(单词翻译:单击)
听力文本
Hello and welcome to Words and Their Stories from VOA Learning English.
On this program we explore the origin and usage of common expressions in American English. We always give examples or dialogues using the expressions. Sometimes we even use the words in a short story. All of these can, hopefully, teach you how to best use the expressions.
For today's word we turn our eyes toward the sky!
There is one natural event that many people want to experience during their lifetime -- an eclipse!
Whether solar or lunar, partial or total, these astronomical events bring the movement of our solar system a little more to life.
Solar, as we know, means "relating to the sun." So a solar eclipse happens when the moon passes between the sun and Earth. A dark circle either completely or partly covers the sun as a result.
Lunar means "related to the moon." So, a lunar eclipse is when the moon looks as if it is completely or partially covered with a dark circle.
Some ancient cultures considered an eclipse a sign that the world was ending. Other cultures viewed it as a battle between different animals in the sky as they try to eat up the moon or sun. Another cultural belief was that an eclipse was a time for deep thought and thinking about the past.
The word eclipse comes from a Greek word meaning "to leave," "to abandon," "to forsake a usual place" or "fail to appear". Ancient Greeks thought of an eclipse as a time when the sun abandoned the earth.
In simple terms, an eclipse happens when a planet or satellite blocks the light of the sun. So, it is not surprising that we also use "eclipse" in the same way when talking about other things besides the sun, the moon and the earth.
In conversation, when one thing eclipses another it makes it less important or popular. For example, television eclipsed radio in the 1950s as the most popular form of home entertainment. When one person eclipses another, they do something better. For example, a younger child might hate it when her older sister's school and sports success eclipses her own. The older sister outshines the younger one.
This usage of eclipse is not only used when talking about people. Things can also eclipse other things, as in this sentence: The popularity of the company's new product quickly eclipsed all its earlier products.
Many synonyms of eclipse deal with light and casting shadows, like in the example of the older sister outshining the younger. If a person or a thing outshines another, the light they give off is so bright that no one notices anything else. You could also say the older daughter cast a shadow on her younger sister. Or you could say the younger sister was living in the shadow of her older sister.
Now, let's hear how we use eclipse this way in everyday conversation. Let's listen as two people talk as they wait in line to audition for a Broadway musical.
Are you ready for your singing audition today?
As ready as I'll ever be. The song I'm singing is my favorite and I know it really well.
I'm sure you'll do great. By the way, I'm Corrine. Corrine Mayfield.
I'm Steve Stravinski.
Stravinski? Wait. Are you any relation to Doug Stravinski?!
Yeah. He's my older brother.
Get out! His performance in Les Miserables was so beautiful. Critics are still talking about it! Wow! Doug Stravinski. What is he working on these days?
An album. His fourth album.
That is just awesome! It will probably be another number one seller! So, what's it like being his brother?
Great. Just great.
It must be tough living in the shadow of Doug Stravinski!
I don't think about it ... you know, until someone brings it up.
Oh, I'm so sorry. But it's just that ... well, he's so amazing and famous. He casts a really big shadow!
Yes. Look, do you mind if we don't talk? I really need to prepare for my audition.
Of course. Of course. It's so typical, isn't it -- an older brother or sister eclipsing a younger one. They do everything first, do it longer. And, they're usually better -- usually the shining star in the family!
Hm-hmm.
Listen to me! I'm doing it again, aren't I? I am sure at this audition you are going to outshine everything your brother Doug has done on stage.
Yep. Thanks.
Next person!
Hello I'm next.
Name?
Steve Stravinski.
Stravinski? Wait, are you related to Doug Stravinski?! THE Doug Stravinski?! Oh man, he's amazing! I saw him in this show ...
And that's the end of this Words and Their Stories!
Do you use the word "eclipse" like this in your language? Let us know in the Comments Section.
I'm Anna Matteo.
重点解析
1.give off 释放，放出，发出（气体、热量、气味等）
Many flowers give off a nice smell.
许多花朵都会散发出香味。
2.relate to 有关联;与……有关；理解
All these questions relate to philosophy.
这些问题都跟哲学有关。
3.wait in line 排队
And then do I wait in line again?
