在线英语听力室

VOA慢速英语2019--“敲木头”祝你好运

时间:2019-04-28 14:33:47

搜索关注在线英语听力室公众号:tingroom,领取免费英语资料大礼包。

(单词翻译)

'Knock on Wood' for Good Luck

Now, Words and Their Stories from VOA Learning1 English.

Each week on this program, we talk about common words and expressions in the English language.

Today, we tell about the word “knock.” To help explain expressions using “knock,” you will hear scripted3 dialogues. We will also use songs. We really want to knock your socks off!

In other words, we want to have such an effect on you that your socks fly off your feet! So to speak.

Another expression with a similar meaning is “Knock ‘em dead!”

Usually, we say this to close friends or family members when we want them to do a really great job at something. It is an easy-going4, informal5 way to give someone motivation.

So, if a friend has a very important meeting, you can say to her, “Don’t worry. You will knock ‘em dead!” In other words, you are going to impress them so much that they will fall over dead! Not actually, of course.

The “e-m” in this expression is short for the word “them.” But when saying this expression, we don't say “them.” We say the informal, shortened6 form of the word -- pronounced ‘em. And we say it quickly blending8 the words together: Knock ‘em dead.

Now, as a verb9, “knock” has many meanings. The most common is to simply knock on something, or hit it, with your fist. For example, you knock on a door when you want to enter someone’s house. That you probably know. But did you know that when you want good luck, you should knock on wood?

You gotta knock on wood, Baby

You gotta knock, knock, knock on wood.

You gotta knock, knock, knock on wood

(This is Amii Stewart singing "Knock on Wood.")

Knock on wood is something we either do or say (or both) to bring good luck.

This custom may come from ancient times when people believed that gods existed in nature. So, for example, knocking on a tree was thought to bring good luck. Even if they don’t believe it to be true, many Americans say “Knock on wood!” to mean “Wish me good luck!”

Now, another way we use “knock” as a verb is to combine it with the word “around.”

To knock around is to walk around without a clear purpose. So, you can knock around your neighborhood, a ball field or city streets. One day on a visit to New York City, I knocked around Central Park for a good two hours! And it was not a waste of time. So, don’t knock me for spending so much time knocking around!

And this brings us to yet another meaning of the word “knock.”

It also means10 to criticize11. If you knock something you find fault with it. So, if someone criticizes12 your career choice, you can say, “Why are you knocking my job? It’s my business what I do. Not yours.”

We use this meaning of “knock” in another informal expression: Don’t knock it 'till you’ve tried it. This means you should not criticize something you have not tried.

Another common expression is to simply tell someone to “knock it off!” This is a forceful and somewhat13 childish14 way to say “Stop it!”

There is another “knock” expression that we use only in special situations. So, let’s say somebody wants to do something and you really don’t care if they do it or if they don’t. In that case, you could say, “Knock yourself out.”

Let’s hear it used in these two short dialogues.

A: Wow, your sandwich looks good.

B: It is good. But I'm full.

A: Can I finish the rest?

B: Knock yourself out.

_____

A: Hey, are you going to be home this weekend?

B: Yes. Why do you ask?

A: Well, I want to throw a party. Since you’re my roommate, I’d thought I’d check with you first.

B: I don’t care.

A: Are you sure? It might be loud.

B: Knock yourself out!

On the Formal/Informal Scale15 – if we were to have one -- this term would rate as very informal. So, only use it with your good friends and not your employer16, your friend’s grandparents or a university professor.

Speaking of university, some people go there to learn. While others learn from experience. And difficult experiences can be the best teacher. In a way, they are a lot like school. And we call that school the school of hard knocks.

Had to learn it the hard way

Earn my degree in the streets

Graduated from Hard Knocks

I got my education and hard knocks

(Joe Cocker singing "Hard Knocks")

In the school of hard knocks, you learn something as a result of difficult or unpleasant17 experiences. The term "hard knocks" means the situations in life that try to knock you down, but you won’t give up.

And that brings us to the end of this Words and Their Stories.

Until next time … I’m Anna Matteo.

I get knocked down, but I get up again.

Nothin(g)’s ever going to keep me down.

I get knocked down, but I get up again.

Nothin(g)’s ever going to keep me down.

Words in This Story

scripted – adj. to write the script2 for (a play, movie, television show, etc.)

dialogue – n. a conversation between two or more people

similar – adj. almost the same as someone or something else

informal – adj. having a friendly and relaxed quality : suited for ordinary use when you are relaxing

motivation – n. a force or influence that causes someone to do something

impress – v. to affect strongly or deeply18 and especially favorably

blend7 – v. to mix so completely19 that the separate20 things mixed cannot be told apart

luck – n. the things that happen to a person because of chance : the accidental21 way things happen without being planned

formal – adj. following established form, custom, or rule

scale – n. a standard for measuring or judging


分享到:


