1、Words And Their Stories: Hold Your Horses“别摆架子”(get off her high horse)。“耐心一点”(hold your horses),“别闹了”(stop horsing around),乡村小镇”(one-horse town)(wild horses could not drag me away)。任何事情都休想阻止我做自己想做的事。“从可靠的方面获得信息”(straight from the horses mouth)。“最可靠的消息。 ”(straight from the horses mouth)师父引进门,修行在个人(Y
2、ou can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make him drink.)。白费口舌( 就好象 beating a dead horse)。在政治界,(dark-horse candidate)指的是不为公众所熟知的候选人临阵别换将(do not change horses in midstream,别在河流中央换马)。1. High horse 傲慢无礼,目中无人的态度例如:The minute Max starts arguing, he gets on his high horse.只要一开始争论,Max 就会摆出一副高高在上的模样。由此引
3、申出的短语还有 ride ones high horse,根据 high horse 的意思就很容易理解该短语的意思,就是“骑着高头大马,耀武扬威,横得不行的样子”。If you keep riding your high horse, you will lose your best friends.如果你老是一副盛气凌人的样子,就会失去你最好的朋友的。2. horse around 嬉闹例如:Stop horsing around and get to work for Petes sake! 别玩了,拜托干活去吧。A: Look, there are two men fighting th
4、ere.看,有两个人正在那边打架呢。B: Dont worry, they are just horsing around.别担心,他们只是闹着玩的。另外,horse around 还有 play around 的意思,所以如果有人问你:Do you want to horse around? 可别以为是邀请你去骑马,那可要闹笑话的哦。3. beat/flog a dead horse 重提早已解决了的问题;炒冷饭; 白费口舌; 浪费精力这个短语也十分的形象,打一头死了的马当然是徒劳无功喽,再怎么着它也不会爬起来撒开蹄子飞奔了。例如:A: Id like to talk with you ag
5、ain about what happened.我想再跟你谈谈所发生的事情。B: Oh, Come on. Lets not beat a dead horse.算了,别再白费口舌了。If you want to complain about the unfair result, fine. Just remember you are beating a dead horse.如果你喜欢抱怨不公平的结果,随便你。不过,你要记住,你这样做是徒劳无益的。其他的关于马的习语还有很多,如 dark horse 一般引申为出乎意料的人或事,hold ones horse 表示控制某人的行为,一般用在劝人
6、三思而行,不要冲动的场合。1. Talk horse.吹牛。(horse 译为“ 牛”) 2. Ass in a lions skin.狐假虎威。(ass 译为“狐”,lion 译为“虎” ) 3. Black sheep.害群之马。(sheep 译为“马” ) 4. Lock the stable door after the horse is stolen.亡羊补牢。(horse 译为“羊” ) 5. Cast pearls before swine.对牛弹琴。( swine 译为“牛” ) 6. When the cat is away, the mice will play.山中无老虎
7、,猴子称大王。(cat 译为“老虎” ,mice译为“猴子”) 7. As hungry as a bear.饿得像狼。(bear 译为“狼”) 8. Kill the goose that lays the golden eggs.杀鸡取卵。(goose 译为“鸡” ) 9. As timid as a hare.胆小如鼠。(hare 充为“ 鼠”) 10.Neither fish, flesh nor fowl.非驴非马。(fish, flesh 译为“驴”owl 译为“马” ) 11.Break a fly upon the wheel.杀鸡用牛刀。(fly 译为“鸡”) On Word
8、s and Their Stories: Fireworks: What Is All the Noise About?1.defense n.防卫, 防卫物例句:In his defense he alleged temporary insanity. 在答辩中,他提出短暂的精神错乱为借口。2.explode v.爆炸, 爆发, 激增例句:When they were landing, a mine explode across the field. 他们登陆时,一颗水雷在附近区域爆炸了。3.He tells them, “I want no more of these fireworks
9、in my courtroom.”no more 不再例句:No more bandits and victims. 没有什么匪徒和受害人了。Words And Their Stories: Numbers, Part 1-The Number One一方面(On the one hand),最好的(number one谋求自身的利益(looking out for number),为自己的利益打算(taking care of number one).似乎他们是地球上唯一的人(one and only)。试图欺骗(pull a fast one)百万中挑一的人(one in a millio
10、n)。真正的玩友(one of the boys)。干一杯(quick one)。喝多了(one too many)。最后一杯(one for the road)。一个个(One by one)曾经(at one time)将来总有一天(One of these days)一方面(For one thing)命中注定的事(one of those things)。她离开他了(the one that got away)。善有善报(one good turn deserves another)。节数就要尽了(number would have been up),回到原点(back to squa
