(单词翻译:单击)
听力文本
Now, the VOA Learning English program Words and Their Stories.
Our world is home to thousands of different kinds of birds. No two bird species are the same. Each one has its own unique qualities – like its feathers!
Feathers keep a bird warm and dry. Feathers also help it to fly. And they can be very colorful, making a woodpecker with its bright red feathers stand out in the woods on a cold, wintry day.
And people have been wearing bird feathers on hats for hundreds of years. But feathers were not just worn for decoration – to improve a person’s appearance. Hundreds of years ago it often meant something else. A feather could represent a person’s standing, success or even, in some cases, a kill.
Feathers have made their way into many common English expression. Today we talk about one: “To have a feather in your cap.”
'Cause I don't wanna go on with you like that
Don't wanna be a feather in your cap
A feather in your cap is something you are really happy about. The feather gives you bragging rights – a chance to tell the world about your success.
A feather in your cap also gives you an upper hand, meaning it puts you in a better position. For example, on social media, having a million followers on Twitter can be considered a feather in your cap. Getting a pay raise or winning an award can both be feathers in your cap.
So it is something you can be proud of and something you can use in the future to get ahead.
The Etymology Online website notes that the act of placing a feather in a hat or on your head has meant success in many cultures, “apparently independently.”
As an example, the site uses the early English travel writer Richard Hansard and his 1599 Description of Hungary:
"It hath (has) been an antient (ancient) custom among them Hungarians that none should wear a fether (feather) but he who had killed a Turk …”
And some Native American tribes would give feathers to someone for a brave act.
The saying "a feather in your cap" is widely used in conversation and even in some songs. Many American children sing these words without even knowing what they mean.
Let’s listen to part of a well-known song called Yankee Doodle.
This song dates back to the days of the American War of Independence. Some people say British soldiers sang it as a way of making fun of the opposing forces.
“Doodle” was an 18th century British term for a stupid person. And “macaroni” meant a well-dressed person, someone who likes the finer things in life. So, saying “stuck a feather in his cap and called it macaroni” meant that the colonists thought they could look good by simply placing feathers in their caps.
By the way, we still use both “doodle” and “macaroni” today, except the meanings have changed completely. A “doodle” is a quickly made and simple artwork. And “macaroni” is a small noodle.
One last note on this expression: The word “cap” can belong to anyone. In fact, you can use whatever descriptive words you need to explain who is wearing the cap. For example, winning an Oscar is surely a feather in the cap of any movie director. And getting accepted to a great university is a feather in the cap of any student.
Hopefully, speaking English is now a feather in your cap!
And that brings us to the end of another Words and Their Stories.
Until next time, I’m Anna Matteo.
重点解析
1.stand out 突出；显眼
Red flags stand out brightly, set against the blue sky.
红旗在蓝天的映衬下显得分外鲜艳。
2.be proud of 为……自豪；骄傲
Your achievements are something to be proud of.
你的成就是值得骄傲的。
3.in fact 事实上；实际上
In fact, things could get worse in the short run.
事实上，事情在短期内可能会变得更加糟糕。
参考译文
欢迎收听VOA慢速英语《词汇掌故》。
我们的世界是成千上万种鸟类的家园，没有两种鸟类是相同的。每种都有自己独特的品质——就像它的羽毛！
羽毛使鸟保持温暖和干燥，也有助于它飞翔。羽毛可以是色彩斑斓的，啄木鸟那鲜红的羽毛让它在寒冷冬日的树林中显得格外醒目。
几百年来，人们一直把鸟羽毛戴在帽子上。但羽毛并不仅是用来装饰的，即提升一个人的外表。几百年前，它常常意味着别的东西。羽毛可以代表一个人的地位、成功，甚至在某些情况下，是一种杀戮。
羽毛已成为许多常见的英语表达方式。今天我们讨论的一种表达：“To have a feather in your cap（值得炫耀的事）”。
因为我不想和你这样继续下去
不想成为一个值得炫耀的事
帽子上插一根羽毛是让你真正高兴的事。羽毛给了你吹嘘的权利，一个告诉世人你成功的机会。
帽子上的羽毛也能让你占上风，这意味着它能让你处于更好的位置。例如，在社交媒体上，在推特上拥有100万关注者可以视为值得炫耀的事；加薪或获奖也是让你引以自豪的成就。
因此，它是一件令你倍感自豪的事情，你可以在将来出人头地。
词源在线网站指出，把羽毛插在帽子或头上的行为在许多文化中意味着成功，“显然是独立存在的”。
例如，该网站使用了早期英国旅行作家理查德·汉萨德和他1599年对匈牙利的描述：
“匈牙利人有一个古老的习俗，除了杀死一个土耳其人的人之外，谁也不能戴羽毛……”
一些美洲土著部落会因为勇敢的行为而把羽毛送给某人。
“a feather in your cap”这句话在谈话中被广泛使用，甚至也用到一些歌曲中。许多美国孩子唱这些词时，甚至不知道它们的意思。
我们听一首著名的歌，叫做《扬基歌》。
这首歌可以追溯到美国独立战争时期，有人说英国士兵唱这首歌来取笑对手。
“Doodle”是18世纪英国人对蠢人的称呼。而“macaroni”的意思是一个衣着讲究、喜欢生活中美好事物的人。所以，说“stuck a feather in his cap and called it macaroni”，意思是殖民者认为只要把羽毛放在帽子上就能外表光鲜。
顺便说一句，我们今天仍然使用“doodle”和“macaroni”，只是意思已经完全改变了。“doodle”是快速做出的简单艺术品，而“macaroni”是一种小面条。
关于这个表达的最后一点：cap这个词可以属于任何人。事实上，你可以用任何描述性的词语来解释谁戴着帽子。例如，获得奥斯卡奖无疑是令任何电影导演值得炫耀的事。被一所一流大学录取对任何一个学生来说都是引以自豪的成就。
希望说英语现在是你值得炫耀的事！
这期节目就到这里了。
下次见，我是安娜·马特奥。
