(单词翻译:单击)
听力文本
Now, it is time for Words and Their Stories from VOA Learning English.
Each week, we look at common words and expressions in the English language. Sometimes we explore their roots. How did they find their way into English? Sometimes we simply explain how we use the words in our everyday lives.
Today we will do both!
In honor of farmers around the world, we will explore the roots of the word "farm". We will also give several expressions that come from farming.
Now, you probably know that "farm" is a noun and a verb. "Farmers farm farms" may not be the best sentence, but it is correct.
Many years ago, the job of a farmer was not always growing crops. The website Merriam-Webster.com notes that in the late Middle Ages, it was common to pay a fixed amount of money for use of land to grow crops. "The sum of money to be paid was called ferme," — or, in Modern English, farm.
So, part of the job of a medieval farmer was to serve as a debt collector.
Around the early 16th century, the word "farm" was used to mean the land held on lease for agricultural purposes. A short time later, "farm" simply meant any land used for raising crops. By the end of that century, "farmer" simply meant a person who raises crops and cultivates land.
The work of a farmer is mainly outdoors. So, the weather can influence whether or not a crop is successful.
Farmers know how to make use of good weather conditions when they have them. In other words, they know how to make hay when the sun shines. This expression may date back to the early 1500s. It comes from the fact that the best time to cut the grass is in dry, sunny weather.
But we can all use this expressions.
It means to take advantage of good, favorable conditions. Another way to explain it is to make the most of an opportunity when it is available.
For example, with her husband was away on business, the woman decided to make hay while the sun shone. She did all the things around the house and the property that she could not do when her husband was home.
A common expression in use today, to farm out, is actually very old. It comes from the old tradition of leasing land to a tenant farmer and letting the landowner collect the payments.
We continue to use the word "farm" in this way.
If you farm something out, you find other people to do the work for you. For example, if a company is unable to complete all of its projects, it can farm out some of the work to other people. These temporary workers are often called subcontractors. Every industry has some work that it farms out to other people.
Now, let's go back to "farm" meaning a place where food is grown.
Farmers begin by planting seeds in the ground.
In American English, however, seed money is not the money you spend on the seeds to be planted on your land. "Seed money" is the money you use to invest in a project or business. It is the money that helps to grow an idea.
On the other hand, when something goes to seed, it is in poor condition because of a lack of care. If you keep up with something, it will not go to seed.
Let's hear how this expression can be used.
A: Have you seen Joan recently?
B: No, not for some time.
A: I was at her house yesterday and she has really let it go to seed. Two windows are broken, her bathroom sink isn't working and some of the house paint is coming off.
B: She has been really busy working. She probably doesn't have time to keep up with the house.
A: Let's get friends together and help her out.
B: Great idea! I actually love painting houses.
Now, there are a few "farm" expressions that you probably should avoid.
For example, some Americans used to call a place where people go to lose weight a fat farm. Today, we call them health resorts or wellness centers.
A funny farm is another inappropriate term. It means a mental hospital.
Finally, if someone bought the farm, it means he or she has died. But this is not a respectful way to share news of a person's death.
Again, it is not a good idea to use these three terms. But sometimes learning what not to say is as important as learning what to say.
But we will leave you with a "farm" expression that is still fine to use.
If you bet the farm, you risk everything you have on an idea or project that you think will be successful. We can also use this as a way of saying that we are very sure about something, as in this example:
A: Did you hear about Madison?
B: No. What?
A: She's planning on opening a coffee shop.
B: Do you really think she will?
A: I'd bet the farm on it. When Madison says she's going to do something, she does it!
And that's the end of Words and Their Stories. But we'll be back next week with a new one. You can bet the farm on it!
I'm Anna Matteo.
重点解析
1.in honor of 向……表示敬意；为纪念；为庆祝；为祝贺
Every year the president of the United States kills a turkey on the front line of the white house in honor of the thanksgiving day feast.
在每年感恩节当天，美国总统会在白宫前杀死一只火鸡，以表示感谢。真的还是假的呢？
2.bathroom sink 洗脸台；浴室洗脸台；浴室水槽
I was a bit disappointed by some small things: strands of hair in the bathroom sink, and scratches on the walls.
我对酒店里的有一些小事情感到失望：卫生间水槽里有一缕头发，墙壁上有抓痕。
3.lose weight 减肥；减轻体重；减重
The doctor reassured it was unnecessary for her to lose weight.
