VOA慢速英语2019 词汇掌故：一毛钱一打，意指普通的、随处可见的

Now, the VOA Learning¹ English program Words and Their Stories.

这里是美国之音慢速英语词汇掌故节目。

Each week, we explore the English language. We take a close look at words and expressions. We not only define² the terms, we also give examples on when and how to use them.

每周我们都会探讨英语语言。我们会仔细研究单词和表达。我们不仅仅会解释这些术语的含义，还会给出何时以及如何使用这些术语的例子。

On today's show, we talk about the word dozen. By definition³, a dozen can mean specifically⁴ 12 of anything.

在今天的节目中，我们讨论一下dozen这个单词。根据定义，a dozen（一打）可以具体表示为12个。

In baking, for example, if you bake a dozen cookies, you baked 12. Most recipes for cupcakes and cookies are based on baking 12 of them. However, the amount in a baker's dozen is 13.

例如在烘烤中，如果你烤了一打饼干，意思就是烤了12块饼干。大多数纸杯蛋糕和饼干的配方都是基于烘烤12个。然而，a baker's dozen（面包师的一打）的数量是指13个。

You may be asking, "why?"

你可能会问，这是为什么呢？

Encyclopedia⁵ Britannica explains that in "medieval⁶ England there were laws that related⁷ the price of bread to the price of the wheat used to make it." If bakers⁸ did not give their customers the correct amount, they could get fined or worse -- beat! So, they would bake a little extra just to be sure.

不列颠百科全书解释说，“在中世纪的英格兰，有一些法律将面包价格与用于制作面包的小麦的价格联系了起来。”如果面包师给顾客的数量不对，他们可能会被罚款，甚至是受刑。所以，为了保险起见，他们会稍微多烤一点。

Now, that is a specific way to use the word "dozen." But people also use the word "dozen" in a general way. Then, it simply means a lot. So, if you say you have dozens of friends or dozens of job offers – it does not mean you that have counted them. But it does mean you are pretty lucky!

以上是dozen这个单词的特定用法。但是人们也把dozen这个单词用于一般用法。这时候它的意思就是很多。所以，如果你说你有很多（dozens of）朋友或很多就业机会，这并不是说你计算了具体的数字。但这确实意味着你非常幸运。

So those are the two meanings of the word "dozen."

以上就是dozen这个单词的两种含义。

In English, we use the word in an expression that describes something not so special. That term is a dime⁹ a dozen. This means that something is very easy to find or ordinary.

在英语中，我们把这个单词用于一句描述常见物品的表达中。这个术语就是a dime a dozen。它意思是指很容易找到或者非常普通的东西。

"Ordinary" is one of the many synonyms¹⁰ for "dime a dozen." Something that is a dime a dozen could also be called commonplace¹¹ or typical.

普通的（ordinary）就是它众多的同义词之一。卖一毛钱一打的东西我们也可以称之为平凡的或者平常的。

A dime a dozen

一毛钱一打，意指普通的

Now, earlier I said that a dozen is 12 of anything. But with this expression, the dozen could mean a dozen of eggs. Usually eggs are sold in a small box, or container, by the dozen. And buying a dozen eggs for a dime is really cheap.

我之前说过，一打是指12个。但是这个术语中的dozen可能是指一打鸡蛋。通常鸡蛋都是12个一盒出售。一毛钱买一打鸡蛋真的非常便宜。

As you probably know, a dime is only worth 10 cents, or one-tenth of a dollar. These days, you cannot buy much with that. In fact, today even traditional dime store candy costs more than a dime. So, anything that is "a dime a dozen" is very common or also very cheap.

你可能知道，一毛钱就是10美分，也就是1美元的十分之一。如今一毛钱可买不到什么东西。实际上到了今天，即便是传统的廉价商店（dime store）里的糖果也不止卖1毛钱。所以，一毛钱一打的商品很普通，也很便宜。

You can use the term dime a dozen for just about anything.

你可以把dime a dozen这个术语用于任何东西。

These two friends are on vacation at the beach. Let's hear how they use this expression.

