(单词翻译:单击)
听力文本
Deciding by a ‘Flip of a Coin’
And now, Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning English.
On this program we talk about words and expressions from the English language. We also give examples on how to use them.
Today, we are going to talk about coins! Coins are small, flat and usually round pieces of metal issued by a government as money. In the United States we have coins for dollars, half dollars, quarters, dimes, five cents or nickels, and one cent or a penny.
There are two sides to a coin. For example, the U.S. quarter has an image of George Washington on one side and an eagle on the other side. So, naturally, we call the Washington side head and the other side tail.
And that brings us to our first expression: Two sides of the same coin. If two things are two sides of the same coin, they are closely related even though they seem different.
For example:
Experts often consider mental health issues and homelessness to be two sides of the same coin.
In other words, there is often a connection or relationship between the two.
Now, we use coins to buy things. We also use coins to decide between two choices.
We flip or toss a coin and call heads or tails. "Heads you win." or "Tails I win." Whosever call matches the side of the coin showing is the winner. This is what we mean by winning a decision by a flip of a coin or a coin toss.
In many sports, deciding who gets the ball first or takes the field first is sometimes done by a coin toss.
There is a certain amount of luck involved in a flip of a coin. You have a 50/50 chance of winning. For some things, those odds may not be good enough.
When the stakes are very high, meaning when you could lose a lot, you might not want to flip a coin. For example, it would not be a good idea to bet double or nothing of your entire life's savings by flipping a coin. There is a 50/50 chance of your losing everything.
If the two choices are both good and nearly equal, a coin toss might be the perfect way to come to a decision. Let's say you and your best friend want to go out for dinner. She wants Italian. You want Korean. You both like the two restaurants. So, a coin toss is a perfect way to decide.
We also use this expression to describe a situation where two outcomes, usually opposites, are likely to happen. And they will be decided by chance, not by reason or scientific research. To some degree, the results are out of your hands.
Here's an example:
It's out of your hands whether the rain will come today.
I could also say ...
It's a coin toss whether the rain will come today.
And that's all the time we have for this Words and Their Stories.
Whether or not we will be back next week will not be decided by a flip of the coin. We will definitely have a new program for you. On that you can bet your bottom dollar!
Until next time ...
I'm Anna Matteo.
重点解析
1.be out of one's hands 失去控制
I'm afraid the matter is now out of my hands.
恐怕这件事现已不归我管。
2.There are two sides to a coin 凡事都有两面性
There are always two sides to a coin, which is the essence of dialectical thinking.
凡事都存在正负二个方面，可谓物极必反，就是所谓的辩证。
3.To some degree 在某种程度上
These statements are, to some degree, all correct.
这些陈述在某种程度上都正确。
参考译文
那就“抛硬币”决定吧
欢迎收听VOA慢速英语《词汇掌故》。
在本期节目中，我们将讨论英语中的单词和短语。我们也给出了如何使用它们的例子。
今天，我们要讨论的话题是硬币！硬币通常是小型、扁平状的圆形金属块，由政府作为货币发行。在美国，有1美元硬币、50美分硬币、25美分硬币、10美分硬币、5美分硬币和1美分硬币。
硬币有两面。例如，25美分硬币的一面是乔治·华盛顿的头像，另一面是一只鹰。所以，很自然地，我们把华盛顿的那一面称为正面，另一面则是背面。
这就引出了我们的第一个短语：同一枚硬币的两面。如果说两件事情好似同一枚硬币的两面，那么它们就是密切相关的，即使它们看起来不同。
例如：
专家通常认为，心理健康问题和无家可归是同一枚硬币的两面。
换句话说，这两者之间经常有联系或关系。
现在，我们用硬币购买物品。我们也会用硬币在两个选择中做决定。
我们抛硬币，看它是正面还是反面。“正面你赢”或“反面我赢”。硬币的哪一面朝上，谁就是赢家。这就是我们所说的通过抛硬币或来做决定的意思。
在许多运动中，有时会用抛硬币的方式来决定谁先得球或谁先上场。
抛硬币决定某事有一定的运气成分。有50%的机会获胜。对于某些事情来说，这些几率可能不够高。
当赌注很高时，意味着可能会输的很惨，那么你可能不想抛硬币决定。例如，用抛硬币的方式决定家财万贯还是一贫如洗可不是个好主意。毕竟倾家荡产的概率高达50%。
如果这两个选项都是正面且相差无几，那么掷硬币可能是做出决定的最佳方式。假设你和最好的朋友外出吃晚餐。她想去意式餐厅。你想吃韩式餐厅。两家餐厅你们都很喜欢。所以，掷硬币是一个完美的决定方式。
我们也用这个表达来描述两种结果(通常是相反的)可能发生的情况。结果将是随机决定的，而不是通过理性或科学研究来决定。在某种程度上，结果不是你能控制的。
举个例子：
今天会不会下雨不是你能决定的。
我还可以说....
今天会不会下雨是由硬币决定的。
以上就是本期词汇掌故节目的全部内容。
下周节目是否会如期更新无法由抛硬币决定。我们肯定会给大家带来新的节目。这一点可以打包票！
下期节目见...
安娜·马特奥为您播报。
译文为可可英语翻译，未经授权请勿转载！
