(单词翻译:单击)
听力文本
Now, the VOA Learning English program Words and Their Stories.
On this program, we explore words and expressions in the English language. We also explain how they developed and how English speakers use them today.
We try really hard to make this program special! But not everything can be special all the time. In fact, many things are just average or normal. Today we talk about an expression often used to describe such things: run-of-the-mill.
So, why do we use this expression to mean not-so-special? To explain the meaning of run-of-the-mill, let's talk about the word "mill."
A mill is a place where machines make products. It is like a factory. For example, a paper mill makes paper and a steel mill manufactures steel. A mill can produce just about anything.
While mills make many kinds of products, language experts are not exactly sure which type of mill is being described in the expression "run-of-the-mill."
One possible explanation begins in a clothing mill.
Many years ago, all clothes were made by hand. Handmade clothes took a lot time to make and they were generally one of a kind. None of them looked exactly the same. However, as technology improved, machines began making most clothing.
By the early 1900s, the expression "run of the mill" described machine-made clothes. Such clothing was thought to be less "special" than handmade products.
Now, another story simply suggests that when mills were producing products, quality control was a problem. A mill would simply make a lot of a product without much thought of quality. You could say it was a quantity over quality way of thinking -- the more, the better.
Language experts note that by the early 1920s, people began using "run-of-the-mill" to describe anything thought to be ordinary or commonplace.
Today, that meaning is unchanged. Anything that is a typical example of something, we can call "run-of-the-mill." And this expression is widely used today.
If you go to a show and the singer is just so-so, you could say it was a run-of-the-mill performance. Perhaps you bought a run-of-the-mill computer; you know, a model that you can find anywhere. Maybe you have a friend who moves to a run-of-the-mill town, lives in a run-of-the-mill apartment and works a run-of-the-mill job. Nothing about his new life seems very special. Hopefully, he will make some new friends or start a new activity to make his day-to-day life more interesting!
We have a few other expressions that have a similar meaning to run-of-the-mill. One comes from the world of food.
If something is cookie-cutter, it is just like everything else. This comes from actual cookie cutters, the tools for cutting cookie dough into shapes. All the cookies come out looking the same.
The word cookie-cutter is used to describe a group of things that look alike. For example, if a land developer develops a neighborhood using the same design for all of the houses, they may look very cookie-cutter, or all the same.
Another expression comes from a favorite activity of many people -- gardening.
If something is described as a garden-variety, it is average, common or mediocre. This comes from the fact that some things grow very easily. And some fruits, vegetables, flowers or plants that grow easily become popular with gardeners. They are varieties that are found in many gardens. So we call them garden-varieties.
Now, let's hear how we can use some of these words and expressions.
A: Hey, I need a haircut, but the woman who cuts my hair just moved. Can you suggest someone?
B: Well, if you want something different and unique, I would go to Renaldo at Creative Cuts. But I have to warn you, it's going to cost you.
A: Maybe later I can try a really different hair style. But for right now, I just want a simple, garden-variety cut.
B: In that case, go to Beatrice at Simple Cuts. The haircut won't stand out, but it also won't cost a lot.
A: Sounds great. Thanks!
A: You must try a piece of this bread.
B: Wow. This is really good! Where did you get it?
A: It's a new place down on Waterfront Street. From the outside, it looks like your average, run-of-the-mill bakery. But as soon as you enter the store, you know it's not. They handcraft all of their breads and pastries. Nothing cookie-cutter about this place.
B: Ha, ha, ha! Cookie-cutter. Get it?
A: Yeah. That's funny.
B: So, what's the name of this unique bakery? I have to go!
A: It's -- Not Your Run-of-the-Mill Bakery.
B: Yeah, I understand. But what's the name?
A: It's -- Not Your Run-of-the-Mill Bakery.
B: I GET IT!
A: No, you don't! That IS the name of the bakery.
B: Oh. Sorry.
One last note, you can use all of these expressions -- cookie-cutter, garden variety and run-of-mill -- in any situation, with people you know well or not at all.
And that's Words and Their Stories for this week. I'm Anna Matteo.
重点解析
1.one of a kind 独一无二的;独特的
She's a very unusual woman, one of a kind.
她是个非常与众不同的女人，是独一无二的。
2.stand out 引人注目;突出;显眼;出色;更为重要;凸起;凸出
Grammatical errors are always obvious to me, spelling mistakes stand out.
语法错误对我来说总是非常明显，而拼写错误也很显眼。
3.made by hand 手工制作
Shoes were once made by hand, but now they are made on machines.
