1、VOA 慢速英語詞彙掌故第 11 課英語聽力原文：Now, the VOA Special English program WORDS AND THEIR STORIES.(MUSIC)Todays program is all about eyes. When it comes to relationships, peoples eyes can be a window into their hearts. This means that their eyes can tell a lot about how they feel. We will tell a story about a m
2、an and woman who are teachers at the same school. The woman is interested in the man. She uses many methods to catch his eye, or get him to notice her. Once he sets eyes on her, or sees her, she might try to get him interested in her by acting playful. In other words, she might try to make eyes at h
3、im or give him the eye.Let us suppose that this man gets hit between the eyes. In other words, the woman has a strong affect on him. He wants to spend time with her to get to know her better. He asks her out on a date.She is so happy that she may walk around for days with stars in her eyes. She is e
4、xtremely happy because this man is the apple of her eye, a very special person. She might tell him that he is the only person she wants, or “I only have eyes for you.“On their date, the couple might eat a meal together at a restaurant. If the man is really hungry, his eyes might be bigger than his s
5、tomach. He might order more food than he can eat. When his food arrives at the table, his eyes might pop out. He might be very surprised by the amount of food provided. He might not even believe his own eyes. If fact, all eyes would be watching him if he ate all the food. This might even cause raise
6、d eyebrows. People might look at the man with disapproval.During their dinner, the couple might discuss many things. They might discover that they see eye to eye, or agree on many issues. They share the same beliefs and opinions. For example, they might agree that every crime or injury should be pun
7、ished. That is, they firmly believe in the idea of an eye for an eye. They might also agree that it is wrong to pull the wool over a persons eyes. This means to try to trick a person by making him believe something that is false. But the man and woman do not believe in the evil eye, that a person ca
8、n harm you by looking at you.The next day, at their school, the woman asks the man to keep an eye on, or watch the young students in her class while she is out of the classroom. This might be hard to do when the teacher is writing on a board at the front of the classroom. To do so, a teacher would n
9、eed to have eyes in the back of his head. In other words, he would know what the children are doing even when he is not watching them.語翻議講解：現在是 VOA 特別英語詞語典故節目。今天我們的節目內容是關於我們的眼睛。在愛情方面，人們的眼睛是心靈的窗戶。這就是說，從他們的眼睛可以看出他們心裡在想什麼。我們會講述在同一所學校的一對男女教師的故事。這名女子對這名男子感興趣。她使用了許多方法來吸引他的眼球(catch his eye)，或者讓他注意到她。每次他看她的
10、時候 (sets eyes on)，她會試圖表現的有趣一點以使他對她感興趣。換句話說，她試圖向他拋媚眼(make eyes at)或者暗送秋波 (give him the eye)。讓我們假設，這名男子感到非常突然(hit between the eyes)。換句話說，這名女子對他感情非常深，他希望花費一些時間在一起，更好的了解她。他邀請她出去約會。女子非常高興，可能好幾天都得意地(with stars in her eyes)走來走去，臉上洋溢著幸福的表情。她非常幸福，因為她對這名男子情有獨鍾(apple of her eye)，這名男子是非常特別的人。她可能告訴他，他是她唯一喜歡的是，或者
11、“我只在乎你”(I only have eyes for you)。約會時，這對男女可能會在餐館一起吃飯。如果這名男子非常飢餓，他可能眼睛大胃口小(eyes might be bigger than his stomach)，點了很多自己吃不掉的食物。當服務員把食物送來時，看到如此多的食物，他可能非常吃驚(his eyes might pop out)。實際上，如果他吃掉所有食物，所有的目光(all eyes)都會盯著他，甚至可能會引起人們大跌眼鏡(raised eyebrows)，引起人們的白眼。人們可能會不滿地看著他，在用餐期間，這對男女可能會討論很多問題。他們可能會發現很多問題看法一致(
12、see eye to eye)，分享同樣的信仰和觀點。例如，他們可能同意，每一宗罪行或傷害都應該受到懲罰。他們可能還同意，欺騙別人(pull the wool over a persons eyes)是不對的，也就是說失去欺騙某人，使他相信某件錯誤的事情。但是他們都不相信惡毒的眼光(evil eye)，也就是說一個人看你一眼就能傷害到你。第二天，在學校，女子要求她不在教室時幫忙照看(keep an eye on)一下自己的學生。老師在前排黑板上書寫時可能照看學生就比較困難。為了做到這一點，老師必須“後腦勺上長著眼睛”(eyes in the back of his head)。換句話說，即使他
