VOA词汇掌故(翻译+字幕+讲解):危险的难以控制的人
日期:2020-08-31 18:29

(单词翻译:单击)

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听力文本

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Now, the VOA Learning English program Words and Their Stories.

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On this show, we explore the world of American English. We talk about common expressions, where they come from and, most importantly, how to use them.

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Today we talk about behavior and self-control. There are ways of behaving that almost everyone considers normal or comes to expect.

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Children learn very early that some behaviors are more accepted than others. They learn how to control themselves and how to behave in certain situations. This learning continues into adulthood.

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Well, for most people it does. Not everyone behaves how they are expected to.

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So today, we talk about loose cannons!

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危险的难以控制的人.jpg

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A good word to describe a loose cannon is unpredictable. You never know how an unpredictable person will act in any given situation.

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But not all unpredictable people are loose cannons.

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Some people often change their minds about things. Or they surprise you by doing something they do not usually do, or that is out of character. We could describe such people as changeable, uncertain or -- here's a good word -- fickle.

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But I would not describe a loose cannon as fickle. Fickle people can be annoying but they are not usually dangerous.

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Loose cannons, on the other hand, are often unpredictable in violent ways. So, they can be very dangerous! A good word to describe a loose cannon is volatile, or likely to explode!

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So where did the expression "loose cannon" come from?

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By definition, a cannon is a large gun that shoots heavy metal or stone balls. Because of their weight, cannons have to be firmly tied down.

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Hundreds of years ago, cannons were often found on battleships. Sometimes a battle at sea with another warship or a storm would free them from their mounting. As you can imagine, a loose cannon rolling around could do serious damage to a ship and her crew.

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We can say the same about a person who is a "loose cannon."

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Loose cannons, both the guns and people, are difficult to control. Their unpredictable behavior can cause problems for them and others. Family, friends, coworkers or larger groups, such as a sports team or political party can all be affected by a loose cannon.

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You are not sure how loose cannons will react to something. They could get angry, losing their temper at the smallest thing.

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Now, let's hear how these words and expressions can be used.

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Okay. So, local officials are meeting tomorrow night to decide whether or not our neighborhood gets a new school. We need to bring some people who can speak about this issue.

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Let's ask D.J. from across the street. He works at a school.

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No way! He's a loose cannon! One minute he seems fine, but the next he is shouting and hitting the table.

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Hmm. What about Helen?

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Helen! She's more unpredictable and volatile than D.J. One wrong word and she could explode. They are both loose cannons.

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Well, can you think of any other people? How about Matthew?

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No. The city council banned him from attending any meetings for one year.

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Are you serious?

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Yes. At the last meeting he completely lost his temper and actually hit someone!

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Wow! I'm feeling our neighbors are a collection of loose cannons.

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Maybe ... let's not tell them about the meeting. They will do more harm than good!

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And that is Words and Their Stories for this week. I'm Anna Matteo.

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Is there someone in your life who is a volatile loose cannon? Let us know in the Comments Section.

重点解析


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1.out of character 不符合…的性格(或特点),出格

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Her reaction was really out of character.

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她的反应的确与她的性格不符nx]j2IyelAP=enB.PS

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2.lose one's temper 发脾气;发怒

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She tends to lose her temper if you disagree with her.

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你要是不同意她的意见,她可能会发火;Fn2Z&!s,Vi!,PT

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3.do more harm than good 弊大于利;害多益少;大坝工程为害多于为善

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In these types of organizations, reliance on incentive systems alone tends to do more harm than good.

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在这类机构里,依靠激励机制一般是弊大于利的QiR%D8AzmY]l


参考译文

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现在是VOA学英语《词汇掌故》节目时间K#r67s%+ad]^v

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在节目中,我们会探索美式英语世界%2s3RKUC5!+E4Rvp2。我们会谈论常见表达的出处,最重要的是,它们的用法9s2fV&0^.2QvUBw4E5Oe

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今天,我们要讨论的是行为举止(behavior)以及自制力(self-control)S=Bc.9Io0ExCFNd。有一些行为方式,几乎每个人都认为是正常的或是意料之中的W.sXQXx8aBMf6

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孩子们在很早的时候就知道了一些行为会比其他行为更容易让人接受WXWd[Wmy1w+x(y13!X。他们懂得如何自我克制以及在某些情境下要如何表现0AR*(Z;prc。这种学习一直持续到成人阶段9)9^4.HpyHWr=L

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好吧,对于大多数人来说是这样|NHTPR0mE,3BntOSCE。并不是每个人都表现出他们应有的行为nH!%*fsKHobnkZ^+uC

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所以今天我们要谈论的是“loose cannons(难以控制的人)”!

