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我们最大的保护者:我们的皮肤!

时间:2018-04-16 22:10:24

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(单词翻译)

Our Greatest Protector: Our Skin!

Now, the VOA Learning English program Words and Their Stories.

On this program we explore common expressions in American English.

Today we explore the human body. Specifically, we take a tour of our largest organ: the skin.

Skin is not only large; it is important.

One of its jobs is to protect us. It keeps bad things out. But sometimes it fails. Extremely small bugs2, called mites4, can get under our skin. And when they do, they cause itching6 and great discomfort7.

So, to get under someone's skin means to annoy them or, better still, to bug1 them. Get it? Mites are small bugs.

Okay, moving on!

That's just one definition of the expression “to get under someone's skin.” It can also mean that someone is very attractive to you. You can't stop thinking about them. You might even be obsessing9 about them.

Cole Porter used the expression this way in his 1936 love song “I've Got You Under My Skin."

Frank Sinatra singing “I’ve Got You Under My Skin”

I've got you under my skin.

I've got you deep in the heart of me.

So deep in my heart that you're really a part of me.

I've got you under my skin.

Let's hear the same expression used different ways in two short examples.

A: Can you stop popping your gum? I need to study and it's really annoying.

B: Sure.

A: And can you stop whistling, please?!

B: Anything you say.

A: Please stop drumming your pencil on the table! Look, you're really getting under my skin today. Can you just ... be somewhere else?

B: Mm-k. (Okay)

That was an example of the annoying situation. Now, let's move to obsession10!

A: Hey, have you seen Jacob recently?

B: He met this new woman at a party last month. So, no. I haven't seen him.

A: What do you mean?

B: I mean, he's fallen hard for her. He's either with her or at home waiting for her call.

A: Wow, she's really gotten under his skin.

B: That's one way to put it. I just tell him that he's obsessed11 with her.

Now, let's get back to skin as a protector.

Our skin fits tightly on our bodies. It holds in important things while keeping out harmful things. So, we can use a “skin” expression to describe very tight clothing. We can say that the outfit12 fits like a second skin.

There are many ways to describe people using the word "skin."

If someone is thick-skinned they are not easily hurt emotionally. You can criticize them or be unkind to them and it simply rolls off their back.

Thin-skinned people, however, are easily hurt by criticism, even if it is not too severe. You have to be careful what you say to thin-skinned people so as not to hurt their feelings.

If someone is suddenly very scared, you can say they nearly jumped out of their skin! For example, one day I saw my friend Sierra waiting at a bus stop. She was wearing headphones and did not hear me come up behind her. So, when I touched her shoulder, she nearly jumped out of her skin!

If someone is too thin and looks sickly, you can say they are all skin and bones. It appears they have no meat or muscle on their bodies. For example, let’s imagine that two hikers get lost in the woods. When rescuers find them weeks later, they are all skin and bones.

Now, let's say you meet someone who is very strange and creepy. You get a very bad feeling around them. You can say they make your skin crawl.

But if you meet someone who is very confident, you can say they are comfortable in their own skin. These people have accepted themselves as is – flaws and all!

And if you meet someone who is beautiful on the outside but is not very nice on the inside, you can say, “Well, beauty is only skin deep."

And that's the end of this Words and Their Stories! Let us know what you thought of today’s program. And don’t worry if you have more criticism than praise. We have thick skin and can take it!

I'm Anna Matteo.

When you were here before

Couldn't look you in the eye

You're just like an angel

Your skin makes me cry ...

Words in This Story

mite3 – n. a tiny animal that is related to and resembles the spider and often lives as a parasite13 on plants and other animals

itch5 – n. to have or produce an unpleasant feeling on your skin or inside your mouth, nose, etc. that makes you want to scratch

annoy – v. to disturb or irritate especially by repeated acts

obsess8 – v. to think and talk about someone or something too much

creepy – adj. causing people to feel nervous and afraid

confident – adj. having a feeling or belief that you can do something well or succeed at something

flaw – n. a small fault or weakness

criticism – n. a remark or comment that expresses disapproval14 of someone or something

