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(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
Now the VOA Learning English program Words and Their Stories!
欢迎收听VOA慢速英语《词汇掌故》节目。
The fourth of July is Independence Day in the United States.
七月四日是美国的独立日。
On that day, we celebrate the decision by early American leaders to declare independence from Britain.
在这一天，我们庆祝美国早期领导人宣布脱离英国独立的决定。
While people in both England and the U.S. speak English, the two types of English can be very different.
虽然英国人和美国人都说英语，但这两种英语可能会有很大的不同。
First, there are differences in spelling.
首先，在拼写上存在差异。
The British like the letter "u" and have kept it in many words.
英国人喜欢字母“u”，并将其保留在许多单词中。
Americans have dropped it.
美国人丢掉了它。
Somewhere in our language history, we decided1 that "labor," "color" and "favorite" were just fine without the "u" next to the "o."
在我们的语言史上的某个时候，我们认为在“labor”、“color”和“favorite”中的“o”旁边没有“u”就可以了。
But our differences go beyond spelling.
但我们的差异不仅仅是体现在拼写上。
Sometimes, we use different words entirely2.
有时，我们使用完全不同的词。
Here, we live in apartments with elevators.
在这里，我们住在有电梯（elevators）的公寓（apartments）里。
Over there, they live in flats with lifts.
在那里，他们住在有电梯（lifts）的公寓（flats）里。
We put diapers on our babies and push them in strollers.
我们给婴儿穿尿布（diapers），用婴儿车（strollers）推着他们。
The British love their babies just as much as we do, but they use nappies and prams3 instead.
英国人和我们一样爱他们的孩子，但他们用尿布（nappies）和婴儿车（prams）。
We power our cars with gas. They use petrol.
我们用汽油（gas）驱动汽车。他们用汽油（petrol）驱动汽车。
And, if we need to look in our car's dark trunk for something, we use a flashlight.
如果我们需要在汽车黑暗的后备箱中找东西，我们会使用手电筒（flashlight）。
They would use a torch to search their dark boot.
他们会用手电筒（torch）搜寻他们的黑暗的后备箱（boot）。
Then there are idioms. Some British and American idioms have the same meaning, but use different words.
习语也有差异。有些英式和美式习语意思相同，但用词不同。
For example, in the U.S. if you want to add your opinion to a conversation, you put in your two cents.
例如，在美国，如果你想在对话中加入你的观点，你可以用put in your two cents。
In the U.K., they put in their tuppence (or two pence) worth. Makes sense.
在英国，他们用put in their tuppence或two pence worth。合乎道理。
They have pence and we don't.
他们有便士，而我们没有。
Another example is the idiom about discussing the same issue again and again, especially if it cannot be resolved.
另一个例子是关于反复讨论同一个问题的习语，尤其是在无法解决这个问题的情况下。
We say, "Don't beat a dead horse!"
我们说：“别白费力气了！”
The British, on the other hand, advise against flogging one.
另一方面，英国人则使用flog。
And, if you are keeping secrets in the United States, you have skeletons4 in the closet.
如果你在美国保守秘密，你就有丑事。
In Great Britain, your skeletons would be hiding in a cupboard.
英国人会使用cupboard。
But the real fun begins when we start exploring idioms and expressions that are unique to each country.
但真正的乐趣始于我们开始探索每个国家独有的习语和短语。
Let's start with "Bob's your uncle."
我们从“Bob's your uncle（一切如意）”开始吧。
To an American ear, that is a weird5 expression.
对于美国人来说，这是一个奇怪的短语。
And it has nothing to do with any relative you may or may not have named Bob.
这与你有没有叫鲍勃的亲戚无关。
It is just a way to finish a set of simple instructions.
这只是完成一套简单指令的一种方式。
What is the equivalent6 -- the different but equal saying -- in the U.S.?
在美国，什么是对等的——不同但相同的说法？
Americans might say, "and there you have it!"
