06词语典故：性急的高手

楼主：rainshine　日期：　回贴：0　浏览：

Now the VOA special English program, words and their stories.

现在，是 VOA 特别英语节目：词语典故。

MP3 节目录音下载 (1.43 M)
PDF 节目文稿下载 (9 K)
LRC 同步字幕歌词下载 (4 K)
同步英汉翻译对照下载 (25 K)
同步辅导精讲（含英汉翻译对照）下载 (1.21 M) http://www.unsv.com/voanews/specialenglish/scripts/2009/12/06/0040/

Every language has its own special words and expressions. And a story can be told about each of them.

每一种语言都有它特有的词汇及其表达方式。

hot is a simple, easily understood word. So are most of the expressions made with the word hot. But, not always, as we shall see.

热是一个简单、易懂的词。由“热”组成的大多数表达也一样（简单、易懂）。但是，正如我们将看到的，不一定。

The words "hot potato", for example, give you no idea at all to the meaning of the expression, hot potato.

例如，“烤山芋”根本就让你搞不清它表达的意思是“困境”。

The potato is a popular vegetable in the United States. Many people like baked potatoes, cooked in an oven or fire. Imaging trying to carry a hot, baked potato in your hand. it would be difficult, even painful, to do so.

山芋在美国是一种非常普遍的蔬菜。许多人喜欢用烤箱或者火烤出来的山芋。试想一下你试图把一个热、烤好的山芋抓在手里。如果这样做将是困难，甚至是痛苦的。

Now we are getting close to the meaning of "hot potato".

现在我们将来深入了解“烤山芋”的含义。

Some publicly disputed issues are highly emotional. The issues must be treated carefully, or they will be difficult and painful, if an elected official has to deal with them, as difficult and painful as holding a hot potato.

一些公众争议的问题是非常感性的。这些问题必须小心处理，如果一个民选官员不得不处理它们，那将是困难而痛苦的。这困难和痛苦就如手拿一个“烤山芋”。

One such hot potato is taxes.

这样的烤山芋就是税收。

Calling for a higher taxes can mean defeat for a politician. And yet, if taxes are not raised, some very popular government programs could be cut. And that also can make a politician very unpopular. So the questions must be dealt with carefully, the same way you would handle any other potato.

呼吁高税收对一个政客来说意味着失败。可是，如果没有增加税收，一些公众欢迎的政府项目就得削减，这同样会使一个政客失去民意支持。所以这些问题就必须小心处理。对其他的事情也一样。

Another expression is "not so hot". If you ask someone how she feels, she may answer "not so hot". What she means is she does not feel well.

另一种表达是“普普通通”。如果你问某人她的感受，她也许会回答说“普普通通”。其实她的意思是感觉不怎么样。

"not so hot" also is a way of saying that you do not really like something. You may tell a friend that the new plan you saw last night is "not so hot". That means you did not consider it a success.

“普普通通”也是一种你并不真正喜欢某种东西的表达方式。你也许会跟你的朋友说你前一天晚上看的新剧“普普通通”。这就意味着你认为它并不成功。

"A hot shot" is a person, often a young person, who thinks he can do any thing. At least he wants to try. He is very sure he can succeed. But often he fails. The expression was born in the military forces. "A hot shot" was a soldier who fired without aiming carefully.

“高手”是指一个人，通常是年轻人，自认为可以做任何事情。至少他想尝试一下。他非常自信他能成功，但实际上他经常失败。这个表达先出现在军营。“高手”是没有小心瞄准就开枪射击的人。

hot is a word that is often used to talk about anger.

“热”还是一个经常用来表达愤怒的词。

A person who becomes angry easily is called "a hothead". A angry person's neck often becomes red. We say he is "hot under the collar." you could say that your friend is no "hothead." but he got "hot under the collar" when someone took his radio.

一个容易愤怒的人被叫做“性急的人”。而一个愤怒的人的脖子常常会变红。我们就说他是气得要争吵的人。你可以说你的朋友不是性急的人，当别人把他的收音机拿走时，他会发怒的。

In 1963, "hot line" appeared as a new expression.

1963 年，“热线”变成一个新的流行词。

The "hot line" was a direct communications link between the leaders of Soviet Union and the United States. The hot line had an important purpose: to prevent accidental war between two competitors during the period known as the "cold war". The American president and the soviet leader were able to communicate directly and immediately on the hot line. This helped prevent any conflict during an international crisis.

热线是指苏联和美国的领导人之间一条直接的通讯线。热线的一个重要用途是在通常所说的冷战时期，防止在两个对立者之间发生意外战争。美国总统和苏联领导人可以通过热线直接而及时地交流，有助于防止在国际危机产生任何冲突。

You have been listening to the VOA special English program, words and their stories. our program was written by Marilyn Rice Christiano, I'm Warren Scherer.

你正在收听的是 VOA 特别英语，词语典故。本节目由 Marilyn Rice Christiano 撰写，我是 Warren Scherer 。

----------------------------------------
该帖于2009年12月8日被版主推荐为精华帖。

分享到：