(单词翻译:单击)
听力文本
Now, Words and Their Stories from VOA Learning English.
On this program, we explore common expressions in American English.
On another Words and Their Stories, we went to the high seas to learn about expressions with sharks. Today, we go back into the ocean to explore expressions involving other sea creatures.
Okay, first of all, the ocean is a big place. And a single drop of water in the ocean is nearly nothing. So, when we say something is like a drop in the ocean, we mean it is a very small amount compared to what is needed.
Let's say a high school needs $80,000 to build a new computer laboratory for its students. The school organizes a bake sale – an event held for the purpose of raising money. But on the day of the bake sale, it rains. No one comes because of the weather. By the end of the day, the high school raises only $100. If $80,000 is the goal, $100 is a drop in the ocean.
Here in the U.S., you may also hear the expression drop in the bucket. But a drop in the ocean is much more dramatic.
Another marine animal is the octopus.
These eight-tentacle creatures are full of surprises! Sadly, in spoken English, they do not have a good reputation. In fact, the word "octopus" has at least two not-so-good meanings.
An octopus can be a powerful and influential organization with its tentacles reaching far and wide, usually with harmful effects. For example, a multinational corporation that only wants to make money has its tentacles in everything from food production to energy resources.
Also, when a man cannot keep his hands off a woman, we say he is an octopus or has octopus hands. To use this expression, it is important that the woman does not want the attention of the "octopus."
Now, we move on to another unusual sea creature – the eel.
Eels are long and look like snakes. Like octopuses, some people like to eat them. But they are difficult to catch because they are slippery.
And that brings us to another expression.
If someone is slippery as an eel, they are tricky and difficult to catch. We often use this expression as a warning to others. For example, "Watch out for her. She's as slippery as an eel." Like many terms that compare two things, you can use the first "as" or leave it out. So, it's fine to say "She is slippery as an eel."
We would like to end our program today on a happy note. So, here are two positive expressions that come from ocean animals.
This next one sounds very strange. It involves oysters.
Some people consider oysters a delicacy – a rare food that you only eat once in a while. Oysters are great for another for another reason. They make pearls! So, oysters are rare indeed.
And that brings us to our next expression.
When we say "The world is your oyster!" we mean that you are able to make the most out of life. You take every chance given to you and put it to good use.
Language experts say this is one of the many expressions created by the English writer William Shakespeare. He used it in his play The Merry Wives of Windsor.
However, some people use this expression a little differently. It can also mean that you have every chance or opportunity you could possibly want. You have money, skills, ability and freedom to do exactly what you want.
For example, if you have a friend who grew up with extreme wealth, attended the best schools and have parents who are both highly connected in their professional fields, you could say, "The world is her oyster!"
Where oysters are small and strange looking, whales are huge and majestic. Whales are some of the largest mammals on Earth.
And unlike to octopuses and eels, whales have a very good reputation.
In fact, if something is a whale of a ... thing, it is a very good thing. If you performed very well at work, your boss could say you did a whale of a job.
"A whale of" something can also mean it's very big. For example, if you have a really big project to do, you could say you have a whale of a project.
Americans also use the expression "to have a whale of a time." This simply means to have a really good time.
You might hear or read this expression, but we have other ways to say it. For example, if someone asks me how a party was, I could say, "It was a blast!" or "I had an awesome time!"
And I've had a whale of a time bringing you this Words and Their Stories. After all, when you do something you love as a career, the world is your oyster!
I'm Anna Matteo.
重点解析
1.far and wide 大范围地；广泛地
Volunteers came from far and wide.
志愿者来自四面八方。
2.leave it out 忽略，遗漏
If you feel your graduation date will subject you to age discrimination, leave it out of your resume.
如果你觉得你的毕业日期会使你受到年龄歧视，那就不要写进你的简历。
3.make the most out of 充分利用
So this is definitely the suggestion, go aboard, learn languages, see other people and make the most out of it.
所以我们建议是，走出去看看，学习语言，看不同的风景和人，与不同文化的人交流并从中收益。
4.a whale of a 大量的，极大的，了不起的
The children had a whale of a time playing in the sand pit.
