(单词翻译:单击)
听力文本
Now, from VOA Learning English, it's time for Words and Their Stories.
On this program you can learn English expressions that Americans use in conversation.
Today we are going to talk about the fabric we wear on our bodies. In other words, our clothes, right?
Well, yes and no. The word "clothes" is only part of a much larger story. American English has many more specific – and more colorful – terms related to these everyday items.
For example, let's say you carefully select the clothes you plan on wearing to work or a party. Sure, those are your clothes. But it would be better to call it an outfit. The word outfit means there was some planning involved. In fact, when we compliment people on what they are wearing, we usually say, "Hey, I really like your outfit." We probably wouldn't say, "Hey, I really like your clothes!" It just sounds a little odd.
Our wardrobe also has a sense of planning. A wardrobe is a collection of clothing. It is all the clothing a person owns. If I know a man or woman who always looks sharp, I could say, "That person has an amazing wardrobe! Every item of clothing is gorgeous and fits perfectly!"
Now, even the nicest outfit in the nicest wardrobe collects dirt and wrinkles. Then that outfit becomes dirty clothes. But why use that ordinary term when you can call it laundry! Laundry, very simply, is any fabric -- clothes, linens, towels, sheets, blankets -- that we need to wash.
Some people have a laundry room, an area in their house or apartment with a washer and dryer. People who don't have a washer and dryer in their homes can go to the laundromat.
Now, if you're like me, doing your laundry can be one item on your laundry list of things to do on the weekend. Often, my Saturday morning begins with a couple loads of laundry. And I don't mind. It relaxes me to do laundry.
Now, a "laundry list" is not a list of the things you need to wash. It is very long list of related things. For example, if you have many small tasks to finish at work, you can say you have a laundry list of projects.
Here's another example: "At the parent-teacher meeting, the principal gave a terrible speech. It was just a laundry list of what the school staff had not done right."
Whether you do your laundry at home, at a laundromat or have a professional do it for you, we all have dirty laundry -- in more ways than one!
In conversation, dirty laundry is much more than soiled shirts and jeans. The expression "dirty laundry" means all those embarrassing things we don't want others to know about us or our families.
We often use this expression as a warning. For example, if your mother catches telling your friend about your family, she may say, "Don't air our dirty laundry! Nobody needs to know every sordid detail about our family!"
Now, let's hear these expressions used in a conversation. These two friends are roommates in a medium-sized apartment building. It's Sunday morning and they are doing their laundry.
Kendra, that is such a cute outfit you're wearing!
Thanks, Karen! I just updated my wardrobe and got rid of everything that didn't fit or just didn't look good on me.
I need to do that. Most of my clothes are too small. Oh, Kendra, I forgot to tell you something that happened yesterday.
What happened?
You know Raphael and Maya, right?
You're kidding, right? Of course, I know them. They're the loud couple who live upstairs from us and fight all the time.
That's them. Well, yesterday they had a huge fight, right in the basement laundry room!
Right here in the basement laundry room?
Oh yeah! And it was Saturday morning. So, half the apartment building was down here doing their laundry.
What did they fight about?
Well, Maya found a woman's shirt in their laundry that was not hers. So, she accused Raphael of cheating on her! He, of course, denied it. But then she gave a laundry list of woman he's been secretly seeing.
Well, not so secretly, if Maya knew about them.
Good point.
That sounds so embarrassing! It is not good to air your dirty laundry in public like that. They should have had their fight in the privacy of their own apartment.
I totally agree. That way, only you and I would have heard it.
Exactly. Can you hand me the laundry powder?
And that's it for Words and Their Stories, a show where we teach common expressions in American English and where we don't air any dirty laundry!
I'm Anna Matteo.
重点解析
1.get rid of 扔掉;丢弃;摆脱;甩掉;赶走
Get rid of all cigarettes and ashtrays and other paraphernalia associated with smoking.
扔掉所有香烟、烟灰缸和与吸烟有关的其他物品。
2.cheat on 背着（配偶、性伴侣）乱搞;对（配偶、性伴侣）不忠;违背，违反（约定）;逃避（纳税）
I'd found Philippe was cheating on me and I was angry and hurt.
发觉菲利普对我不忠后，我又气愤又伤心。
3.laundry powder 洗衣粉；洗衣粉
This research object is " white sets up" the laundry powder decontamination effect.
