Who Would 'Bring Sand to the Beach'?

Who Would 'Bring Sand to the Beach'?

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

On this program we talk about common expressions in the English language. We give examples. And we talk about when and how to use them.

Today we talk about pointless, useless actions. And we have a very descriptive expression to help us do that. For this expression, let's go to the beach!

For a beach trip, we bring several things that can make the trip more enjoyable. For example, a beach towel makes sitting on the sand more comfortable. Some people choose to bring a beach chair. And a beach umbrella protects you from the sun's powerful rays. Swimming in the ocean can really make you hungry. So many people bring a cooler for food and drinks.

Making sandcastles on the beach is a fun activity. So, bringing sand-digging tools -- like a shovel² -- and a bucket is a good idea. But you do not need to bring the sand. Most beaches have a lot of that already!

And that brings us to today's expression: "bringing sand to the beach."

"Bringing sand to the beach" describes actions that are pointless and unnecessary. The actions are futile³. This means serving no purpose.

To bring sand to the beach can also mean overkill. Overkill means to do or have more than is necessary or useful.

Often when using this expression, we say "like." For example, bringing flowers to the opening of a florist⁴ is like bringing sand to the beach.

Now, let's hear this expression used between two friends. They talk about an upcoming party and what they are bringing.

A: Hey, Ingrid's yearly⁵ party is tomorrow. What are you bringing?

B: I made a great music playlist. The songs I picked will definitely⁶ get people up and dancing. What about you?

A: I thought I'd bring my famous spinach⁷ dip.

B: Um, your spinach dip? You know, I wouldn't bring food. Ingrid always makes too much food. And she is such a good cook. Bringing food to her party is like bringing sand to the beach.

A: Well, I know Ingrid makes lots of great food. But she doesn't make my spinach dip. Every party needs spinach dip!

B: I've tasted your spinach dip. No party needs that.

A: Ouch, that is so cold.

B: Why don't you bring some balloons? Everyone likes balloons.

We usually use "like bringing sand to the beach" when bringing something to a location is unnecessary. But you can also say the same idea with different objects and locations.

For example, I could also say it is "like bringing a sandwich to a restaurant." With this example, the meaning goes one step further. It also means that what you are bringing (the sandwich) is of lesser⁸ quality than what you would find at the location (the restaurant).

And that's all the time we have for this Words and Their Stories.

Words in This Story

towel – n. a cloth or piece of absorbent paper for wiping or drying

comfortable – adj. giving physical ease⁹

cooler – n. a container for keeping food or drinks cool

sandcastle – n. a small model of a castle or other structure that is made with sand on a beach

shovel – n. a tool with a long handle and broad scoop¹⁰ used to lift and throw loose material (as dirt or snow)

bucket – n. a usually round container with a handle for holding or carrying liquids or solids

futile – adj. serving no useful purpose

florist – n. a person who sells flowers and houseplants

dip – n. a sauce or soft mixture into which food may be dipped

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 shovel   

n.铁锨，铲子，一铲之量；v.铲，铲出

参考例句：

• He was working with a pick and shovel.他在用镐和铲干活。
• He seized a shovel and set to.他拿起一把铲就干上了。

3 futile   

adj.无效的，无用的，无希望的

参考例句：

• They were killed,to the last man,in a futile attack.因为进攻失败，他们全部被杀，无一幸免。
• Their efforts to revive him were futile.他们对他抢救无效。

4 florist   

n.花商；种花者

参考例句：

• The florist bunched the flowers up.花匠把花捆成花束。
• Could you stop at that florist shop over there?劳驾在那边花店停一下好不好？

5 yearly   

adj.每年的，一年一度的；adv.一年一次地

参考例句：

• The flower show is a yearly event in our town.我们镇上的花展一年举行一次。
• The yearly rental of her house is 2400 yuan.她这房子年租金是2400元。

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。

7 spinach   

n.菠菜

参考例句：

• Eating spinach is supposed to make you strong.据说吃菠菜能使人强壮。
• You should eat such vegetables as carrot,celery and spinach.你应该吃胡萝卜、芹菜和菠菜这类的蔬菜。

8 lesser   

adj.次要的，较小的；adv.较小地，较少地

参考例句：

• Kept some of the lesser players out.不让那些次要的球员参加联赛。
• She has also been affected,but to a lesser degree.她也受到波及，但程度较轻。

9 ease   

n. 安乐,安逸,悠闲; v. 使...安乐,使...安心,减轻,放松

参考例句：

• His mind was at ease and he felt confident in the future. 他心情舒畅,对前途很有信心。
• You should ease up on the child and stop scolding her. 你应该对那个孩子宽松些,不要再骂她了。

10 scoop   

n.铲子，舀取，独家新闻；v.汲取，舀取，抢先登出

参考例句：

• In the morning he must get his boy to scoop it out.早上一定得叫佣人把它剜出来。
• Uh,one scoop of coffee and one scoop of chocolate for me.我要一勺咖啡的和一勺巧克力的。