11、re one),put two and two together 根据事实推理Two heads are better than one. 三个臭皮匠,顶个诸葛亮。There are no two ways about it. 别无选择;毫无疑问的be of two minds 三心二意in two shakes of a lambs tail (as quickly as possible) 马上;很快kill two birds with one stone 一石二鸟;一箭双雕Two wrongs dont make a right. “错错不得对” 不能利用别人的错误来掩饰自己的错误Tw
12、os company, threes a crowd. 两人成伴,三人不欢。give three cheers for (为.) 欢呼三声 (Hip, hip, hurrah!); (为 .)三呼万岁six of one, half a dozen the other 半斤八两in seventh heaven 暗喻心情极为快乐、满足on cloud nine 高兴得飘飘然dress to the nines 穿着非常时髦华丽a hundred to one shot 百分之一的可能;表示可能性很小forty winks 打盹at the eleventh hour 最后一刻Words and
13、 Their Stories: Americas Fifty States, Whats In a Nickname?By Ted Landphair2009-8-1Now, the VOA Special English program, Words and Their Stories.A nickname is a shortened form of a persons name. A nickname can also be a descriptive name for a person, place or thing.Americas fifty states have some of
14、 the most historically interesting nicknames.Alabama is known as the “Heart of Dixie“ because it is in the very middle of a group of states in the Deep South. “Dixie“ itself is a nickname for the American South. It started when Louisiana printed notes with the French word for “ten“ on them. “Deece,“
15、 or “D-I-X,“ led to “Dixie.“Way up north, Alaska is called the “Last Frontier“ for understandable reasons. Near the Arctic Circle, it was the final part of the nation to be explored and settled.Arizona is “The Grand Canyon State“ because of the famous winding canyon carved by the Colorado River. The
16、 southern state of Arkansas is the “Land of Opportunity.“ The state legislature chose this nickname. Arkansas is rich in natural resources and has become a favorite place for older people to retire.In a popular Spanish book, a fictional island called “California“ was filled with gold. Sure enough, p
17、lenty of it was discovered in the real California, in eighteen forty-eight. This started a gold rush unlike any other in American history in the “Golden State.“You would think Colorado would be known as the Rocky Mountain State. But its nickname is the “Centennial State.“ That is because it became a
18、 state in eighteen seventy-six, exactly one hundred years after the nation declared its independence.Connecticut is called “The Nutmeg State“ after a spice. Connecticut Yankees, as people in this northeast state are called, are known to be smart in business. So smart that it was said they could sell
19、 wooden, meaning false, nutmegs to strangers.Little Delaware is called “The First State“ because it was the first state - the first to approve the new United States Constitution. The Southern state of Florida likes to tell about its sunny days and fine beaches. So Florida is “The Sunshine State.“ Fl
20、oridas neighbor to the north grows some of the sweetest fruit in America. So Georgia is “The Peach State.“Hawaii, far out in the Pacific Ocean, is the “Aloha State.“ That is the friendly greeting that means both “hello“ and “goodbye“ in the native Hawaiian language. So, aloha for now. Next week we w