医生确信她没有必要减肥。
参考译文
现在是VOA学英语《词汇掌故》节目时间。
每周，我们会看看英语里的常用单词和表达。有时候我们探索它们的来源。它们是怎么进入英语的？有时候我们仅仅解释我们在日常生活中是如何使用这些单词的。
今天这两点我们都会涉及到！
为了向全世界的农民表示敬意（farmers），我们将会探索单词“farm”的来源。我们也会给出一些源于农业的几个表达。
你也许知道“farm”既可做名词也可作动词。“Farmers farm farms（农民务农）”也许不是最好的句子，但是这句话是正确的。
许多年前，“farmer（农民）”的工作不总是种庄稼。韦氏线上词典提到，在中世纪晚期，给予一定数量的金钱以借用土地种植庄稼是很常见的事情。“给付的钱被称作’ferme（地租）’”，或者，在现代英语里，就是“farm”。
因此，中世纪的“farmer”的部分职责是充当收账人。
在16世纪早期，单词“farm”的意思是因农业目的而持有的租赁土地。不久之后，“farm”仅仅指代用来种植作物的任何土地。16世纪末的时候，“farmer”仅仅指种植庄稼和耕种土地的人。
农民的工作主要是在户外。所以，天气会影响到庄稼能否收成。
“农民知道如何利用好天气”。换句话说，他们懂得把握时机（make hay when the sun shines）。这个表达也许要追溯至15世纪早期。它源于晴朗干爽的天气是割草最好时候的事实。
但我们总能用上这个表达。
这个表达的意思是利用好的、有利的条件。另一种解释就是当机会来了的时候，充分利用机会。
例如，由于她的丈夫出差去了，这个女人决定抓住这个机会。她做了所有她丈夫在家时她不能做的全部事情。
今天用到的一个很常见的表达“farm out”实际上是个很古老的表达。它源于租赁土地给佃农（a tenant farmer）、地主收取租金的一个古老习俗。
我们延用了这个表达的这种使用方法。
如果你“farm sth out（分包出任务）”，你找到其他人来替你做这份工作。例如，如果一个公司不能完成它的全部项目，这个公司可以分包出去一些任务给别人。这些临时员工往往被称作“分包人（subcontractors）”。每个产业都有一些分包出去给别人的活。
现在让我们说回意思是“食物生长的地方”的“farm”。
农民从在地里播种开始。
然而在美语里，“seed money（启动资金）”不是你花在要在地里播种的种子上的钱。它是你用来投资项目或者生意上的钱，是用来支持一个创意的资金。
另一方面，当某物“衰颓（go to seed）”的时候，它由于缺乏照料而情况不妙。如果你关心（keep up with）某物，它将不会衰颓。
让我们来听听看这个表达的用法。
A：你最近看见琼了吗？
B：没有，有段时间没看见她了。
A：我昨天在她家，她真得没怎么维护房子。两扇窗户坏了，她的浴室水槽用不了了，房子的油漆也要脱落了。
B：她一直工作忙得很。她也许没时间关心房子。
A：我们找些朋友一起来帮助她解决房子的问题吧。
B：好主意！实际上我很喜欢刷房子。
还有几个“farm”的表达你也许要避免使用。
例如，一些美国人过去将人们去减肥的地方称作“a fat farm（减肥中心）”。今天，我们称之为“health resorts（保健度假村）”或者“wellness centers（保健中心）”。
“a funny farm”是另一个不恰当的短语。它的意思是精神病院。
最后，如果某人“bought the farm（死亡）,”意思是他或者她去世了。但这不是一种很有礼貌的传播别人去世消息的方。
再次申明，使用这三个表达不是什么好主意。但有时候学习不该说的和学习该说的内容同等重要。
但我们会在节目结束前给你一个依然很好用的“farm”的表达。
如果你“bet the farm（拿全部家当做赌注）”，你拿你拥有的一切来为你认为会成功的想法或者项目冒险。我们也用这个表达作为我们对某事很肯定的一种说法，如这个例子：
A：你听说麦迪逊的事了吗？
B：没有。什么事？
A：她正计划开一个咖啡馆。
B：你真得觉得她会开吗？
A：我敢肯定。麦迪逊说她要做什么事，她就会做！
到了《词汇掌故》的节目尾声了。但我们下周会带着新的一期回来。你可以赌上你的全部家当。
我是安娜·马特奥。