以下是两位朋友在海滩度假。让我们来听听她们如何使用这句表达。

(sighs) I just love the seashore. I could stay here and look at the ocean all day.

我就喜欢海边。我可以呆在这里整天看着大海。

Me, too. Hey, look out there! Is that a hot air balloon?

我也是。嘿，看那边，那是热气球吗？

Not just one. There are many hot air balloons! It must be a race or something! Amazing!

不止一个。那有好多热气球。一定是比赛之类的，好美！

They're going to fly by us just as the sun sets.

太阳落山时他们将会飞过我们身边。

That is going to be breathtaking! Get your camera ready!

那太美了！准备好相机！

I can't. I'm supposed to meet a friend for ice cream.

不行。我约了朋友去吃冰激凌。

If you go now, you'll miss the balloons flying by.

如果你现在去吃冰激凌，你就会错过热气球飞过。

But this friend is a guy ... a really cute guy.

但是我约的是一位男性，一位帅哥啊。

Cute guys are a dime a dozen! But watching dozens of hot air balloons fly over the ocean as the sun sets is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

帅哥到处都是。但是日落时分，看着很多热气球飞过大海可是千载难逢的经历。

You're right. What am I thinking? Look! Here they come now ...

你说得对。我这脑子咋想的呢？看，它们飞过来了。

Things that are a dime a dozen are also easy to replace. Because Washington, D.C. is such a political town, political experts are a dime a dozen.

平常的货色也很容易就被取代。因为华盛顿特区是个政治活跃的小镇，政治专家遍地都是。

However, programs that teach American English in a fun way are not a dime a dozen. They are rare and unique! So, don't forget to join us next week for another Words and Their Stories.

然而，快乐教美式英语的节目可不多见。这可是非常稀罕、独特的节目。所以，下周记得继续收听词汇掌故节目。

1 learning   

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 define   

vt.解释，下定义，阐述，限定，规定

参考例句：

• Please define the words.请解释这些字的意义。
• It's hard to define exactly what has changed.很难解释清楚到底发生了什么变化。

3 definition   

n.定义；限定，确定；清晰度

参考例句：

• The book attempts a definition of his role in world politics.该书要阐明的是他在世界政局中的作用。
• I made a definition for this word.我给这个字下了定义。

4 specifically   

adv.明确地，具体地；特别地，特意

参考例句：

• The book was written specifically for children.这本书是特地为儿童编写的。
• I told you specifically not to do that.我明确地告诉你不要那样做。

5 encyclopedia   

n.百科全书

参考例句：

• The encyclopedia fell to the floor with a thud.那本百科全书砰的一声掉到地上。
• Geoff is a walking encyclopedia.He knows about everything.杰夫是个活百科全书，他什么都懂。

6 medieval   

adj.中世纪的，中古（时代）的

参考例句：

• This is a medieval story.这是一个中世纪的故事。
• The museum has a fine collection of medieval ivories.该博物馆收藏着一批精美的中世纪象牙制品。

7 related   

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。

8 bakers   

n.面包师( baker的名词复数 )；面包店；面包店店主；十三

参考例句：

• The Bakers have invited us out for a meal tonight. 贝克一家今晚请我们到外面去吃饭。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The bakers specialize in catering for large parties. 那些面包师专门负责为大型宴会提供食品。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 dime   

n.（指美国、加拿大的钱币）一角

参考例句：

• A dime is a tenth of a dollar.一角银币是十分之一美元。
• The liberty torch is on the back of the dime.自由火炬在一角硬币的反面。

10 synonyms   

同义词( synonym的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• If you want to grasp English, you must carefully discriminate synonyms. 如果你想掌握好英语，你必须仔细区分同义词。
• Study the idioms and synonyms l wrote down before your test. 学考试前我给你写的习惯用语和同义字。

11 commonplace   

adj.平凡的，普通的；n.寻常的事物，常见的事

参考例句：

• Soon it will be commonplace for men to travel to the moon.人们去月球旅行很快就会成为常事。
• What he has said is a mere commonplace view.他所说的不过是尘俗之见而已。