(单词翻译:单击)
听力文本
Now, it is time for Words and Their Stories from VOA Learning English.
On this program we explain the meaning and usage of common expressions in American English.
Today we will talk about expressions with the word "heel".
Now, heel has several meanings, many of which relate to the end or back of things. For example, we call the two ends of a loaf of bread the heels. This can be good to know, especially if you like dipping a bread heel into a simmering pot of tomato sauce or soup.
Another meaning of heel is the end of your foot. In an earlier Words and Their Stories, we explained the story of Achilles' heel in detail. So, we won't repeat that expression in this program. Why should we when they are so many others to choose from?
Just as the heel is the back of your foot, the heel of your shoe is also the back part. Many women like to wear high-heeled shoes. They may look nice but high-heels can cause pain and are not good for your feet. Sometimes we call the really high-heeled shoes that women wear "killer heels."
Speaking of shoes, wealthy people usually have many. To be well-heeled means to be wealthy and well-to-do. Perhaps wearing nice shoes is where "well-heeled" comes from.
Let's move from shoes to pets! You may hear dog owners who are training their dogs say something like, "Heel, boy! Heel!" Here the verb "heel" means to follow or stop at a person's heels.
Now, you would not to leave your beloved pet with a heel. This is a person you cannot trust. "Heel" used in this way comes from an early 20th century American expression meaning an "incompetent or worthless criminal." Language experts say this definition may come from a "person in the lowest position" being compared to the heel of the foot.
Let's talk more about this body part.
Have you ever wanted to describe a situation where you were unwilling to change your mind about something? You could say you dug your heels in. Someone digging their heels in the ground would be difficult to move.
Stubborn is a good word to describe people who have dug their heels in. You could even use them together. For example, I stubbornly dug my heels in when my friend suggested we go to the mountains instead of the seashore. I really wanted to go to the beach!
If someone (or something) is at your heels, they are following closely behind you. Let's say you have a little brother who really wants to hang around you all the time. He is always at your heels – which could become annoying.
However, being on the heels of something is a little different. This expression means that something happens soon after something else. For example, Sonia and Timothy announced their plans to get married on the heels of another big announcement – Sonia's divorce from her last husband. Good timing, Sonia!
As a body part, our heels find themselves in two other common expressions.
To kick up your heels means to have fun. Some word experts think this expression may have come from the world of horses. Others say it comes from the way you might use your feet when you are waiting for something. Regardless of its origin, Americans often use this expression after they have been very busy, as in this example: "After studying all month, the students were happy to finish their exams, kick up their heels and relax!"
The saying to cool your heels means you are forced to wait for something to happen. For example, you may have to cool your heels at a doctor's office or in a long line at the store. We often use this expression as a command. If your friend really wants to go to a party, but you need to make a quick stop first, you could say, "Hey, cool your heels! The party will still be there!"
"To cool your heels" is also casual. If I were talking in a more serious and official situation, I might say that I waited patiently.
This expression dates back to the 16th century. After horses ran a long race, their feet were hot. So the animals stood in water to cool their feet. By the next century, people were using the saying cooling his heels to describe someone who was in a hurry but had to wait for something.
And that's all for this Words and Their Stories. We will be back next week. Until then, you'll just have to cool your heels.
I'm Anna Matteo.
重点解析
1.Achilles' heel 致命弱点
Spelling is my Achilles 'heel.
我最伤脑筋的弱点是拼写出错。
2.well-to-do 有钱的;富有的;富裕的
This is the part of town where the well-to-do live.
这地区住的全是镇上的有钱人家。
3.instead of 而不是；替代；取代
She, instead of her parents, is going to see her uncles.
她将替代她父母去看她的姨妈们。
参考译文
现在是VOA学英语《词汇掌故》节目时间。
在节目中，我们解释美式英语里常用表达的意义和用法。
今天，我们要谈论和单词“heel”相关的表达。
“heel”有好几种含义。其中很多含义与事物的末端或者后部相关。比如我们称呼长条面包的两端为“heels”。这很好懂，如果你喜欢用面包的一头蘸锅里炖的番茄酱或者汤的话，那就更好理解了。
“heel”的另一个含义是脚后跟（the end of your foot）。在之前的一期《词汇掌故》里，我们详细解释了“阿喀琉斯之踵（Achilles' heel，致命弱点）”的故事。那么，在本期节目里我们就不重温那个表达了。有那么多“heel”的表达可选，我们为什么要复述呢？
正如“heel”是你的脚后跟，鞋跟（the heel of your shoe）也是指鞋的后部。许多女人喜欢穿高跟鞋（high-heeled shoes）。高跟鞋也许看起来漂亮，但是会引起疼痛且对你的脚不好。有时候，我们把那些女人穿的特别高的高跟鞋称为“致命高跟鞋（killer heels）”。
说到鞋子，有钱人通常有很多鞋。“be well-heeled（富有的）”意思是富有的和富裕的（well-to-do）。也许“well-heeled””就源于穿漂亮鞋子。
让我们把话题从鞋子转移到宠物！你也许听过狗主人训练他们的狗的时候说过类似这样的话：“到跟前来，宝贝，跟上来！”这里的“heel”是动词，意思是跟着人的脚后或者停在人的脚边。
现在，你会对你心爱的宠物寸步不离（leave your beloved pet with a heel），因为你对它不放心。“heel”的这种用法来源于美国20世纪早期的一个表达，意思是“无用或无价值的罪犯”，语言学家门认为“heel”的这个意思可能来源于人们将“脚后跟”比作成了“社会最底层的人”。
让我们来多说说这个身体部位。
你是否曾试图形容你对某事不愿意改变主意的一种情境？你可以说你坚持拒绝（dug your heels in）。固执己见（dig one's heels in the ground）的人会很难说动。
“stubborn”是一个形容人固执己见的很合适的词。你甚至可以把这两个词一块用。例如，当我朋友建议我们去爬山代替去海边的时候，我坚决坚持己见。
如果某人或者某物跟在你后面（be at your heels），正跟你跟得很紧。假设你有个总想黏着你的弟弟。他总是跟在你后面，这可能会变得很烦人。
但是“be on the heels of sth”有点不同。这个表达的意思是某事紧接着其他事情后面发生。例如，索尼亚在另一个重要宣告不久之后，也就是索尼亚宣布和她的前夫离婚后不久，就和蒂莫西公布了他们的结婚计划。好时机啊，索尼亚！
作为身体部位，“heels”还出现在其他两个常用表达里。
“kick up your heels（好好享受）”意思是开心玩乐。一些文字学专家认为这个表达也许源于马界。其他人说这源于人等待某事的时候，你的脚可能动来动去。不管来源如何，美国人经常在他们忙碌之后用到这个表达，如这个例子：”整月学习之后，学生们很开心考完了试，好好享受，放松放松吧！”
“cool your heels”这个俗语的意思是你被迫等着事情发生。例如，你也许不得不在医生诊室门口或者在商店里排长队等候。我们经常使用这个表达作为一种命令。如果你的朋友很想去一个派对，但是你需要先停一下车，你可以说“嘿，耐心等等！派对还在那里！”
“cool your heels”也是一个非正式表达。如果我在一个更加严肃和正式的场合谈话，我也许会说我耐心等候。
这个表达源自16世纪。马在长久奔跑之后，马足会很热。所以动物们会站在水里给脚降温。到下个世纪的时候，人们用“cool one's heels”这个说法来形容某人很着急但是也得等待某事。
这就是今天的《词汇掌故》节目。我们下周见。在那之前，你们要耐心等待哦。
我是安娜·马特奥。
