(单词翻译:单击)
听力文本
Now, the VOA Special English program, Words and Their Stories.
Have you ever considered all the English expressions that include words about clothes? Let's see if I can name a few "off the cuff" -- or without any preparation.
People wear pants to cover the lower part of their bodies. We sometimes say that people who are restless or nervous have "ants in their pants." They might also "fly by the seat of their pants" -- they use their natural sense to do something instead of their learned knowledge. Sometimes, people may "get caught with their pants down" -- they are found doing something they should not be doing. And, in every family, one person takes control. Sometimes a wife tells her husband what to do. Then we say "she wears the pants in the family."
Pants usually have pockets to hold things. Money that is likely to be spent quickly can "burn a hole in your pocket." Sometimes you need a belt to hold up your pants. If you have less money than usual, you may have to "tighten your belt" -- you may have to live on less money and spend your money carefully. But once you have succeeded in budgeting your money, you will have that skill "under your belt."
I always praise people who can save their money and not spend too much. I really "take my hat off to them." Yet, when it comes to my own money, I spend it "at the drop of a hat" -- immediately, without waiting. And sadly, you cannot "pull money out of a hat" -- you cannot get money by inventing or imagining it.
Boots are a heavy or strong kind of shoes. People who are "too big for their boots" think they are more important than they really are. I dislike such people. I really do. You can bet your boots on that!
Yet, truly important people are hard to replace. Rarely can you "fill their shoes" -- or replace them with someone equally effective.
My father is an important person. He runs a big company. He wears a suit and tie and a shirt with sleeves that cover his arms. Some people who do not know him well think he is too firm and severe. They think he is a real "stuffed shirt." But I know that my father "wears his heart on his sleeve" -- he shows his feelings openly. And, he knows how to "keep his shirt on" -- he stays calm and never gets angry or too excited.
Also, my father has never "lost his shirt" in a business deal -- he is too smart to lose all or most of his money. This is because my father "rolls up his sleeves" -- and prepares to work hard. He often has a special plan or answer to a problem that he can use if he needs it. He is like a person who does magic tricks. We say "he has a card up his sleeve."
This VOA Special English program "Words and Their Stories" was written by Jill Moss.
I'm Faith Lapidus.
文本为51VOA听写整理
译文属可可原创，仅供学习交流使用，未经许可请勿转载
词汇解释
1.restless adj. 焦躁不安的；不安宁的；得不到满足的
The animals grew restless as if in anticipation of an earthquake.
各种动物都变得焦躁不安，像是感到了地震即将发生。
2.tighten one's belt 节衣缩食
I have to tighten my belt this week.
这个星期我不得不勒紧裤腰带过日子。
3.at the drop of a hat 立即
He used to fight at the drop of a hat.
他以前动不动就打架.
4. havw a card up one's sleeve 胸有成竹
Bill always has a card up his sleeve, so when his first plan failed he tried another.
比尔经常留有一手， 所以当第一个计划失败后， 他就试行第二个。
参考译文
这里是美国之音慢速英语词汇典故。
你留意过那些包含衣服的英语表达吗？我可以即兴(off the cuff)说出一些来。
人们穿裤子来掩盖下半身，我们有时会说紧张不安的人像热锅上的蚂蚁。这些人可能会凭直觉行事，而不是依靠掌握的知识来做事。有时人们会被人看到狼狈相，他们被人发现在做不该做的事。每个家庭都有主人，有时妻子告诉丈夫该做什么，那就可以说妻子是家庭的主人。
裤子上总是有装东西的口袋，花钱如流水就像口袋里被烧了洞。有时需要用裤袋勒紧裤子，当钱不多时，你可能要勒紧裤腰带了，少花些钱，小心地花钱。但一旦成功地对钱做了预算，就能扎实地学会了预算的技能。
我总是称赞那些能省钱不乱花钱的人，我真的佩服他们。不过，对于我自己的钱，我会马上花个精光。可悲的是，你不能凭空变出钱来。
靴子是一种沉重结实的鞋子，自负的人想象自己比实际的更重要。我不喜欢这种人，真的，你可以打赌。
不过真正重要的人很难被取代，你很难取代他们。
我父亲就是个重要的人，他开了一家公司，他穿着西装，衣着考究。不很熟悉他的人认为他古板严厉，认为他爱摆架子。但我知道父亲很坦率，会直接表达自己的感受。他知道如何保持冷静，从不生气或太激动。
不过，我父亲从未在生意场上失手过，他很聪明，不会输掉全部或大部金钱。这是因为父亲做好努力工作的准备，他对问题常常有特殊的解决方法，就像玩魔术的人一样，我们说他有制胜法宝。
这里是美国之音慢速英语词汇典故，作者吉尔·莫斯。我是Faith Lapidus。