13、眼睛沒有看著，也知道這些孩子在做什麼。VOA 慢速英語詞彙掌故第 12 課英語聽力原文：Now, the VOA Special English program, Words and Their Stories.(MUSIC)A persons nose is important for breathing and smelling. The nose is also used in many popular expressions.Some people are able to lead other people by the nose. For example, if a wife lea
14、ds her husband by the nose, she makes him do whatever she wants him to do.Some people are said to be hard-nosed. They will not change their opinions or positions on anything. If someone is hard-nosed, chances are he will never pay through the nose, or pay too much money, for an object or service.It
15、is always helpful when people keep their nose out of other peoples business. They do not interfere. The opposite of this is someone who noses around all the time. This kind of person is interested in other peoples private matters. He is considered nosey.Someone who keeps his nose to the grindstone w
16、orks very hard. This can help a worker keep his nose clean or stay out of trouble.One unusual expression is that is no skin off my nose. This means that a situation does not affect or concern me. We also say that sometimes a person cuts off his nose to spite his face. That is, he makes a situation w
17、orse for himself by doing something foolish because he is angry.More problems can develop if a person looks down his nose at someone or something. The person acts like something is unimportant or worthless. This person might also turn up his nose at something that he considers not good enough. This
18、person thinks he is better than everyone else. He has his nose in the air.In school, some students thumb their nose at their teacher. They refuse to obey orders or do any work. Maybe these students do not know the correct answers. My mother always told me, if you study hard, the answers should be ri
19、ght under your nose or easily seen.I think we have explained the nose expressions. What about ears? Well, I hope you are all ears or very interested in hearing more expressions. We might even put a bug in your ear or give you an idea about something. We also advise you to keep your ear to the ground
20、. This means to be interested in what is happening around you and what people are thinking.If you are a good person, you will lend an ear to your friends. You will listen to them when they have a problem they need to talk about. Our last expression is to play it by ear. This has two meanings. One is
21、 to play a song on a musical instrument by remembering the tune and not by reading the music. Play it by ear also means to decide what to do at the last minute instead of making detailed plans.英語翻議講解：現在是 VOA 特別英語詞語典故節目。一個人的鼻子對於呼吸和嗅覺來說非常重要。鼻子還被用在許多流行的表達方式中。有些人能夠牽著別人的鼻子走(lead other people by the nose)
22、。例如，如果一個妻子牽著丈夫的鼻子走，她能夠讓他做任何她希望他做的事情。一些人被稱為頑固的(hard-nosed)。他們不會改變自己對任何事情的觀點或立場。如果某人很頑固，他從來不會付出比真正價值更高的錢(pay through the nose)，也就是說不會為某件東西或服務付出太多錢。避免插手他人的事情(keep their nose out of)總是有好處的。他們不會干涉別人。相反的，有些人總是喜歡打聽別人的事(noses around)。這種人對別人的私事非常感興趣。他被認為愛追問(nosey)。那些鼻子對著磨刀石的人(keeps his nose to the grindstone
23、)工作非常勤奮。這可以幫助一個工人循規蹈矩(keep his nose clean)，避免麻煩。一個不太尋常的表達方式是 no skin off my nose，意思是某件事情不影響我，或者與我無關。我們還說，有時一個人損人不利己(cuts off his nose to spite his face)。也就是說，因為他很生氣，做了一些愚蠢的事情，使情況更加糟糕。如果一個人對某人或某事不屑一顧(looks down his nose at)，會產生很多問題。這種人的表現就好像是其他事情都不重要或沒有價值。這種人還會對他認為不夠好的東西非常不屑(turn up his nose at)。這種人認
24、為他比其他任何人都好，他非常自大(his nose in the air)。在學校，有些學生不尊重老師(thumb their nose at their teacher)。他們拒絕服從任何命令或者做任何工作。或許這些學生不知道正確的答案。我的母親經常告訴我，如果你努力學習，答案非常明顯(under your nose)。我想，我們已經講了很多關於鼻子的短語。那麼耳朵呢？我希望你們全神貫注地傾聽(all ears)更多的短語。我們可能甚至針對某事為你提出建議(put a bug in your ear)。我們還建議你注意各方面的動向(keep your ear to the ground)。意
25、思是說要對發生在你周圍的事情和人們的所思所想感興趣。如果你是一個好人，你會傾聽朋友的話(lend an ear to your friends)。如果他們遇到需要找人談一下的問題時，你應該傾聽他的訴說。我們的最後一個短語是play it by ear。這個短語有兩個意思。一個是用樂器演奏音樂時通過記憶，而不是通過讀譜。 play it by ear 還有一個意思是，隨機應變，而不是做出詳細的計劃。1. lead by the nose 牽著鼻子走eg: Dont let anyone lead you by the nose, use your own judgment and do the
