(单词翻译:单击)
听力文本
Now it's time for Words and Their Stories, a program from VOA Learning English.
On this program, we explore common words and expressions in American English. Sometimes we tell you their origins, but we always teach you how to use the words in conversation.
Today, we are going to talk about something bad; in other words, something naughty.
Have you ever listened to a private conversation? Maybe you were standing by a door or in a hallway and you heard people talking about someone else you know. And you could not help it. You paused ... you perked up your ears ... and you listened.
You knew, of course, that these people were not speaking to you. They did not invite you to be part of their conversation. You invited yourself. You eavesdropped.
To eavesdrop means you secretly listen to the conversations of others. Some types of people are very good at eavesdropping. Nosy people, people who like to gossip and spies are all good eavesdroppers. The only difference among my examples is that spies get paid and could get killed for getting an earful.
Originally, however, the word "eavesdrop" had nothing to do with spying or listening to private conversations.
When it was first used in the 1600s, "eavesdrop" was the water that fell, or dropped, from the eaves of a house.
Eaves are the parts of the roof that hang over the walls and shade the outside of a house. After more time passed, "eavesdrop" came to mean the ground near the house where the water fell. After even more time passed, "eavesdropper" described someone who stood near a house to secretly listen to a conversation happening inside.
These days you can be standing anywhere to eavesdrop. The word simply means "to listen secretly to something said in private."
English has another expression related to eavesdropping and the home: the walls have ears. This means be careful what you say as there might be people listening.
Some word experts say this expression may come from story about an ancient Greek ruler (430–367 BC) who had an ear-shaped cave cut and connected between the rooms of his palace. This allowed him to listen to conversations in other rooms.
This form of eavesdropping became common practice with rulers from many cultures. In English, the phrase "the walls have ears" was first recorded in its present form in the mid-1600s.
Now, if you like (or hate) learning English phrasal verbs, there's a great one for eavesdropping – to listen in on. Usually our phrasal verbs have only one preposition. Not this one. It has two!
When you listen in on something, you listen to people speaking without joining in, usually secretly.
But not always.
You can listen in on a class at university or listen in on a meeting at work. These examples do not suggest that you were listening secretly. But if you are listening in on a private conversation, chances are you are listening to something private that does not concern you. You are not minding your own business.
Now, maybe you were minding your own business. Maybe you just happened to have overheard a private conversation. Overhearing is more innocent than eavesdropping. You can overhear something by being in the wrong place at the right time.
Now, let's listen in on two people talking to learn how to use these words and expressions in a conversation. And it's okay. We're not eavesdropping. I've given you permission!
So, Amy, I was listening in on the management meeting today. Our manager said that he's putting your project on hold. You're thinking about leaving the company, aren't you?
I haven't told anyone that except Ann Marie. Did she spill the beans to you?!
No. She didn't tell me anything. I just happened to overhear you two talking in the cafeteria yesterday.
Were you eavesdropping on our conversation, Alex?!
No! I was walking behind your table and accidentally overheard what you guys were talking about. Honest.
Alex, it was a really long conversation. Unless you were purposefully listening in on us I don't see how it could have been an accident.
Okay, I was standing behind your table. When I overheard you and Ann Marie talking about your project, my ears perked up. So, I stayed there and listened for a little while ... okay, for a long while.
Alex, you're such a snoop! Look, don't tell anyone. I didn't accept the other job offer yet. So no one knows, okay?
No one except Ann Marie ... and me and ...
Urgh! Alex!
And that brings us to the end of this Words and Their Stories.
I'd like to know how you talk about listening to private conversations in your language? Let's talk in the Comments Section ... where the whole world is able to eavesdrop!
I'm Anna Matteo.
重点解析
1.common practice 惯例
To improve one's professional skill has now become a common practice.
钻研业务已蔚然成风。
2.put on hold 搁置，暂停
Anything that can be put on hold is on hold, so the whole market has turned very weak.
所有能够暂停的销售都暂停了，整个市场因此变得非常疲软。
3.spill the beans 泄露秘密
This is a secret, Don't spill the beans to anybody.
这是一个秘密，不要泄露给任何人。
4.perk up （使）振奋;（使）活跃;（使）快活;使更有趣;（使）增加;（使）上涨;（使）增值
He perks up and jokes with them.