21、ill tell you about the nicknames of more American states.(MUSIC)昵称是一个人名字的缩短形式,还可以是对一个人,地点或事物进行描述的名字。美国的五十个州都有历史上最有趣的别名。阿拉巴马州以美国“南部各州的中心”(Heart of Dixie)著名,因为它位于深南部 (Deep South)各州的正中心。Dixie 本身就是美国南部各州的别名。当时,路易斯安那州印刷了法语词汇“ten“在上面,由此开始,后来逐渐演变为“Deece“或者“D-I-X“, 最终演变称“Dixie“。往北上,阿拉斯加被称为“最后的边疆”(The Last F
22、rontier),原因是可以理解的。它靠近北极圈,是美国最后一块有待开发和定居的土地。亚利桑那的别名是“大峡谷之州”(Grand Cnyon State),因为这里拥有著名的由科罗拉多河雕刻成的蜿蜒的峡谷。 位于南部的阿肯色州别名是机会之乡(Land of Opportunity)。该州的立法机关选择了这个昵称。阿肯色州自然资源丰富,成为即将退休的老人最青睐的地方。在一部流行的西班牙书籍中,虚构的岛屿“California“ 遍布黄金。当然, 1848 年,在真正的加利福尼亚州确实发现了许多黄金。从此开始,“金州”(Golden State)加利福尼亚开始了美国历史上从未有过的淘金热。你可能会
23、认为科罗拉多州的别名是“落基山之州”(Rocky Mountain State)。但是它的别名是“百年之州”(Centennial State).因为 1876 年,科罗拉多成为州的时候刚好是美国宣布独立一百周年。康乃狄格州被称为“豆蔻之州” (Nutmeg State),以香料命名。东北部各州称他们为 “康乃狄格Yankees”,他们在生意方面的精明广为人知,甚至可以将木制的有问题的肉豆寇出售给陌生人。特拉华州被称为第一州(First State),因为它是美国的第一个州第一个通过新的美国宪法。位于南部的佛罗里达州喜欢讲述它充满阳光的日子和金黄的海滩。所以佛罗里达也叫做“阳光之州”(Suns
24、hine State)。佛罗里达北部邻州种植了美国最甜的水果,所以乔治亚州叫做 “桃树州”(Peach State)。位于太平洋的夏威夷别名是“爱洛哈之州” (Aloha State)。在夏威夷本土语言中,这是一个友好的问候语,带有“hello”和“goodbye”的双重意思。那么,现在我们 Aloha。下周我们将继续讲述更多美国各州的别名。阿肯色(Arkansas): 奇迹州(Wonder State);机会之乡(Land of Opportunity)阿拉斯加(Alaska): 午夜出太阳之乡 (Land of Midnight Sun);最后的边疆(the Last Fron tier)
25、;半岛州(Peninsula State)爱达荷(Idaho): 小锄州(Spud State);锅柄州(Panhandle State);宝石州(Gem State);山间宝石州(Gem of the Mountain)北达科他(North Dakota): 摇尾州(Flickertail State);老殖民地州(Old Colony State) ;苏族州(Sioux State)北卡罗来纳(North Carolina): 老北州(the Old North State);焦油脚跟州(Tar Heel State)宾夕法尼亚(Pennsylvania): 基石州(Keystone St
26、ate)得克萨斯(Texas): 孤星州(Lone Star State)俄亥俄(Ohio): 七叶树州(Buckeye State)俄克拉荷马(Oklahoma): 快些州(Sooner State)俄勒冈(Oregon): 河狸州(Beaver State)佛罗里达(Florida): 阳光州(Sunshine State)佛蒙特(Vermont): 青山州(Green Mountain State)弗吉尼亚(Virginia): 总统的母亲(Mother of Presidents);骑兵州(Cavalier State);自治州(the Old Dominion State)怀俄明(W
27、yoming): 平等州(Equality State)华盛顿(Washington): 清努族州(Chinook State);常青州 (Evergreen State)加利福尼亚(California): 黄金州(Golden State)堪萨斯(Kansas): 小麦州(Wheat State);废奴游击州(Jayhawk State);向日葵州(Sunflower State)康涅狄格(Connecticut): 痼习州 (Land of Steady Habits);宪法州(Constitution State);肉豆蔻州(Nutmeg State)科罗拉多(Colorado): 百
28、年纪念州(Centennial State);银州(Silver State)肯塔基(Kentucky): 莓草系州(Bluegrass State)路易斯安纳(Louisiana): 欧裔州(Creole State);蔗糖州(Sugar State);塘鹅州(Pelican State)罗得岛(Phode Island): 小罗得(Little Rhody)马里兰(Maryland): 老路线州(Old Line State);自由州(Free State)马萨诸塞(Massachusetts): 老殖民地州(Old Colony State);海湾州(Bay State)蒙大拿(Mont
29、ana): 宝藏州(Treasure State);山区州(Mountain State)密苏里(Missouri): 别哄我州(Show-Me State)密西西比(Mississippi): 木兰州(Magnolia State)密执安(Michigan): 貂熊州(Wolverine State)缅因(Maine): 松树州(Pine Tree State)明尼苏达(Minnesota): 北极星州(North Star State);万湖州(Land of 10000 Lakes);金花鼠州(Gopher State)南达科他(South Dakota): 郊狼州(Coyote Sta
30、te);阳光州(Sunshine State)南卡罗来纳(South Carolina): 矮棕榈州(Palmetto State)内布拉斯加(Nebraska): 牛肉州 (Beef State);玉米壳州(Cornhusker State)内华达(Nevada): 战火诞生州(Battle-Born State);艾草州(Sagebrush State);银州(Silver State)纽约(New York): 帝国州(Empire State)特拉华(Delaware): 蓝鸡州 (Blue Hen State);第一州(First State);钻石州(Diamond State)田