美国人可能会说，“and there you have it!（就是这样！）”
Or sometimes, more dramatic people will say, "Ta-da!"
或者有时，更夸张的人会说：“嗒哒！”
For example, imagine you are explaining to someone how to use your new fancy, coffee maker7.
例如，想象你正在向某人讲解如何使用你的新的昂贵的咖啡机。
You explain: "First, you grind8 the beans. Then you put them in the side container and pour water in the main container. Push the button and ten minutes later -- ta-da! -- you have a pot of coffee!"
你解释说：“首先，你把咖啡豆磨碎。然后把它们放进旁边的容器里，把水倒进主容器里。按下按钮，十分钟后——嗒哒！——一壶咖啡就做好了！”
Sometimes over a fresh pot of coffee, you may want to have a long talk with a friend.
有时喝着一壶新鲜的咖啡，你可能会想和朋友长谈一番。
You might even throw in a little gossip9.
你甚至可以聊一点八卦。
We call that a chat, or if it's a short conversation, chit-chat.
我们称之为chat（聊天），如果是简短的谈话，那就叫chit-chat（闲聊）。
The British would call it a "chin-wag."
英国人会称其为“chin-wag（闲聊）”。
If a British person says, "I've got the hump," we might think they are sick and need to see a doctor.
如果一个英国人说，“I've got the hump”，我们可能会认为他们病了，需要去看医生。
But in fact, when Brits say they have a hump, it means they are mildly annoyed or upset.
但事实上，当英国人说they have a hump时，意思是他们有点生气。
In the U.S., some informal ways to say we are upset are "I'm ticked off" or "I'm miffed."
在美国，表达生气的非正式方式有“I'm ticked off.”或“I'm miffed.”。
Now, when Americans are really surprised by something, we can say we "are at a loss for words."
现在，当美国人真的对某事感到惊讶时，我们可以说我们“at a loss for words（说不出话来）”。
Or more informally, we simply say we are "shocked" or "blown away."
或者更非正式地，我们只是简单地说我们很“震惊”。
Across the Atlantic in the U.K., they are "gobsmacked."
在大西洋彼岸的英国，他们“目瞪口呆”。
In the U.S., we don't get smacked10 by gobs. Ever.
在美国，我们不会被嘴打。永远不会。
Finally, a familiar word used by both countries but in different ways is "cheers."
最后，两国都使用的一个熟悉的词是“cheers”，但用法不同。
We use the word over drinks when we are wishing someone good health or congratulating an accomplishment11.
当我们祝愿某人身体健康或祝贺某人取得成就时，我们会在喝酒时使用这个词。
The British use "cheers" to mean "thank you."
英国人用“cheers”表示“谢谢”。
For that, we Americans say, "Thank you!"
对此，我们美国人说：“谢谢！”
Now, we don't expect you to pick sides.
现在，我们不指望你选择哪一方。
Both American and British English have their strong points.
美式英语和英式英语各有优点。
But thanks for listening to Words and Their Stories, a program that teaches American English.
感谢收听教授美式英语的《词汇掌故》节目。
I'm Anna Matteo. Cheers! I mean, thanks.
我是安娜·马特奥。谢谢。
收听单词发音 |
1
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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2
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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3
prams
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| n.（手推的）婴儿车( pram的名词复数 ) | |
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4
skeletons
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| n.（建筑物等的）骨架( skeleton的名词复数 )；骨骼；梗概；骨瘦如柴的人（或动物） | |
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5
weird
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| adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的 | |
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6
equivalent
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| adj.（to）相等的，等价的；n.相等物，等值物 | |
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7
maker
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| n.制造者，制造商 | |
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8
grind
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| n.（常贬义）用功的学生，书呆子；vt.磨，磨碎 | |
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9
gossip
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| n.流言蜚语，爱说长道短的人；vi.传播流言 | |
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10
smacked
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| 拍，打，掴( smack的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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11
accomplishment
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| n.完成，成就，（pl.）造诣，技能 | |
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