸掉了毛衣上的面包屑。
  • Oh crumbs! Is that the time? 啊,天哪!都这会儿啦?

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