VOA词汇掌故2022--Use a Sledgehammer to Crack a Nut

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Use a Sledgehammer to Crack a Nut

And now, Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning¹ English.

There are many kinds of nuts. There are walnuts³, almonds, hazelnuts, cashews, and pistachios – just to name a few.

Nuts are good for you. And they come in their own very hard shell. So, let's say you want to eat a walnut² but do not have a nutcracker. (A "nutcracker" is a tool to open, or crack, the hard shell of a nut.)

Without a nutcracker, you might try to open it with something like a hammer or even a sledgehammer.

We use a hammer in building jobs to attach pieces of wood with nails. And we use a sledgehammer to break up rocks, tear down walls, or destroy things. A sledgehammer is so big and heavy that most people need to use both hands to raise it.

So, if you use a sledgehammer to crack a nut, you will probably destroy the nut inside. Then you will have nothing to eat but very small pieces of nut mixed with its hard shell. Not good.

In American English, this expression means someone uses more force than is necessary. We also use it to describe problem-solving methods that are extreme. The methods are excessive⁴. And in using such over-the-top, or extreme, measures, you can harm your own cause.

For example, a store owner called the police to report a "violent person" who was threatening employees and holding him hostage⁵. When the 20 police officers arrived to the store, the "violent person" turned out to be an 80-year-old woman who was unhappy about a purchase and refused to leave.

The police captain probably would have said something like this: "Her? I brought 20 police officers for her? That's like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut!" And the store owner would possibly be fined for calling in a false report.

Sometimes we use this expression to describe a punishment that is over-the-top or does not fit the severity of the crime.

Let's say a child disobeyed his parents and ate ice cream before a meal. The father punished his child by taking away his food for three days! That is definitely⁶ using a sledgehammer to crack a nut. In other words, the punishment does not fit the crime.

Sometimes this expression means the solution to a small problem is overly complex.

For example, once at a bookstore, too many people showed up for an event. They had to wait in long lines and some could not get into the store to speak with the writer. So, now the bookstore asks people who come to events to sign three forms saying they understand they may have to wait and may not get in. Talk about using a hammer to crack a nut.

Please note. When using this expression, we sometimes say "hammer" instead of "sledgehammer." A hammer may be smaller, but the damage is still the same.

Words in This Story

crack – v. to break or cause to break with a sudden sharp sound

excessive – adj. more than what is usual, proper, necessary, or normal

over-the-top – adj. extremely or excessively flamboyant or outrageous

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 walnut   

n.胡桃，胡桃木，胡桃色，茶色

参考例句：

• Walnut is a local specialty here.核桃是此地的土特产。
• The stool comes in several sizes in walnut or mahogany.凳子有几种尺寸，材质分胡桃木和红木两种。

3 walnuts   

胡桃（树）( walnut的名词复数 )； 胡桃木

参考例句：

• Are there walnuts in this sauce? 这沙司里面有核桃吗？
• We ate eggs and bacon, pickled walnuts and cheese. 我们吃鸡蛋，火腿，腌胡桃仁和干酪。

4 excessive   

adj.过多的，过分的，过度的

参考例句：

• The prices at this hotel are excessive.这家旅馆的价钱贵得过分。
• She takes an excessive interest in clothes.她过分注重衣着。

5 hostage   

n.人质，抵押品

参考例句：

• One group claimed to have executed the American hostage.一个组织声称已经处决了那名美国人质。
• Have you read the article about the rescue of the hostage?你看了关于营救人质的文章了吗？

6 definitely   

adv.一定地，肯定地；明确地，确切地

参考例句：

• The team will definitely lose if he doesn't play.如果他不参加比赛，这个队肯定会输。
• I shall definitely be home before six o'clock.6点以前，我一定回家。