孩子们在沙坑里玩得非常高兴。
参考译文
现在是VOA学英语《词汇掌故》时间。
我们的节目旨在探索美式英语里的常用表达。
在其中一期《词汇掌故》里，我们潜至深海学习了和鲨鱼相关的表达。今天，我们继续回到海洋，探索和其他海洋生物相关的表达。
好的，首先，海洋是一个很大的场所。相较于海洋，海里的一滴水几乎微不足道。所以，当我们说某物像沧海一粟（a drop in the ocean）时，我们意思是较之于我们所需要的量，量太少了。
假设一所高中需要8万美元为学生新建一间计算机实验室。学校为了募捐，组织了一场烘烤食品义卖。但是在烘焙食品义卖那天下雨了。由于天气原因，没有来一个人。一天下来，这所高中仅募集了100美元。如果目标是8万美元，那100美元就是沧海一粟。
在美国，你也许也能听到“drop in the bucket（杯水车薪）”这个表达。但是，沧海一粟更具戏剧性。
章鱼（octopus）是另一种海洋生物。
这些八爪生物满是惊喜！可惜，在书面语里，它们的名声不好。实际上，单词“octopus”至少有两种不太好的意思。
“章鱼”可以指一个很强大、很有影响力且经营范围很广（章鱼触手能伸得很长）的组织，而这种组织通常会带来坏影响。例如，有一个唯利是图的跨国公司将其触手伸到了从粮食生产到能源资源的一切领域。
另外，如果一个男人总是对一个女人动手动脚，那么我们可以说这个男人是咸猪手（octopus/octopus hands）。在使用这个表达时很重要的一点是：这个女人并不想成为咸猪手（octopus）的目标。
现在让我们把话题转移到另一种不寻常的海洋生物——鳗鱼（the eel）。
鳗鱼身长如蛇。和鱿鱼一样，一些人很喜欢吃鳗鱼。但是人们很难抓住他们，因为它们很滑溜。
这引出了我们的另一个表达。
如果某人很狡猾（slippery as an eel），说明他们很狡猾且很难抓住。我们经常用这个表达作为对他人的一种警告。例如，“小心她。她像狐狸一样狡猾（She's as slippery as an eel）。”和许多比较两种东西的短语一样，第一个“as（像）”可以用，也可以省略掉。所以，说“她狡猾得像狐狸她（She is slippery as an eel）”也是可以的。
我们想愉快结束今天的节目。所以，下面是来自海洋动物的两个积极的表达。
接下来的这一个听起来有点奇怪，和牡蛎（oysters）相关。
一些人视牡蛎为美味——一种你只能偶尔吃到的珍馐。牡蛎还有另一个好处。它们能产出珍珠！因此，牡蛎确实很珍贵。
这带出了我们下一个表达。
当我们说：“世界属于你的（The world is your oyster）!”我们的意思是你能最大限度地活好。抓住你的每次机会并加以善用。
语言专家说这是英国作家威廉·莎士比亚创建的众多表达之一。他在他的戏剧《温莎的风流娘儿们》里用过这个表达。
但是，有些人使用这个表达稍微有点不同。这个也可以指你拥有你可能想要的一切机会。你有钱，有技能，有才能，有自由去做刚好是你想要做的事情。
比如说，如果你有个朋友是含着金汤匙出生的，你这个朋友上着最好的学校，其父母父母在各自的专业领域人脉颇广，那么你可以说：“世界是属于你的（The world is her oyster!）！”
牡蛎小且长相奇异，但是鲸鱼（whales）巨大且雄伟。鲸鱼是地球上最大的哺乳哺乳动物之一。
和章鱼、鳗鱼不同，鲸鱼有很好的名声。
实际上，如果某事了不起，那么这是一件好事。如果你在工作上表现很好，你的老板可能会说你工作做得不错。
“a whale of sth”也可以是某物很大的意思。例如，如果你有个很大的项目要做，你可以说你有个大项目。
美国人也用“to have a whale of a time（玩得很痛快）”这个表达。它的意思就是玩得很开心。
你也许听见或者读过这个表达，但是这个意思我们还有其他说法。例如，如果某人问我聚会怎么样，我可以说“今晚的聚会很棒！”或者“我过得很愉快！”
很开心给大家带来这期《词汇掌故》。毕竟，当你将你热爱的事当成你的职业，世界就是你的！
我是安娜·马特奥。
