评论
打印
And now, Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning English.
欢迎收听VOA慢速英语《词汇掌故》节目。
On this program we explore words and expressions in the English language.
在本节目中，我们探索英语中的单词和短语。
We give you examples and sometimes notes on usage.
我们会给你举一些例子，有时还会对用法进行解释说明。
Today we talk about expressions related to keeping on time.
今天我们来谈谈与准时有关的短语。
To help us plan our time, we use tools — namely clocks and watches.
为了帮助我们规划我们的时间，我们使用工具——即钟表。
If something happens at the exact same time every day it is predictable.
如果某件事每天都在同一时间发生，那它是可以预见的。
When an event is very regular, we can say we could “set our watch by it.”
当一个事件非常有规律时，我们可以说我们可以“按它对表”。
And that is our first expression – to set your watch by something.
这就是我们的第一个短语——按某事对表。
You might hear someone using it like this:
你可能会听到有人这样用它：
Regina leaves her house to go to work every weekday at exactly 7a.m — never a minute earlier or later.
瑞金娜每个工作日都会在早上7点整离开家去上班——从来没有早一分钟或晚一分钟。
You can set your watch by it.
你可以按它对表。
In this example, you could say that Regina is a “creature of habit.”
在这个例子中，你可以说瑞金娜“做事总是凭习惯”。
This means she sticks to her plan no matter what happens.
意思是，无论发生什么，她都坚持自己的计划。
And that is why you can set your watch by her.
这就是你可以按她对表的原因。
This expression can also describe someone who is always on time.
这个短语也可以形容总是准时的人。
They are reliable and punctual – like in this example.
他们是可靠和准时的——就像本例中的情况一样。
John said he’d be here at 3 p.m. and it’s 2:45 p.m. If he’s late, we’ll miss our train!
约翰说他下午3点到这里。现在是下午2点45分。如果他迟到，我们就赶不上火车了！
Don’t worry. If John said he will be here, then he will be here. He’s always right on time. You could set your watch by him.
别担心。如果约翰说他3点会到这里，那么他就会在这里。他总是很准时。你可以按他对表。
Now, let’s talk about clocks: devices that tell time.
我们来谈谈时钟：能报时的设备。
Some events or activities happen easily and on time.
有些事情或活动很容易发生而且会准时发生。
And some systems operate without a problem.
有些系统运行起来没有任何问题。
If everything is going as planned, we can say it is “running like clockwork.”
如果一切都按计划进行，我们可以说它进行得很顺利。
Clockwork is a system of wheels and springs inside mechanical clocks.
发条是机械钟内部的一个由轮子和弹簧组成的系统。
The term means something that is carefully made which runs smoothly and on time.
这个词的意思是精心制作、运行平稳且准时的东西。
Once, I ran a two-week teacher training class.
有一次，我开办了一个为期两周的教师培训班。
It took a lot of work to organize and had “many moving parts,” or things that needed to be done.
筹备它需要做大量的工作。
But I’m happy to say that the training ran like clockwork!
但我很高兴地说，培训进行得很顺利！
Here is another way to say that: The training went off “without a hitch.”
另一种说法是：The training went off “without a hitch.”。
Here, “hitch” is a problem.
在这里，“hitch”指的是一个问题。
To run like clockwork means to operate with extreme regularity.
To run like clockwork的意思是非常有规律地运行。
Some word experts say that using a clock mechanism to describe other areas of our lives dates from at least the late seventeenth century.
一些词汇专家表示，使用时钟装置来描述我们生活的其他方面至少可以追溯到17世纪末。
Now, listen to this example:
现在，听这个例子：
For a big company event, we rented a conference room in a big hotel.
为了举办公司的一个大型活动，我们在一家大酒店租了一间会议室。
But we only had the space until 3 p.m.
但我们只能租到下午3点。
And we had a lot of issues to cover.
我们有很多问题要处理。
Luckily, the event ran like clockwork.
幸运的是，活动进行得很顺利。
We got all our work done and still had time left over to have a little fun!
我们不仅完成了所有的工作，还有时间去玩！
The expression “run like clockwork” can also mean to operate, manage, control, or direct something in a very smooth, efficient, reliable manner.
短语“run like clockwork”也可以表示以一种非常平稳、高效、可靠的方式操作、管理、控制或指挥某事。
Used this way, a noun or pronoun is used between "run" and "like clockwork."
这样使用时，名词或代词要放在“run”和“like clockwork”之间。
Here are some examples:
以下是一些例子：
When the new manager took over, he wanted to run the office like clockwork.
新经理上任后，他想把办公室管理得井井有条。
So, he made the workers take lunch at set times every day.
因此，他让员工们每天在规定的时间吃午饭。
When I lived in Seattle, I ran a children’s theater festival like clockwork.
当我住在西雅图时，我顺利地举办了一个儿童戏剧节。
All the performances were on time and everyone had a blast!
所有的演出都很准时，每个人都玩得很开心！
Years ago in Washington, DC, I ran a children's summer camp like clockwork.
几年前，我在华盛顿顺利举办了一个儿童夏令营。
All the activities were on time, and all the children had a blast.
所有的活动都准时进行，所有的孩子都玩得很开心。
And that’s all the time we have for Words and Their Stories.
以上就是本期《词汇掌故》节目的全部内容。
But we’ll be back at the same time next week because this show runs like clockwork.
但我们会在下周的同一时间再见，因为这个节目进行得很顺利。
You can set your clock by it!
你可以按它对表！
Until next time … I’m Anna Matteo.
下次见…… 我是安娜·马特奥。
译文为可可英语翻译，未经授权请勿转载！