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 learning wpSzFe     
n.学问,学识,学习;动词learn的现在分词
参考例句:
  • When you are learning to ride a bicycle,you often fall off.初学骑自行车时,常会从车上掉下来。
  • Learning languages isn't just a matter of remembering words.学习语言不仅仅是记些单词的事。
2 script 2Z4x4     
n.剧本,广播稿;文字体系;笔迹,手迹
参考例句:
  • It's easy to identify his script.他的笔迹容易辨认。
  • The script is massaged into final form.这篇稿子经过修改已定稿。
3 scripted fd75f3e995ad820014b36a9463107135     
为电影(或戏剧等)写剧本( script的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • Many novels were scripted for TV shows. 许多小说被改编成电视剧本。
  • When a manager meets with Welch,the exchange is candid, not scripted. 管理人员会见韦尔奇时,交谈是坦率而不加修饰的。
4 easy-going easy-going     
adj.随和的;轻松的
参考例句:
  • She is an easy-going girl.她是一个随和的女孩子。
  • The students considered Mrs.Smith an easy-going teacher.学生们认为史密斯夫人是一位宽容随和的老师。
5 informal fQVzW     
adj.非正式的,不拘礼的,通俗的
参考例句:
  • I got an informal reception.我受到了非正式接待。
  • The leaders met over informal lunches.领袖们在非正式午餐时进行会晤。
6 shortened 8560273e5cfe310f2c9d5ab5defa48f3     
v.弄短,缩短( shorten的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • She shortened the skirt by an inch. 她把裙子缩短了一英寸。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Vacations have lengthened and the work week has shortened. 假期延长,工作周就缩短了。 来自辞典例句
7 blend gWmzf     
v.(使)混和,(使)混杂;n.混合物;混和
参考例句:
  • Do you think these two colours will blend together?你认为这两种颜色和谐吗?
  • These houses seem to blend into the surrounding scenery.这些房屋似乎与周围的景色融为一体了。
8 blending 1b1a658425aa79307580e4a4507a7e0e     
n.混和,混成,混和物v.(使)混合( blend的现在分词 );(使)混杂;(使)调和;协调
参考例句:
  • The city is a happy blending of town and country. 这个城市是城乡的巧妙结合。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • The then current concept of heredity through pangenesis implied a blending process. 当时流行的泛生说的遗传概念意味着遗传是一个融合的过程。 来自辞典例句
9 verb OiywI     
n.[语]动词
参考例句:
  • The sentence is formed from a verb and two nouns.这句子由一个动词和两个名词构成。
  • These are the finite forms of a verb.这些是一个动词的限定形式。
10 means 9oXzBX     
n.方法,手段,折中点,物质财富
参考例句:
  • That man used artful means to find out secrets.那人使用狡猾的手段获取机密。
  • We must get it done by some means or other.我们总得想办法把它干完。
11 criticize wOyzL     
vt.批评;批判,指责;评论,评价
参考例句:
  • Whenever you criticize him,he always has an excuse.你批评他,他总有说头儿。
  • You are free to criticize my work.你可以随意批评我的工作。
12 criticizes f1b33957850eca311c8ca61cbff875d2     
v.评论,批评( criticize的第三人称单数 )
参考例句:
  • Jacobson's group often criticizes at a variety of restaurant foods. 雅各布森所在的这个消费者组织常对餐馆提供的食物进行批评。 来自互联网
  • The writer criticizes and suspects the fate from the tragedy of Mathilde. 文章从玛蒂尔德的悲剧中叩问命运、质疑命运。 来自互联网
13 somewhat Pwtw1     
pron.一些,某物;adv.多少,几分
参考例句:
  • The cake we made was somewhat of a failure.我们做的蛋糕不大成功。
  • The two office buildings are somewhat alike in appearance.这两座办公楼在外形上有点相似。
14 childish rrmzR     
adj.孩子的,孩子气的,幼稚的
参考例句:
  • The little girl spoke in a high childish voice.这个小女孩用尖尖的童声讲话。
  • We eventually ran out of patience with his childish behaviour.我们终于对他幼稚的行为忍无可忍。
15 scale VTvzu     
n.比例;程度;范围
参考例句:
  • The scale of this map is an inch to a mile.这张地图的比例尺是一英寸代表一英里。
  • He's in business on a small scale.他做的是小本生意。
16 employer ItNzrt     
n.雇用方,雇主
参考例句:
  • My employer deducted ten pounds from my wages this week.我的雇主从我本周的工钱中扣除了十英镑。
  • His monthly salary is paid into the bank by his employer.他的月薪由雇主替他存入银行。
17 unpleasant jKRzC     
adj.使人不愉快的,使人厌恶的,煞风景的
参考例句:
  • A very unpleasant thing has happened.一件令人很不愉快的事发生了。
  • The kind advices are often unpleasant to the ear.好言常常不入耳。
18 deeply Ru7zyZ     
adv.深刻地,在深处,深沉地
参考例句:
  • I do feel deeply the strength of the collective.我确实深深地感到了集体的力量。
  • We're deeply honoured that you should agree to join us.您能同意加入我们,我们感到很荣幸。
19 completely lvmzzZ     
adv.完全地,十分地,全然
参考例句:
  • She never completely gave up hope.她从不完全放弃希望。
  • I feel completely in the dark on this question.这件事使我感到茫然。
20 separate hzewa     
n.分开,抽印本;adj.分开的,各自的,单独的;v.分开,隔开,分居
参考例句:
  • Are they joined together or separate?它们是合在一起还是分开的?
  • Separate the white clothes from the dark clothes before laundering.洗衣前应当把浅色衣服和深色衣服分开。
21 accidental LJzyw     
adj.偶然的;意外的;无意中的
参考例句:
  • It was an accidental meeting.这完全是一次偶然的相会。
  • Our meeting in New York was quite accidental.我们在纽约的会见完全是偶然的。

本文本内容来源于互联网抓取和网友提交,仅供参考,部分栏目没有内容,如果您有更合适的内容,欢迎 点击提交 分享给大家。