以前鞋子是手工做的，但是现在都用机器做了。
参考译文
现在是VOA学英语《词汇掌故》节目时间。
在节目中，我们会探讨英语里的单词和表达。我们也会解释它们的演变方式以及现在说英语的人是如何运用它们的。
我们真得很努力让这个节目与众不同！但不是所有事物都能一直那么特殊。实际上，很多事物都很普通或者一般。今天我们来谈论一个经常被用来形容这些平凡事物的表达：run-of-the-mill（平凡的）。
那么，为什么我们用这个表达表示没那么特别呢？为了解释“run-of-the-mill”的含义，让我们聊聊单词“mill（制造厂）”。
制造厂是机器生产产品的地方，就像一个工厂一样。比方说，一个造纸厂生产纸，一个钢厂制造钢材。制造厂可以生产任何东西。
虽然制造厂生产许多种类的产品，但是语言专家不能确定“run-of-the-mill”中描述的“mill”是哪种类型的制造厂。
其中一种可能的说法是源于服装厂。
很久以前，所有的衣服都是手工制作的。手工制作的衣服很费时，而且这些衣服通常都是独一无二的。它们看起来都不一样。然而，随着技术的进步，机器开始生产绝大多数衣服。
到了20世纪初，“run of the mill”这个表达描述的是机器制造的服装。这类衣服被认为没有手工衣服特别。
又一个故事简单说明了，当制造厂生产产品的时候，质量把控是一个问题。制造厂会没有考虑到质量方面就大量生产产品。你可以说这是一种数量超过质量的思维方式，越多越好。
语言专家注意到20世纪20年代的时候，人们开始运用“run-of-the-mill”来描述任何被认为普通或者平凡的事物。
今天，这个含义没有改变。任何事物的典型例子，我们都可以称之为“run-of-the-mill”。如今，这个表达被人们广泛使用。
如果你去看一场演出，而歌手只是一般般，你可以说这个表演很普通。如果你买了一台普通的电脑；你知道，你在任何地方都可以看见的那种模型。也许你有一个朋友，搬去了一个普通城镇，住在一个普通的公寓里，干着一份普通的工作。他的新生活看上去似乎没有多么不一样。希望他会交一些新朋友或者开始一项新的活动，让他的日常生活更有趣！
我们还有几个和“run-of-the-mill（平凡的）”意思相近的其他表达。其中一个表达出自食品界。
如果什么东西是“cookie-cutter（千篇一律的）”，那这个东西和别的东西是一样的。这个表达源于真正的曲奇成型刀，这是一种将面团切成型的工具，所有切出来的饼干看上去都是一样的。
单词“cookie-cutter”被用来描述一群看起来相像的事物。例如，如果一个土地开发商开发了一个社区，社区里的房子都采用了相同的设计，那么这些房子也许看上去会千篇一律，或者一模一样。
另一个表达出自很多人都喜欢的一项活动：gardening（园艺）。
如果某事物被形容为“garden-variety（普通的）”，那它就是普通的，寻常的或是平庸的。“garden-variety”源于一些事物很好养活。一些好养易活的水果、蔬菜、花卉或者植物很受园艺爱好者的欢迎。它们是许多花园里都会有的品种。因此，我们称其“garden-varieties（普通）”。
现在，让我们来听听部分这些单词和表达的用法。
A：嘿，我想理发，但是给我理发的那个女理发师刚搬走了。你能给我推荐一个理发师吗？
B：嗯，如果想要与众不同和独一无二的发型，我会去找“创新理发”的罗纳尔多。但是我得提醒你，那会花费很多。
A：也许以后我可以尝试一个完全不同的发型。但现在，我只想要个简单的普通发型。
B：那样的话，去“简发”找碧翠丝。那儿剪出来的发型不会太惹眼，而且也不会很贵。
A：听起来不错。谢谢！
A：你一定得尝一片这个面包。
B：哇。这味道真好！你从哪儿买的面包？
A：水滨街上的一个新地方。从外面看，它看起来像一个普普通通的面包店。但当你走进那家店的时候，你会发现它不一般。他们手工制作所有的面包和糕点。这地方没有千篇一律的东西。
B：哈哈哈！曲奇成型刀。你懂了吗？
A：是啊。那很好笑。
B：那这家独特的面包店叫什么名字？我得去看看！
A：“不是普通面包店”。
B：是的，我明白。但那家店叫啥？
A：“不是普通面包店”。
B：我知道啦！
A：不，你不知道！那就是那家面包店的名字。
B：哦。对不起。
最后一点，所有这些表达：“千篇一律”，“普通”和“平凡”，你可以在任何情境下对你很熟的人或者陌生人使用它们。
这就是本周的《词汇掌故》。我是安娜·马特奥。
