【话匣子英语】试水

（单词翻译）

什么是“试水”，我们理解这个俚语的意思不能单独从字面去理解，它还可以表示下决定前的询问等等.......

Andrew: So, our first expression is to test the waters.

 

Harp¹: Yes. To test the waters.

 

Andrew: Mmhmm. Plural², right? Waters.

 

Harp: Yes. I’ve heard some people say to test the water, but normally it’s to test the waters.

 

Andrew: Mmhmm. And what does to test the waters mean?

 

Harp: So basically, to test the waters means when you’re not really sure about an action so you’re approaching it very cautiously. You’re not making a rash decision. You’re being very cautious about it.

 

Andrew: Exactly. You’re testing something out, right?

 

Harp: Exactly. So you’re… You’re kind of maybe talking to some friends about an action and seeing how they’re going to react. Or you’re talking to your boss about a new project. You’re… You’re testing the waters to see if this is a good idea, a good action to take.

 

Andrew: Exactly. Because committing 100% to doing something right from the start sometimes is a foolish idea. You need to try things slowly.

 

Harp: Yup. You need to get all the information you can, get a lot of reactions from people before you make a final decision to act on something.

 

Andrew: Exactly. And so this is testing the waters. And this expression… I think it has an interesting origin.

 

Harp: Oh yeah? Tell me about it.

 

Andrew: Well, if you think, you know… Sometimes before you go swimming, you wanna put your hand or your foot into the water to test the temperature before you jump in, right?

 

Harp: Yes.

 

Andrew: And so, this is just literally³ an extension of that idea. Putting your finger in the water to test the temperature is the same thing as trying out something before you commit fully⁴ to that thing.