31、纳西(Tennessee): 志愿州(Volunteer State)犹他(Utah): 蜂窝州(Beehive State)威斯康星(Wisconsin): 獾州(Badger State)西弗吉尼亚(West Virginia): 山州(Mountain State)夏威夷(Hawaii): 太平洋上的天堂(Paradise of Pacific);阿洛哈州(Aloha State)新罕布什尔(New Hampshire): 花岗岩州(Granite State)新墨西哥(New Mexico): 迷人乡 (Land of Enchantment);仙人掌州(Cactus State)新泽
32、西(New Jersey): 花园州(Garden State)亚拉巴马(Alabama): 棉花州 (Cotton State);黄锤州(Yellow Hammer State);狄西的心脏 (Heart of Dixie)亚利桑那(Arizona): 大峡谷州(Great Canyon State);落日州(Sunset State)依阿华(Iowa): 鹰眼州(Hawkeye State)伊利诺斯(Illinois): 林肯的故乡(Land of Lin coln);草原州(Prairie State)印第安纳(Indiana): 好大州(Hoosier State)治亚(Georgia
33、): 南方帝国(Empire State of the South);桃州(Peach State)Words and Their Stories:Two Heads Are Better Than OneBy Jill Moss2009-7-25Now, the VOA Special English program, WORDS AND THEIR STORIES.(MUSIC)Last week, I told about the number one. Today, I will tell about expressions using other numbers. Some prob
34、lems are difficult to solve. But there are a lot of number expressions that can help. For example, if we put two and two together, we might come up with the right answer. We know that two heads are better than one. It is always better to work with another person to solve a problem. Sometimes there a
35、re no two ways about it. Some problems have only one solution. You cannot be of two minds over this. But with any luck, we could solve the problem in two shakes of a lambs tail. We could have our answers quickly and easily.Sometimes we can kill two birds with one stone. That is, we can complete two
36、goals with only one effort or action. But we must remember that two wrongs dont make a right. If someone does something bad to you, you should not do the same to him. If you are going out with your girlfriend, or boyfriend, you do not want another friend to go along on your date. You can just say to
37、 your friend: twos company, threes a crowd. When I was a young child in school, I had to learn the three Rs. These important skills are reading, writing and arithmetic. These three words do not all start with the letter “R.“ But they have the sound of “R.“ My teachers used to give three cheers when
38、I did well in math. They gave praise and approval for a job well done. Some of my friends were confused and did not understand their schoolwork. They were at sixes and sevens. In fact, they did not care if they finished high school. They saw little difference between the two choices. Six of one, hal
39、f a dozen the other that was their position. But they were really happy when they completed their studies and graduated from high school. They were in seventh heaven. They were on cloud nine. Nine times out of ten, students who do well in school find good jobs. Some work in an office doing the same
40、things every day at nine-to-five jobs. You do not have to dress to the nines, or wear your best clothes, for this kind of work.Last year, one of my friends applied for a better job at her office. I did not think she would get it. I thought she had a hundred to one shot at the job. Other people at he