26、right thing. 不要讓人牽著鼻子走,自己有點主見,做該做的事情。2. hard-nosed adj.頑強的 ,不屈不撓的,不講情面的3. pay through the nose按字面解釋,pay through the nose 就是通過鼻子來付錢,這聽起來似乎很痛苦,而實際上,pay through the nose 的確切意思是付出比真正的價值高得多的錢,也可以說是付出的錢實在太多而讓人感到心痛。 eg: My brother Bob borrowed the money to open his restaurant five years ago when the intere
27、st rate was very high, so hes been paying through the nose ever since.我哥哥鮑伯五年前借錢開飯館的時候正好利率非常高,所以,他從那時起就一直在大筆大筆地還債。4. keep ones nose out of sth 避免插手(他人的事),盡量不捲入eg: When Billy asked his sister where she was going, she told him to keep his nose out of her business. 當比利問他姐姐要去哪裡時 ,她讓他別管她的事。5. nose around
28、 / about 找尋,打聽(別人的事)eg: We found a man nosing around in our backyard.我們發現有個人在我們後院裡找什麼東西。6. nosy adj.好管閒事的,愛打聽的eg: Dont be so nosy its none of your business.別管那麼多閒事這與你無關。7. keep ones nose to the grindstone 連續辛勤地工作grindstone 是“ 磨刀石“的意思。這個表達很形象,按字面意思來看,是說鼻子對著磨刀石。想像一下一個人低著頭磨刀的樣子,的確給人一種埋頭苦幹的直觀印像啊。而且這個短語用
29、動詞 keep 表達一種持續的狀態 ,把“ 埋頭“的意思更生動地表達了出來。 eg: These years those whore keeping their nose to the grindstone cant make bundles. 這年頭,只會埋頭苦幹的人是掙不了什麼大錢的。8. keep ones nose clean 循規蹈矩,不做違法的事eg: Since leaving prison, hes man-aged to keep his nose clean. 自從出獄以來,他盡量做到規規矩矩。9. no skin of my nose 不關我的事字面意思是:沒有我鼻子上的
30、皮。乍聽起來讓人有些摸不著頭腦 ,這一俗語的實際意思是:與我無關,我不在乎。 eg: Hey, its no skin of my nose if Susies going out now with that guy! I dont care what she does I broke up with her a month ago, when I met Helen. 嗨,蘇茜現在是否跟那個傢伙好,一起出去玩,這不關我的事！她幹什麼我都無所謂。我在遇到海倫以後就和她斷了關係。10. cut off ones nose to spite ones face (惱怒之下)傷人害己,損人不利己eg
31、: If you resign to inconvenience your boss, you are cutting off your nose to spite your face. 如果你辭職就是為了給你的老闆找麻煩的話,那就是吃砒霜藥老虎,傷人害己了。據說,明代才子解縉幼年家住曹尚書府第竹園對面,在家門上貼了一副對聯:“門對千竿竹,家藏萬卷書。“曹尚書不忿自己的園景給他借用,於是叫人把竹砍短,最后索性全部砍去。解縉見了,隨即把對聯改為“門對千竿竹短無,家藏萬卷書長有“ 。曹尚書不但沒有難倒解縉,而且空自毀了自家的竹林,用英文來形容就是 cut off ones ，nose to spi
32、te ones face。11. look down ones nose at 對不屑一顧,蔑視eg: Harry has never had to work, and he looks down his nose at people in business. 哈里從不需要上班,他也看不起上班的人。12. turn up ones nose at 看不上,覺得不屑於(要、吃、做等 )eg: When I gave her the present, she turned up her nose at it.當我把禮物給她時,她很不屑。13. have ones nose in the air 非
33、常傲慢,自高自大VOA 慢速英語詞彙掌故第 13 課英語聽力原文：Now, WORDS AND THEIR STORIES - a VOA Special English program about American expressions. Im Rich Kleinfeldt with some expressions containing the word hit.(MUSIC)Hit is a small word but it has a lot of power. Baseball players hit the ball. Missiles hit an airplane. A
34、car hits a tree.Hit also joins with other words to create many colorful expressions. One is hit the road. It means to travel or to leave a place, as suggested in this song, “Hit the Road.“Another common expression is hit the spot. At first it meant hitting a spot at the center of a target with an ar
35、row. Someone who did so was satisfied with his shooting. Now, hitting the spot usually means that a food or drink is especially satisfying .Many years ago, Pepsi Cola sold its drink with a song that began, “Pepsi Cola hits the spot, twelve full ounces, thats a lot.“Another expression involving hit i
36、s hit bottom. Something that has hit bottom can go no lower. If the price of shares of a stock hits bottom that might be the time to buy it. Its value can only go up.A student who tells you his grades have hit bottom is saying he has not done well in school.When a students grades hit bottom it is ti
37、me to hit the books. Hit the books is another way to saying it is time to study. A student might have to tell her friends she can not go with them to the movies because she has to hit the books.Not hitting the books could lead to an unpleasant situation for a student. The father or mother may hit th