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形容“loose cannons”的一个很恰当的词就是“不可预知(unpredictable)”R|2Typ44,F。你永远无法知道一个不可预知的人在特定情境下会如何反应~#6HO_X|DklOIFt

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但不是所有不可预知的人都是难以控制的人zX&Du#F5h^8k#M

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其中一些人经常会改变他们对事物的想法Kw&91Z^;i7i*PXg.d-。或者,他们会做反常的事情,或者会做一些与他们性格不相符(out of character)的事情来让你感觉出乎意料,我们可以形容这些人易变(changeable)、多变(uncertain),这里有一个很适合的词,反复无常(fickle)QpOcu&;B7!5(rAVzABk

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但是我不会形容难以控制的人反复无常UrQH|tY=HT!e.w。反复无常的人可能会让人讨厌,但是他们通常没有危险性tin^p6)ewq[^~

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然而,难以控制的人在暴力方面往往令人无法预料7e3y%KueoqW,9。因此,他们很危险!形容“难以控制的人”的一个适合的词是“volatile(易变的),或者可能会突然爆发!”

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那么,“loose cannon”这个表达怎么来的呢?

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根据字典释义,大炮(cannon)是发射重金属或者石弹的大型炮,EhrXFc4K3h|s9@0z(o。由于重量的原因,人们必须牢牢绑住大炮n02Roq,1p7]nK9P

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几百年前,人们经常能在战舰上看见大炮N@re%JbdR+n8@。有时候,在与另一艘战舰的海战中,或者遇上暴风雨时,大炮会从固定装置上松开J6VLX._V.h![Fs.a。正如你所想象的,一门未被固定的大炮会四处滚动,给船体或者船上的人员带来严重的伤害M_,!XI_[g^doOZ(TA

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那么不受控制的人(loose cannon),也同样会这样xzr9zJ)p6iof)]

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难以控制的大炮和人都很难以被控制住*T^wLWMx[]3。两者不可控的行为会给二者自身和其他同类带来麻烦ZW7e0GGh|78lbpKre。家庭、朋友、同事或者诸如运动队或者政治党派等大型组织,所有这些都可能会受到“一个难以控制的对象”的影响z3blzX,3b(+dFS)

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你无法确定一个难以控制的人会如何应对某事*,9ug6BnqMN]-@ut。他们可能会因为极小的事情而生气、发脾气FPjjNmuCfH;(xKVvT7

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现在,让我们来听听这些单词和表达是如何运用的YH)5aD|5lqx7&4q7

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好的MAa!,9PvSr!ryt6=j。那么,地方官员明晚会开会决定是否在我们的社区建立一所新学校6W70;xH5kLu。我们需要带一些能就此事发表看法的人去参加会议i|!sY~Auc9W-A

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让我们问问对街的音响师nF6HQbjWlha。他在学校工作lvtQVMMD=qjvVwExq=

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不行!他是一个难以控制的人!前一分钟他还好好的,下一分钟他就在大喊大叫,砸桌子了NANb7Yv#1M-#(pd

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2Z8FUyY70aLGBG4。那海伦怎么样?

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海伦!她比音响师更令人无法捉摸、更善变;Rg4wL*we@。说错一个词,她都能炸了38sH08OO@3t(。他们都是难以控制的人EAR=|V1+sg;

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好吧,那你能想到别的人吗?马修怎么样?

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不行!^a|Nq,USG%~ayIc!x。市议会禁止他一年内出席任何会议l*|g%RgX1xVZf

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你是说真的吗?

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是的[b0g0%)QOP~3e+#。上次会议上,他情绪彻底失控,事实上,他还打了人!

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哇!我感觉我们的邻居是一群难以控制的人h6zelk^C;&[SL6fB

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也许……我们不要告诉他们这次会议的事oRq9G|WcXZqQ。他们会成事不足,败事有余!

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这就是本周的《词汇掌故》节目_(Os3[M(sKUijmoy。我是安娜·马特奥EXv^^_!I5Eovb*o.BR

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在你的生命里有出现过善变的难以控制的人吗?在评论区告诉我们吧sk[V^L+5*i

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