41、r office thought her chances were a million to one. One reason was that she had been caught catching forty winks at the office. She slept at her desk for short periods during the day. But her supervisor appointed her to the new job at the eleventh hour - at the very last minute. I guess her lucky nu
42、mber came up. 周我们学习了关于数字“一” 的短语,今天,我们讲一下包含其他数字的短语。有一些问题很难解决。但是有很多关于数字的表达方式可以起到作用。例如,如果我们根据事实推理(put two and two together),就可能得出正确的答案。我们知道人多智广(或者说三个臭皮匠,顶个诸葛亮,two heads are better than one)。与其他人一起工作来解决问题总比一个人好。有时候你别无选择(no two ways about it),有些问题只有一个解决方法。你不能三心二意 (be of two minds)。但是有时候运气好,我们能立即(in two s
43、hakes of a lambs tail)解决问题。我们能够迅速简便地得到答案。有时候我们能够一举两得(kill two birds with one stone)。也就是说,我们可以通过一次努力活行动完成两个目标。但是我们必须记住两个错误不能构成一个正确(two wrongs dont make a right)。如果别人对你做了什么坏事,你不能冤冤相报。如果你跟男朋友或女朋友外出,你不想另外一个朋友参加你的约会,你可以对你的朋友说:两人成伴三人不欢(twos company, threes a crowd.)。当我还在读书的时候,我必须学习三个“R“。这三项重要的技能是阅读 (readi
44、ng),写作(writing_和算术(arithmetic)。这三个词并不都是以字母“R“开头的。但是他们的发音都包含“R“ 音。我数学表现比较好时,老师经常为我欢呼(give three cheers)。人们经常为完成的比较好的工作予以赞扬和认可。我有些朋友非常困惑,不能明白课业。他们简直乱七八糟(at sixes and sevens)。实际上,他们根本就不在乎能否中学毕业。他们觉得两个选择没有任何区别,两者是半斤八两,各有千秋(Six of one, half a dozen the other)这就是他们的立场。但是当他们从完成学业,从中学毕业时非常高兴。他们简直非常愉快(in sev
45、enth heaven),欣喜若狂(on cloud nine)。十有八九(Nine times out of ten),在学校表现比较好的学生容易找到好工作。有一些人在办公室每天做着同样的事情,过着朝九晚五(nine-to-five)的生活。做这种工作,你不必打扮得时髦到极点(dress to the nines),或者穿你最好的衣服。去年,我一个朋友申请办公室里一份比较好的工作。我认为她肯恩得不到。我认为她得到这份工作的机会微乎其微(a hundred to one shot)。她办公室其他人认为她的机会也非常小(a million to one)。一个原因是她被抓住在办公室小睡(fort
46、y winks)。白天她在办公室趴在桌子上睡了一小会儿。但是她的主管在最后时刻(eleventh hour)委任了她这项新的工作。我猜她是中彩了(lucky number came up)。1含有 one 以及 first 的成语(1) one by one 一个个地Students went out of the classroom one byone as soon as the bell rang.下课铃一响,学生们一个个从教室里走出来。 (2) at one 一致Their opinion is at one.他们的意见一致。 (3) in one 合为一体Its a book of
47、English phonetics,grammar andusage in one.这是一本英语语音、语法和习惯用语结合为一体的书。 (4) one another 互相We should help one another我们应该互相帮助。 (5) one to one 一比一Neither of them won,one to one.他俩没一个赢,而是一比一。 (6) one too many 多余的,不需要的I found myself one too many among people.我发现自己在人群中是个多余的人。 (7) one in a thousand 优秀的人(或事物)My
48、 brother is a one in a thousand我的兄弟是位优秀人物。 (8) taking one with another 总的看来The youth,taking one with another,is a nice worker总的来说,这位年青人还是个不错的工人。 (9) from the first 首先;马上;立刻I knew him from the first从一开始我就认识他。 (10) first off 首先;马上;立刻They come to our office first off他们马上就要到我们办公室来。 (11) first water 极端Yo
49、u are a fool of the first water.你真是个大傻瓜。2. 含有 two 以及 second 的成语(1)two-way 双向的He invented a two-way recorder.他发明了两用收录机。 (2) in two twos 立刻;一转眼My pen was lost in two twos.我的钢笔一转眼就不见了。 (3) put two and two together 根据事实推断Thev came to the conclusion that he hadnt run outof their city,putting two and two together.根据事实推断,他们得出这样的结论,他还没有跑出这座城市。 (4) two-to-two shop 当铺This is only a two-to-two shop这只是一间当铺。 (5) second to none 最好的;不可比拟的The jackets are second to none in the shop在这个商店里,这些上衣是上等的。 (6) not for a second 决不“Are you tired after running“? “No, not for a