38、e ceiling when they see the low grades. Someone who hits the ceiling, the top of the room, is violently angry. A wife may hit the ceiling because her husband forgot their wedding anniversary.To build something of wood, you usually need a hammer. That is what you use to hit nails into the pieces of w
39、ood to hold them together. When you hit the nail on the head, exactly on its top, it goes into the wood perfectly . And when someone says your words or actions hit the nail on the head, he means what you said or did was exactly right.If you are tired after hitting all those nails on the head, then i
40、t is time to hit the hay. That expression comes from the days when people slept on beds filled with dried grass or hay. Some people slept on hay in barns where they kept their farm animals.Hitting the hay simply means going to bed. That is a good idea. I think I will hit the hay now英語翻議講解：現在是 VOA 特別
41、英語詞語典故時間。我是 Rich Kleinfeldt，現在為您介紹一些含有 hit這個單詞的表達方式。hit 是一個很小的詞，但是很有威力。棒球選手擊球，導彈襲擊飛機，汽車撞擊大樹。hit 還和其他單詞組合在一起，組成豐富的表達方式。其中一個短語是 hit the road，意思是開始旅行或者離開某個地方，就像“Hit the Road“這首歌中唱的那樣。另外一個常用短語是 hit the spot。這個短語最初的意思是，用箭射中目標的中心。做到這樣的人對自己的射擊結果很滿意。現在，hit the spot 通常意味著一種食物或飲料讓人很滿意。許多年前，百事可樂銷售廣告中有一首歌的開頭是這樣
42、的：“百事可樂非常令人滿意，足有 12 盎司，”另外一個包含 hit 這個詞的短語是 hit bottom(觸底)。觸底的事物不可能更低或者更壞了。如果股票的價格觸底，是時候買進了，它的價格只會上漲。如果一個學生告訴你他的分數觸底，這說明他在學校成績不好。如果一個學生的成績觸底，那麼，是時候 hit the books 了。 hit the books 意思是開始學習。一個學生可能不得不告訴她的朋友，她不能跟他們一起去看電影了，因為她必須學習。不好好學習會導致一個學生不愉快的處境。他的父親或母親看到這麼低端分數時可能會 hit the ceiling(勃然大怒)。撞到天花板的人非常憤怒。如果丈
43、夫忘記結婚紀念日，妻子可能會勃然大怒。製作木製品時，通常要用到錘子。錘子用來敲擊釘子，將木塊釘在一起。如果你剛好敲到釘子的頭部或頂部，它就可以完好地進入木料。如果有人說你的話語或者行為 hit the nail on the head，他的意思是說你說的或做的完全正確。釘完所有的釘子之後，你可能會很疲勞，是時候 hit the hay 了。 hit the hay 來源於人們用乾草鋪床的時代。當養殖農場動物時，人們通常誰在穀倉中的干草上。hit the hay 的意思很簡單，表示睡覺。好主意！我認為我現在也應該睡覺了。VOA 慢速英語詞彙掌故第 14 課英語聽力原文：Now, the VOA
44、Special English program, WORDS AND THEIR STORIES.Cats are the most popular pets among Americans. So it is not surprising that there are many expressions about cats. Some cats like to catch small birds, like canaries. If someone looks very proud or satisfied with himself, we say he looks like the cat
45、 that ate the canary.Sometimes, a cat likes to play with a small animal it catches.So if you play cat and mouse with someone,you change between different kinds of behavior when dealing with another person. For example, a child might offer something sweet to her little brother and then take it away w
46、hen he reaches for it.A cat will often catch a small animal and present it to its owner. The saying that looks like something the cat dragged in describes something in bad condition.Two old and funny expressions describe something that is the best or finest. Americans might say that something is the
47、 cats meow and the cats pajamas.Children might call a child who is easily frightened a fraidy cat or a scaredy cat. A copycat is someone who acts just like someone else or copies another persons work. A fat cat is a person with a lot of money.You may have known that cats spend most of their time sle
48、eping. Sometimes people sleep for a short time during the day. This is called a cat nap.If you tell about something that was supposed to be a secret, we say you let the cat out of the bag. If you are not able to speak or answer a question someone might ask if the cat has got your tongue.Have you eve
49、r watched children in a classroom when their teacher leaves for a few minutes? When the cats away, the mice will play means people sometimes misbehave when there is no supervision.You may have heard this expression: curiosity killed the cat.This means being too concerned about things that are not your business might cause problems.If your home is very small, you might say there is not enough room to swing a cat. But you probably should not try this at home!If you ever had cats as pets, you know it is difficult to train them or to get them to
