(单词翻译:单击)
听力文本
Now, the VOA Special English program WORDS AND THEIR STORIES.
Today I will tell about expressions using numbers. Let us start with the number one. Numbers can be tricky. On the one hand, they are simply numbers. On the other hand, they have meanings. I for one use these expressions a lot.
Many people consider themselves number one, the most important person. They are always looking out for number one and taking care of number one. It is as if they are the one and only person on Earth. Some people however, are not so self-centered. My brother is such a person. It is true – no joke. I am not trying to pull a fast one on you.
First, you have to understand that my brother is one in a million. He is such a nice person. All his friends like him. They consider him one of the boys. Recently, my brother had a bad day at the office. It was just one of those days. Nothing went right. So he stopped at a local bar -- a drinking place -- after leaving work. My brother planned to have a glass of beer with his friends -- a quick one – before he went home. But a quick one turned into one or two, and soon those became one too many.
As my brother was leaving, he ordered a last drink -- one for the road. His friends became concerned. One by one, they asked him if he was able to drive home safely.
Now my brother is a wise and calm person. He is at one with himself. He recognizes when he has had too much alcohol to drink. So he accepted an offer for a ride home from a female friend.
At one time in the past, my brother had been in love with this woman. She is a great person -- kind, thoughtful and intelligent -- all good qualities rolled up into one. But sadly their relationship did not work. He always used to say "One of these days, I am going to marry this girl." But that never happened.
For one thing, she did not love him as much as he loved her. It was just one of those things. The situation was regrettable and my brother had to accept it. But even now, he considers her the one that got away.
However, they are still friends. And because my brother had been kind to her, she felt that one good turn deserves another. He was good to her and she wanted to help him in return. So she drove him home.
If my brother had driven home from the bar that night, his number would have been up. Something bad would have happened. Thankfully he made it home safely. And, he and the woman are back to square one. They are back to where they started – being friends.
This VOA Special English program, WORDS AND THEIR STORIES, was written by Jill Moss. I'm Faith Lapidus.
文本来自51voa，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.tricky adj. 狡猾的；机警的；难对付的
Parking can be tricky downtown.
在市中心停车会很难。
2.regrettable adj. 令人遗憾的；可惜的；可悲的；抱歉的
The army said it had started an investigation into what it described as a regrettable incident.
军方说已经开始调查这起据称的不幸事件。
3.deserve vi. 应受，应得 vt. 应受，应得
These people deserve to make more than the minimum wage.
这些人应该得到高于最低工资的报酬。
内容解析
1.She is a great person -- kind, thoughtful and intelligent -- all good qualities rolled up into one.
rolled up 卷起；累积；到达；袅袅上升；步履蹒跚
She rolled up her sleeves and started washing.
她卷起袖子，开始洗衣服。
He rolled up a huge fortune.
他积累起大笔财产。
2.And, he and the woman are back to square one.
back to square one 从头再来；退回起点
Well, if so, we're back to square one.
嗯，要是如此，我们就得重新计划了。
That idea hasn't worked, so it's/we're back to square one.
那主意行不通，得从头再来。
参考译文
这里是美国之音慢速英语词汇典故。
今天我们来讲述一下包含数字的表达方式。我们从数字“一”开始。数字是非常巧妙的。一方面，它们不过是数字而已。另一方面，它们也有自身的意义。举例说来，这些短语经常使用到。
很多人自以为是最好的、最重要的人物。他们经常谋求自身的利益,为自我利益打算，似乎他们是地球上唯一的人。然而，有些人就不这么自我中心。我弟弟就是这样的人。这是真的，不是开玩笑。我不骗你。
首先，你得明白，我的弟弟是百万中挑一的人，他非常好，所有的朋友都喜欢他，认为他是真正的玩友。 最近，我弟弟在工作上不是很愉快，那是一段倒霉的日子，事事不顺。所以下班之后就在一个当地酒吧逗留。我弟弟打算跟朋友喝完一杯啤酒就走，就干一杯。但是干一杯变成了一两杯，一会儿就喝多了。
我弟弟准备离开时，他要了最后一杯。他的朋友有些担心了，一个个都问他能否安全开车回家。
我弟弟是个聪明冷静的人，他头脑冷静下来，意识到自己喝了太多酒，因此他就接受了一个女性朋友的帮助，让她载他回家。
过去，我弟弟曾爱上这个女人。她很优秀，善良，体贴，聪明，集所有的好品质于一身。但是他们的关系没有发展。他过去一直说“将来总有一天我会娶这个女孩为妻”。但是一直没有实现。
一方面是因为她没有他爱她爱的深。这是命中注定的事。这样非常遗憾，我弟弟必须接受命运。但是即使是现在，他还认为她是那个适合自己的女人，但是她离开他了。
然而，他们还是朋友。而且因为我的弟弟对她很好，她觉得应该善有善报。他对她很好，她想帮助他作为报答，所以就开车送他回家了。
如果我弟弟那晚从酒吧开车回家，那他节数就要尽了，可能会发生不好的事情。幸运的是他安全到家。而且他和那个女人回到原点，他们回到了最初的起点——成为朋友。
这就是美国之音慢速英语词汇典故，作者吉尔·莫斯，我是费斯·拉皮德斯。