那我填好了之后还要再重新排队吗？
参考译文
大家好，欢迎来到VOA学英语《词汇掌故》节目。
我们的节目研究“美式英语里常用表达的来源与用法”，我们会给出使用这些表达的的例子或者对话。有时我们在一篇短故事里甚至也会用到这些词汇。希望所有这些内容能够让你学会最好地使用这些表达。
今天的词汇涉及天空！
有一种自然现象，许多人都想在生平能够亲眼目睹一次——那就是日月食（eclipse）！
不论是日食还是月食，部分或是全蚀，这些天文现象会使我们的太阳系活动稍加活跃。
众所周知，“solar”的意思是“和太阳有关的”。当月亮经过太阳和地球之间时就会发生日食，日食的结果就是太阳被黑色的光圈完全遮住或者部分被遮住。
“lunar”的意思是“和月亮有关联的”。所以，当月亮看起来像是被一个黑色的光圈完全或者部分遮住的时候，那就是月食了。
有一些古老的文明认为日食是世界末日的象征；还有一些其他的文明则将其视为是天上各种动物之间争吃月亮和太阳的结果；还有一种文化信仰认为发生日月食的时候便是深思和反思过去的时候。
单词“eclipse”源自希腊语，意思是“离开”，“遗弃”，“离开一个地方”或者“未出现”。古老的希腊人认为当太阳抛弃地球的时候就会发生日食和月食的现象。
简而言之，日月食（eclipse）发生在行星或者卫星遮住太阳的时候，因此当我们谈论到除太阳、月亮和地球以外的事物时也会用到“eclipse”这个词也就不足为奇了。
在交际中，当我们说“one thing eclipses another”时，意思就是“一种事物使另一种事物变得不那么重要或者不那么受欢迎”。例如，电视机压倒收音机成为20世纪50年代最受欢迎的家庭娱乐形式。当说“one person eclipses another"时，意思就是“一个人在某件事情上比另一个人做得更好”。例如，如果姐姐在学业和体育上的成就都超过了（eclipses）妹妹，那么妹妹可能就会讨厌发生这种情况，因为姐姐的光芒会盖过妹妹。
“eclipse”的用法不仅可以在谈论人的时候用，事物之间也可以一物盖过另一物，比如这个句子里：The popularity of the company's new product quickly eclipsed all its earlier products（这个公司的新产品的受欢迎度很快盖过了它之前的所有产品）。
“eclipse”的许多同义词都和光线和投影有关，例如在那个“姐姐的光芒盖过妹妹”的例子里。如果一个人或者某个东西的光芒盖过了另外一个，就是说他们释放的光芒太强了以致于除了他们，别的东西都不会被注意到。也可以说大女儿使她的妹妹黯然失色（cast a shadow on）。或者也可以说，妹妹活在姐姐的光环之下。
现在我们来听一下日常交际中“eclipse”的用法。我们来听听俩人在排队等候百老汇音乐剧试唱时发生的对话。
你准备好今天的试唱了吗？
我时刻都在准备着，我要唱的歌是我最喜欢的那首，我对它特别熟。
我相信你一定会唱得很好。顺便说下，我叫科琳，科琳·梅菲尔德。
我叫史蒂夫·斯特拉文斯基。
斯特拉文斯基？等等，你和道格·斯特拉文斯基有什么关系吗？
是的，他是我哥哥。
不会吧！他在《悲惨世界》里的表现太好啦。评论家们还在谈论这件事！哇！道格·斯特拉文斯基。他最近在忙些什么呢？
他在录专辑，录他的第四张专辑。
太棒了！那很可能又是一张销量第一的专辑！当他的弟弟感觉如何呢？
挺好的，就还好吧。
活在道格·斯特拉文斯基的光环之下肯定不容易吧！
你知道，我没想过这些……除非有人提及。
哦，对不起。但事已至此……嗯，他太了不起、太出名了，他把你的光芒都挡住了！
嗯，你觉得，我们可以不聊这个吗？我真的必须准备我的试唱了。
当然，当然，这太典型了不是吗？哥哥姐姐比弟弟妹妹优秀。他们总是先做，而且做的时间也比弟弟妹妹长。而且，他们总是更好——他们往往都是家里那颗亮眼的明星！
嗯。
听我说！我又开始了是吗？我相信在这场试唱中你能盖过你哥哥在舞台上的所有光芒。
一定。谢谢。
下一个！
你好，下一个人是我。
名字？
史蒂夫·斯特拉文斯基。
斯特拉文斯基？等下，你和道格·斯特拉文斯基是亲戚吗？！是那个道格·斯特拉文斯基吗？！哦，那个男人，他太优秀了！我在节目里见过他……
这就是今天《词汇掌故》的全部内容了！
你在说话时也会像这样使用“eclipse”这个单词吗？请在评论区给我们留言。
我是安娜·马特奥。
