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VOA慢速英语2018--Flip-Flop: Not Just for Your Feet

时间:2018-07-29 15:44:08

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(单词翻译)

 

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

On this program we explore common expressions in American English.

Today we are talking about two things that at first seem unrelated -- changing your mind, and shoes.

Okay, first shoes.

In the summertime, many people around the world wear a kind of casual shoe known as “flip1-flops.” They are completely open. So, they keep feet cool in warm weather. They are also good to wear in the shower, at the beach or by a swimming pool – anywhere wet.

Word and shoe experts both agree that flip-flops come from Japan.

An article in the New York Times explains that after the Second World War ended, Japan increased its production of rubber. Among other things, workers used rubber to make a version of a traditional Japanese sandal, called the zori. Japan exported these rubber zoris all over the world.

But the public did not keep the name zori. The rubber sandals became known as flip-flops. Can you hear why?

“Flip-flop2” is the sound the shoes make when you walk in them.

So, that’s some information about the flip-flop we wear on our feet. But another way we use the word "flip-flop" in American English has nothing to do with shoes.

When you flip-flop, you completely change your mind on an issue. Not only do you adjust your thinking, but you adopt the exact opposite position.

For example, maybe one day you announce to your roommates that you have become a vegetarian3. You plan to eat only vegetables, beans, rice and pasta. But at the end of the week, you make another announcement. You say you've changed your mind. And now, you will only eat meat.

You have flip-flopped.

Word historians say this usage of "flip-flop" began around 1930 and comes from the world of electronics. “Flip-flop” referred to switching circuits that alternate between two states.

Today, we most commonly use the term “flip-flop” in politics.

Being accused of flip-flopping is usually not good. Let’s say you are running for a political office. Early in your political career perhaps you supported a popular issue – such as tax breaks for businesses. But now supporting that issue is not popular.

So, during the campaign, you tell voters that you’ve changed your mind. You are now against tax breaks for businesses. Your opponent could accuse you of being weak, of not knowing what you believe in, or of changing your position to get more votes.

A candidate who flip-flops for political gain usually gives a bad impression. Voters come to know you as a flip-flopper.

Another, more neutral expression that means about the same as "flip-flop" is “to do a 180.” (By the way, you can spell “one-eighty” with either numbers or letters. The pronunciation is the same.)

If you turn 180 degrees around a circle, you will be facing in the opposite direction. So, you can use this term simply to mean turn around. For example, you could say that when your friend saw her ex-boyfriend coming toward her at a party, she did a 180 and quickly walked away.

That is the literal meaning.

Figuratively, doing a 180 means you completely change your opinion, or you make a big change in your lifestyle.

In our earlier example about flip-flopping from being a vegetarian to eating meat, you could also say you did a 180. That expression sounds less critical than “flip-flop.”

At work, you may not want to say that your boss flip-flopped on an important issue. Saying she did a 180 is more polite.

You could also say that she reversed her earlier opinion. Better still, you can say her opinion evolved. Using the word “evolved” gives the impression that she changed her opinion over a long period of time and after thinking about it very carefully.

In other words, if you do not want to offend someone, you might want to save your flip-flops for the beach.

And that’s the end of this Words and Their Stories. I’m Anna Matteo.

It's gonna be another flip flop summer

Kick off your shoes and call up your lover

Say, "Hey baby, the winter is over.

Let's head South awhile”

We're going to take us a long vacation

Mix us up some strong libations …

Words in This Story

sandal – n. a shoe consisting of a sole strapped4 to the foot

switch – v. to shift to another electrical circuit by means of a switch : to make a change from one thing to another by turning or pushing a button or moving a switch, lever, etc.

circuit – n. the complete path that an electric current travels along

alternate – v. to place or do (different things) so that one follows the other in a repeated series

evolve – v. to change or develop slowly often into a better, more complex, or more advanced state : to develop by a process of evolution

literal – adj. in a way that uses the ordinary and usual meaning of a word : “Many words can be used both literally5 and figuratively.”

figurative – adj. of words, language, etc. : used with a meaning that is different from the basic meaning and that expresses an idea in an interesting way by using language that usually describes something else : not literal

impression – n. the effect or influence that something or someone has on a person's thoughts or feelings

neutral – adj. not supporting either side of an argument, fight, war, etc.


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1 flip Vjwx6     
vt.快速翻动;轻抛;轻拍;n.轻抛;adj.轻浮的
参考例句:
  • I had a quick flip through the book and it looked very interesting.我很快翻阅了一下那本书,看来似乎很有趣。
  • Let's flip a coin to see who pays the bill.咱们来抛硬币决定谁付钱。
2 flop sjsx2     
n.失败(者),扑通一声;vi.笨重地行动,沉重地落下
参考例句:
  • The fish gave a flop and landed back in the water.鱼扑通一声又跳回水里。
  • The marketing campaign was a flop.The product didn't sell.市场宣传彻底失败,产品卖不出去。
3 vegetarian 7KGzY     
n.素食者;adj.素食的
参考例句:
  • She got used gradually to the vegetarian diet.她逐渐习惯吃素食。
  • I didn't realize you were a vegetarian.我不知道你是个素食者。
4 strapped ec484d13545e19c0939d46e2d1eb24bc     
adj.用皮带捆住的,用皮带装饰的;身无分文的;缺钱;手头紧v.用皮带捆扎(strap的过去式和过去分词);用皮带抽打;包扎;给…打绷带
参考例句:
  • Make sure that the child is strapped tightly into the buggy. 一定要把孩子牢牢地拴在婴儿车上。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The soldiers' great coats were strapped on their packs. 战士们的厚大衣扎捆在背包上。 来自《简明英汉词典》
5 literally 28Wzv     
adv.照字面意义,逐字地;确实
参考例句:
  • He translated the passage literally.他逐字逐句地翻译这段文字。
  • Sometimes she would not sit down till she was literally faint.有时候,她不走到真正要昏厥了,决不肯坐下来。

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