(单词翻译:单击)
听力文本
And now, it's time for Words and Their Stories -- our weekly program about common, everyday expressions in American English.
Americans celebrate Valentine's Day on February 14. It is a day for love and hearts can be seen everywhere! So, naturally, I had my heart set on producing a completely new program about heart expressions. I really wanted to do it!
I found every single "heart" expression that I could. I wrote about how heart-to-heart describes two people talking in private about something important and somewhat sensitive. I explained that cold-hearted is a good word to describe a person who doesn't seem to have feelings for others.
And the heart expressions went on and on and on! My heart was really into it. I threw myself, heart and soul, into the writing process. I felt as if my whole body were involved. I researched and researched. I wrote and wrote. I gave a whole-hearted effort. And it felt good! If you really have your heart set on something, you are not going to do it half-heartedly. That's for sure. Why do something with only half your heart when you can give it all you've got.
So, I wrote a story that used all the heart expressions I could find. I wanted to pull at the listener's heartstrings and really make them feel the powerful emotions that I was feeling. So, I included a heart-warming example of two people deeply in love.
The story was really long, but I was pleased with it. Later in the office, I poured my heart out to a coworker. I gushed and gushed about how hard I had worked on the story. She understood. Well, of course, she did. I was wearing my heart on my sleeve. I told her exactly how I felt.
But then she said that I couldn't use my story. You see, years ago someone had already written and produced a show all about heart expressions. I would have to write another story!
I was heart-broken!
All that time researching the subject and writing was wasted. After my story was rejected, I just didn't have the heart to stay in the office. I walked the city streets with a heavy heart. I felt tired and sad.
I knew that I had to find another subject and fast. The publication date was nearing. But I had no enthusiasm. I had lost heart. I didn't feel like writing ... anything.
After hours of walking around, friends saw me, seemingly lost in the city. Concerned about me, my friends bought me dinner in a lovely restaurant. After hearing what happened, they offered many ideas about what I could write for Valentine's Day.
"What about the word 'love,' " they asked.
"It's been done," I answered.
"What about different types of relationships?"
"Been done," I said.
They tried to think of something else that would be a good subject for Valentine's Day. But nothing sounded good.
Look, I know that their hearts were in the right place. They are my friends and wanted to help. And they are really kind-hearted people. But I still felt alone. I didn't have the heart to tell them that they couldn't help me. This was something I had to fix on my own.
But then late in the dinner, something happened.
We ordered a tasty chocolate dessert. One of my friends said that she had had a fabulous dessert recently at another restaurant. She thought it was interesting that the two desserts were made with the exact same ingredients but tasted completely different.
Suddenly, I had a change of heart. I decided to look at my situation in a new way. Although all the heart expressions had already been used in an earlier program, there was no reason I couldn't write another story using the expressions in a different way!
And that's what I did. I also learned something. If you have your heart set on doing something and then find out that someone has done it before, don't lose heart! Simply follow your heart. Just do what you want and do it your own way!
And that's Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning English.
I'm Anna Matteo.
重点解析
1.not have the heart to 不忍心（做……）
We knew the news all the time but did not have the heart to tell her.
我们一直知道这消息，但不忍心告诉他。
2.on my own 形单影只,独自一人,属于我
No, it's too expensive for me. I've decided to try working out on my own.
不了，太贵了。我决定自己做运动。
3.lose heart 沮丧；失去信心；灰心；丧失勇气
Disney did not lose heart. He continued to draw lots of pictures.
迪斯尼并不灰心丧气，他继续画了许多画。
参考译文
现在是《词汇掌故》节目时间，一档关于美式英语里常见日常表达的周更节目。
美国人在2月14日庆祝情人节。这是一个关于爱情的节日，到处都能看见爱心！所以，很自然，我把我的心思放在打造一期关于“heart（心）表达”的全新节目。我真的很想这么做。
我找到了我能找到的每一个“heart”表达。我写下了“heart-to-heart（谈心）”是如何描述二人之间关于重要事情和敏感事情的私密谈话的。我解释了冷酷无情（cold-hearted）是一个描述那种看上去对别人没有情感的人的好词。
“heart”的表达一个接一个！我真得很投入。我全身心地投入（throw oneself, heart and soul, into）到写作进程中。我觉得我整个人都投入进去了。我不停地研究，不停地写。我全副精力（give a whole-hearted effort）都扑在这上面。这种感觉很好！如果你全心全意做某件事情，你没法漫不经心（half-heartedly）。那是肯定的。当你能够全力以赴的时候为什么要敷衍了事呢。
因此，我编写了一个使用了我能找到的所有“heart”的表达的故事。我想触动听众的心弦（pull at the one's heartstrings），让他们感受到我所感受到的浓情厚意。因此，我的故事中包含了一个一对恋人的感人（heart-warming）事例。
这个故事真得很长，但是我很乐意去写。晚点在办公室的时候，我向一个同事倾诉衷肠（pour my heart out）。我滔滔不绝地向她说出我有多努力地写故事。她表示理解。好吧，她当然理解。我的感情全都流露出来了（wear one's heart on one's sleeve）。我告诉了她我的确切感受。
但然后她告诉我我写的故事不能用。要知道，多年前就已经有人写过并做了一期关于所有“heart”表达的节目。我得重写故事！
我的心碎了（heart-broken）！
研究和写作这个主题所花费的时间全都白费了。在我的故事被拒之后，我没有心思待在办公室。我怀着沉重的心情（a heavy heart）走在这座城市的街道上。我感觉既疲惫又伤心。
我知道我得尽快找到另一个主题。发布的日期越来越近了。但我没有热情。我灰心丧气（lost heart）。我不想写任何东西。
在四处闲逛了数小时后，我的朋友们看见了迷路似的我。出于关心我，他们带我去了一家温馨的餐厅里吃晚饭。在听了我的事之后，他们给我情人节可以写的内容提了许多主意。
“关于单词‘love’怎么样”，他们问道。
“做过了，”我答道。
“不同类型的关系怎么样？”
“做过了，”我说。
他们试图想出一个适合情人节的别的主题。但没有听起来不错的。
我知道他们是好心好意（hearts were in the right place）。他们是我的朋友，想帮我的忙。且他们真得是心地善良的（kind-hearted）人。但我依然感觉孤独。我不忍心告诉他们他们帮不了我。这是我必须自己解决的事情。
但之后在晚饭的时候，发生了一件事。
我们点了一道巧克力甜点。其中一个朋友说她最近在另一家餐馆吃了一道美味绝伦的甜点。她觉得一模一样的食材做出来的两道甜点，味道却截然不同，实在有趣。
突然我改变了想法。我决定用一种新的方式来看待我的处境。尽管在早期的节目中已经使用了所有关于“heart”的表达，但是没理由我不能用另一种完全不同的方式写出另一个“heart”表达的故事。
那也就是我做的。我也从中学到了什么。如果你全身心地做某事，之后发现别人已经做过了，不要灰心丧气！就听从你的内心（follow your heart）吧。用你自己的方式去做你想做的事吧！
这就是出自VOA学英语的今天《词汇掌故》的全部内容。
我是安娜•马特奥。
