(单词翻译:单击)
听力文本
Now, from VOA Learning English, this is Words and Their Stories.
American English, like all languages, has countless colorful words and expressions. We call some slang. It is not always easy to explain the history of slang expressions. Some seem to develop out of nowhere. Some do not last very long or become dated very quickly.
Other expressions, however, live on for years. We use them in our day-to-day lives, usually without knowing how they began. Today we look at one such word -- and one you may be wearing right now -- sneakers!
Sneakers are a type of comfortable shoe. We wear them for sports and when we have to walk a lot. Many children wear them to school. And some adults wear them to work, especially if they must walk to work or ride a bike.
Some say that the word "sneaker" is slang for a tennis shoe. Others say it comes from the old English verb "sneak," meaning to move silently and with speed. If you sneak up on someone and you are wearing sneakers they probably will not hear you. Well, unless your sneakers squeak. We all know squeaky sneakers stop silent sneaking. (Say that five times fast!)
For many people, sneakers are not just for comfort -- they are also fashionable. These people choose the colors and styles very carefully to make a statement about their own personal style. And they may pay a lot of money for them!
So, sneakers can be more than a fashion statement. They can also be a sign of wealth. Some schools in the U.S. even have rules about what sneakers students can and cannot wear. This prevents students from wearing extremely costly sneakers and avoids "sneaker shaming." This is when you make fun of someone because they are wearing less costly sneakers.
To some people, sneakers are a form of art. In fact, there is a museum in the American city of Boston just for sneakers! The Sneaker Museum celebrates the history of the sneaker and their cultural importance as works of art.
But there are other words for these types of shoes. There are running shoes, cross-trainers and trainers. All of these fit under the same term: athletic shoes.
Sometimes we just call our sneakers by their brand names -- our Chuck T's, Nikes or Adidas.
If you have an old pair of shoes that you always wear you might call them your beaters.
Now, sneakers may not be your choice of shoe. But you must admit that they are comfortable to wear. Well, if they fit correctly, that is.
Maybe that is why we say, "If the shoe fits … wear it!"
Actually, no. That is not why we say this. We use this expression in a very strange way. Here is what it means.
If someone says something bad about you but it is true -- you have to accept it. You cannot deny it!
For example, a friend of yours is always late for everything. One day, he shows up to your apartment (late, of course) and says, "Can you believe it!? My boss just fired me! She says I am always late!"
You could simply answer, "Well, if the shoe fits…"
You do not even need to finish. Your friend will know exactly what you mean. He is always late and now must take responsibility. He must "wear the shoes" of a person who is always late, so to speak.
But do not be surprised if he leaves your apartment and never talks to you again. The expression "If the shoe fits, wear it" is somewhat rude. So, it is not exactly a nice thing to say, especially if someone has just lost their job!
Now, there is nothing stopping you from using this expression for good behavior…well, except for the fact that I personally have only ever heard it used for bad.
And that's the end of this Words and Their Stories.
I'm Anna Matteo.
重点解析
1.a lot of 大量；很多
I think a lot of people still underestimate him.
我觉得很多人仍然低估了他。
2.in fact 实际上；事实上
In fact, those people have been promoted.
事实上，那些人已经升职了。
3.so to speak 可以说；可谓
Andy was my first boss, so to speak.
可以说，安迪我的第一个老板。
参考译文
欢迎收听VOA慢速英语《词汇掌故》。
美式英语和所有语言一样，有无数丰富多彩的词汇和表达方式，我们称之为俚语。要解释俚语的历史并不总是件容易事，有些似乎是无中生有，有些不会持续很长时间或者很快就过时了。
然而，其他的表达方式却流传多年。我们在日常生活中使用它们，通常不知道它们的由来。今天，我们来看看这样一个词——你现在可能就穿着的运动鞋（sneakers）！
运动鞋是一种舒适的鞋。我们做运动，以及需要走很多路时，就会穿上它们。许多孩子穿它们上学，有些成年人穿着它上班，尤其是当他们必须步行或骑自行车上班的时候。
有人说“sneaker”这个词是网球鞋的俚语，也有人说它来自古英语动词“sneak”，意思是安静、快速地移动。如果你穿着运动鞋偷偷接近某人，他们可能听不见你的声音，除非你的运动鞋吱吱作响。我们都知道吱吱作响的运动鞋终止了默默潜行。（快速说五遍！）
对许多人来说，运动鞋不仅舒适，它们也很时髦。这些人非常仔细地选择颜色和款式，来表达自己的个人风格。他们可能会为此花很多钱！
所以，运动鞋不仅是一种时尚宣言，它们也可能是财富的象征。美国的一些学校甚至对学生能穿什么样的运动鞋做出了规定，这能防止学生穿非常昂贵的运动鞋，避免“运动鞋羞辱”。这是说你取笑某人，因为他们穿着较便宜的运动鞋。
对一些人来说，运动鞋是一种艺术形式。事实上，在美国波士顿市有一个专门的运动鞋博物馆！运动鞋博物馆颂扬运动鞋的历史，及其作为艺术作品的文化重要性。
但这类鞋还有别的词汇，如“running shoes”（跑鞋）、“cross-trainers”（多功能运动鞋）和“trainers”（运动鞋）。所有这些都属于同一类术语：运动鞋。
有时，我们只是用鞋子的品牌来称呼运动鞋——匡威、耐克或阿迪达斯。
如果你有一双自己一直穿着的旧鞋子，你可以称之为你的“beaters”（在恶劣的天气下穿着的爱鞋！）。
现在，运动鞋可能不是你穿鞋的选择。但你必须承认，它们穿起来很舒服。好吧，如果它们合适的话，就很舒服。
也许这就是为什么我们说，“如果鞋子合适……就穿着它！”
事实上，不是的，这不是我们这么说的原因。我们用一种非常奇怪的方式来使用这种表达，下面是它的意思。
如果有人说你的坏话，但这是真的——你必须接受，不能否认！
例如，你的一个朋友做什么事都迟到。有一天，他来到你的公寓（当然，又晚了），说：“你能相信吗！？我老板刚刚解雇了我！她说我总是迟到！”
你可以简单地回答，“Well, if the shoe fits…”（好吧，你就接受吧……）
你甚至不需要说完，你的朋友就会明白你的意思。他总是迟到，现在必须承担责任。可以说，他必须像一个总是迟到的人那样“穿上鞋子（接受现实）”。
但如果他离开你的公寓后再也不理你了，也不要惊讶。“If the shoe fits, wear it”这句话有点不礼貌。所以，这并是一句好听的话，尤其是如果某人刚失业！
现在，没有什么能阻止你用这个词来表达好行为，不过我只听过这个词用于坏事。
这就是今天的《词汇掌故》节目。
我是安娜·马特奥。