praise – n. to express a favorable judgment of


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1 bug 5skzf     
n.虫子;故障;窃听器;vt.纠缠;装窃听器
参考例句:
  • There is a bug in the system.系统出了故障。
  • The bird caught a bug on the fly.那鸟在飞行中捉住了一只昆虫。
2 bugs e3255bae220613022d67e26d2e4fa689     
adj.疯狂的,发疯的n.窃听器( bug的名词复数 );病菌;虫子;[计算机](制作软件程序所产生的意料不到的)错误
参考例句:
  • All programs have bugs and need endless refinement. 所有的程序都有漏洞,都需要不断改进。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The sacks of rice were swarming with bugs. 一袋袋的米里长满了虫子。 来自《简明英汉词典》
3 mite 4Epxw     
n.极小的东西;小铜币
参考例句:
  • The poor mite was so ill.可怜的孩子病得这么重。
  • He is a mite taller than I.他比我高一点点。
4 mites d5df57c25d6a534a9cab886a451cde43     
n.(尤指令人怜悯的)小孩( mite的名词复数 );一点点;一文钱;螨
参考例句:
  • The only discovered animals are water bears, mites, microscopic rotifers. 能够发现的动物只有海蜘蛛、螨和微小的轮虫。 来自辞典例句
  • Mites are frequently found on eggs. 螨会经常出现在蛋上。 来自辞典例句
5 itch 9aczc     
n.痒,渴望,疥癣;vi.发痒,渴望
参考例句:
  • Shylock has an itch for money.夏洛克渴望发财。
  • He had an itch on his back.他背部发痒。
6 itching wqnzVZ     
adj.贪得的,痒的,渴望的v.发痒( itch的现在分词 )
参考例句:
  • The itching was almost more than he could stand. 他痒得几乎忍不住了。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • My nose is itching. 我的鼻子发痒。 来自《简明英汉词典》
7 discomfort cuvxN     
n.不舒服,不安,难过,困难,不方便
参考例句:
  • One has to bear a little discomfort while travelling.旅行中总要忍受一点不便。
  • She turned red with discomfort when the teacher spoke.老师讲话时她不好意思地红着脸。
8 obsess QITxu     
vt.使着迷,使心神不定,(恶魔)困扰
参考例句:
  • I must admit that maps obsess me.我得承认我对地图十分着迷。
  • A string of scandals is obsessing America.美国正被一系列丑闻所困扰。
9 obsessing 1906224f3e65b7ee81295a81562a22bd     
v.时刻困扰( obsess的现在分词 );缠住;使痴迷;使迷恋
参考例句:
  • Why is everyone obsessing over system specs right now? 为啥现在人人都对系统配置情有独钟? 来自互联网
  • A nitpicker, obsessing over dimes, is too stiff to place orders. 一个连一毛钱都舍不得亏的人,因太过拘谨而不能下单。 来自互联网
10 obsession eIdxt     
n.困扰,无法摆脱的思想(或情感)
参考例句:
  • I was suffering from obsession that my career would be ended.那时的我陷入了我的事业有可能就此终止的困扰当中。
  • She would try to forget her obsession with Christopher.她会努力忘记对克里斯托弗的迷恋。
11 obsessed 66a4be1417f7cf074208a6d81c8f3384     
adj.心神不宁的,鬼迷心窍的,沉迷的
参考例句:
  • He's obsessed by computers. 他迷上了电脑。
  • The fear of death obsessed him throughout his old life. 他晚年一直受着死亡恐惧的困扰。
12 outfit YJTxC     
n.(为特殊用途的)全套装备,全套服装
参考例句:
  • Jenney bought a new outfit for her daughter's wedding.珍妮为参加女儿的婚礼买了一套新装。
  • His father bought a ski outfit for him on his birthday.他父亲在他生日那天给他买了一套滑雪用具。
13 parasite U4lzN     
n.寄生虫;寄生菌;食客
参考例句:
  • The lazy man was a parasite on his family.那懒汉是家里的寄生虫。
  • I don't want to be a parasite.I must earn my own way in life.我不想做寄生虫,我要自己养活自己。
14 disapproval VuTx4     
n.反对,不赞成
参考例句:
  • The teacher made an outward show of disapproval.老师表面上表示不同意。
  • They shouted their disapproval.他们喊叫表示反对。

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