本研究对象为“立白”洗衣粉的去污效果。
参考译文
这里是美国之声《词汇掌故》节目。
在我们的节目中，你可以学习到美国人在交谈时用到的英语表达。
今天，我们来聊聊我们身上穿的织物（fabric）。换句话说，就是我们的衣服（clothes），对吗？
嗯，对也不对，“衣服（clothes）”这个单词仅仅只是“织物（fabric）”这个庞大语义中的一部分。美式英语里有很多更具体更多彩的和这些日常用品（everyday items）相关的术语。
例如，假如你认真挑选你计划去上班或者去参加一个派对要穿的衣服。当然可以，那些是你的衣服。但是，最好是称之为套装（outfit）。“outfit”这个词有点计划性的意思在里面。实际上，当我们称赞别人的穿着时，我们通常说，“嘿，我真得很喜欢你这一套衣服。”我们不大可能会说，“我真得很喜欢你的衣服！”那听起来就有点怪怪的。
我们的衣柜（wardrobe）也有点计划性的感觉。衣柜是收集衣服的地方。它指一个人所有的衣物。如果我认识一个男人或者女人总是看起来很时尚，我可以说，“那个人的所有衣服都令人惊艳！每一件衣服都既漂亮又合身！”
现在，即使是最好的衣柜里最漂亮的套装都会积灰尘，有褶皱。那么那套衣服就会变成脏衣服（dirty clothes）。但是为什么我们能称之为laundry（要洗的衣物），却要用dirty clothes（脏衣服）这个普通的词呢？很简单，laundry可以是任何我们要洗的织物，衣服，亚麻织品，毛巾，床单，毯子。
一些人有洗衣房（a laundry room），他们屋子或者公寓里的一片带洗衣机（washer）和烘干机（dryer）的区域。家里没有洗衣房的人可以去自助洗衣店（laundromat）。
现在，如果你像我，那洗衣服（doing your laundry）就是你一长串“周末要做的事情”清单（laundry list）里的其中一项。通常，我周六早上开始会洗几堆衣服。我不介意，洗衣服让我觉得放松。
这里的“laundry list”不是指你要洗的东西的清单。它是指特别长的相关事物的清单。例如，如果你工作上有许多小任务要完成，你可以说，你有一个项目清单。
下面是另一个例子：“家长会（parent-teacher meeting）上，校长（principal）的演讲很糟糕。演讲内容就是一长串的教职员工做得不对的事情的清单。”
无论你是否在家，自助洗衣店或者找专业人士清洗衣物，我们都有不止一种方式来处理脏衣服（dirty laundry）。
在交际中，“dirty laundry”不止是指脏衬衫和牛仔裤。表达“dirty laundry（家丑）”的意思是所有那些我们不想别人知道的和自己或者家庭相关的令人尴尬的事情。
我们经常把这个表达用作一种警告。例如，如果你妈发现你和你的朋友讲家里的事情，她可能会说，“家丑不可外扬！没人有必要知道咱们家每个令人不快的细节！”
现在，让我们来听听使用了这些表达的一段对话。这两个人是住在一幢中型公寓楼里的室友。星期天早上，他们正忙着洗衣服。
肯德拉，你穿的这套衣服好可爱！
谢谢，肯德拉！我刚刚清理了下我的衣橱，我要扔掉所有不合适或者单纯我穿上不好看的所有衣服。
我必须这么做。我的大部分衣服都太小了。哦，肯德拉，我忘记告诉你昨天发生的事了。
什么事？
你知道拉斐尔和玛雅吧？
你开玩笑吗？我当然知道他们了。他们是住我们楼上，总打架的那对吵闹夫妻。
就是他们。嗯，昨天他们大打了一架，就在地下洗衣房打的架！
就在地下洗衣房这里？
是滴啊！就是星期六早上。半个公寓楼里的人都下来这里洗衣服。
他们因为什么打架？
嗯，玛雅在他们的脏衣服里发现了一件不是她的女士衬衫。所以，她指责拉斐尔背叛她！他当然否认了。但是然后玛雅说出了一长串他一直秘密约会过的女人。
好吧，如果玛雅知道她们的话，那就没有那么秘密了。
说得对。
那听起来挺尴尬的！像那样在公共场合说家丑不好。他们应该在自己的家里这种私密的场合打架。
我完全同意。那样的话，只有你和我能听到。
确实是。你能给我递下洗衣粉（laundry powder）吗？
这就是今天的《词汇掌故》，一个教你美式英语常用表达，且不会外扬家丑的节目！
我是安娜·马特奥。