他很活跃，还和他们开玩笑。
参考译文
现在是VOA学英语《词汇掌故》时间。
这个节目探索美式英语里的常用表达。有时候我们会讲述它们的的来源，但我们也总是教会你在交际中这些单词的用法。
今天，我们要谈论一些不好的事情，换句话说，一些不合规矩的事情。
你偷听过私人谈话吗？也许你站在门边或者在走廊里听见有人在谈论另一个你认识的人。而且你控制不住自己。你停下了脚步······竖起了耳朵，然后你偷听了。
你当然知道这些人不是在和你说话。他们没有邀请你参与交谈。你不请自来。你偷听（eavesdrop）了。
“eavesdrop”意思是你秘密偷听别人的谈话。有些人非常擅长窃听。Nosy people（爱管闲事的人），喜欢八卦（gossip）的人以及间谍（spies）都是很好的窃听者。我例子里的唯一不同之处是间谍是有酬劳的且听得太多可能招致杀身之祸。
但单词“eavesdrop”最初和间谍活动或是偷听私人谈话毫无关联。
当17世纪“eavesdrop”第一次被使用时，“eavesdrop（檐水）”是指从屋檐下流下或者滴下来的水。
eaves（屋檐）是悬在墙上的屋顶的一部分，能给房子外面遮荫。一段时间之后，“eavesdrop”开始表示雨水滴下的离屋子近的地方。再过一阵时间之后，“eavesdropper”形容站在屋子旁边偷听屋子里边别人的谈话。
现如今你可以站在任何地方偷听（eavesdrop）。这个词就是“秘密偷听私下里说的话”的意思。
英语里还有另一个和屋檐以及家相关的表达：隔墙有耳（the walls have ears）。这个表达的意思是说话的时候小心别人偷听。
一些文字专家说这个表达可能来自一个古希腊统治者（公元前430–公元前367）的故事。他将洞窟切割成耳朵的形状，并与宫殿房间相连。这能让他听见其他房间里的谈话。
这种形式的窃听成为许多文化中统治者们的惯例做法。在英语里，短语“the walls have ears”最早是在17世纪中期以现在的形式记录下来的。
现在，如果你喜欢（或者憎恶）学习英语动词短语，有一个极好的表“窃听”意思的动词短语——“listen in on（偷听）”。通常动词短语里只有一个介词，但这个不是。它有两个介词。
当你偷听某事，你在没有参与的情况下听别人说话，通常是偷偷听。
但也不总是这样。
你可以旁听（listen in on）大学课程或者旁听一个工作会议。这些例子没有表明你是在偷听。但是如果你偷听一个私人谈话，很可能你是在听一些与你无关的私事。你没有关注自己的事。
现在，也许你关注自己的事了。也许你只是碰巧无意间听到（overheard）了一个私人谈话。“overhear（无意间听到）”比“eavesdrop（偷听）”要单纯得多。你可能在错误的场合赶巧无意听到了什么。
现在让我们听听下两人谈论这些单词和表达用法的一段对话。这是可以的。我们不是在窃听。我准许你们听！
艾米，我今天旁听了一个管理会议。我们的经理说你暂停了你的项目。你正考虑离职，是吗？
除了安·玛丽，我没有告诉任何人。她和你说了吗？！
没有。她什么也没有和我说。我昨天在食堂恰巧无意间听见你们俩的谈话了。
亚历克斯，你偷听我们说话？！
没有！我正从你身后的桌子边走过，碰巧听见你们俩在说话。真的是这样。
亚历克斯，我们聊了很长时间。除非是你有意偷听我们说话，不然我不明白怎么能凑巧听见。
好吧，我正站你桌后。当时我无意听见你和安·玛丽说你的项目，我就竖起了耳朵听。因此，我就待在那听了会······好吧，听了很长时间。
亚历克斯，你还真是个包打听（snoop）！听着，别告诉任何人。我还没有收到任何别的工作机会。所以，没人知道这事，好吗？
没人知道，除了安·玛丽，我和······
呃！亚历克斯！
这就到了本期《词汇掌故》的尾声了。
我想知道你怎么说“偷听”的？大家在评论区讨论一下吧，那里是整个世界的人都能偷听的地方！
我是安娜·马特奥。
