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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。
Language is not only made-up of words.
语言不仅仅是由单词组成的。
Numbers are also important to communicating our thoughts.
数字对于交流我们的思想也很重要。
So, today, we talk about some common English expressions that use numbers.
所以，今天，我们来谈谈一些使用数字的常见英语短语。
Let's start with zero and the expression to zero in.
我们从零和短语zero in开始。
Zeroing in means directing all of your attention on something or someone.
zeroing in指的是将所有的注意力集中在某事或某人身上。
We often say what that something is.
我们经常说那是什么东西。
For example, the defense lawyers were able to zero in on the testimony of an important witness and find problems with it.
例如，辩护律师能够专注于一名重要证人的证词，并发现其中的问题。
Here is another example, I know a woman who can zero in on any relationship problem and find a solution.
这是另一个例子，我认识一个女人，她可以专注于任何关系问题并找到解决方案。
This expression can also mean to take aim directly at something.
这个短语也可以指直接瞄准某物。
For example, when taking a picture, a photographer might zero in on a subject.
例如，当拍照时，摄影师可能会聚焦在一个对象上。
And it is the job of a quarterback in an American football game to zero in on a receiver – the player catching the ball.
在美式足球比赛中，四分卫的任务就是瞄准接球手——接球的球员。
Other words that help to explain the expression to zero in are to focus and concentrate on.
其他有助于解释短语zero in的词汇是focus和concentrate on。
As verbs, these words both mean to direct your attention on something or someone.
作为动词，这两个词的意思都是将注意力引向某事或某人。
Now, let's move to the numbers six and seven.
现在，我们来看看数字6和7。
If something is at sixes and sevens, it is in a state of confusion or disorder.
at sixes and sevens的意思是处于混乱或无序的状态。
In other words, it is all messed up!
换句话说，一团糟！
At sixes and sevens may also mean a state of disagreement between two or more people.
At sixes and sevens也可以指两个或两个以上的人之间意见不一致的状态。
For example, when the manager left without a word the workplace was at sixes and sevens.
例如，当经理一言不发地离开时，办公室里一片混乱。
Nobody knew which way was up! (If you don't know which way is up – you are very confused.)
没有人知道该怎么办！（如果你不知道该怎么办，你很困惑。）
Word experts say this expression may have started in the 1300s.
词汇专家表示，这个短语可能始于14世纪。
At that time, it meant taking a careless risk.
在那个时候，它的意思是粗心地冒险。
Around the middle of the 1600s, the meaning changed to mean a state of confusion.
大约在17世纪中期，它的意思变成了混乱的状态。
Being at sixes and sevens is the opposite of being a ten.
Being at sixes and sevens和being a ten的意思正好相反。
If something is a ten, it is really great.
如果某物是a ten，表示它很棒。
It is perfect or nearly perfect.
它是完美的或近乎完美的。
This usage comes from the highest rank on a scale of one to ten.
这个用法源自以1到10来打分时的最高分数。
For example, on a scale of one to 10 my recent trip to Bangladesh was a ten.
例如，如果以1到10来打分的话，我最近的孟加拉国之行是10分。
I loved every minute!
我喜欢每一分钟！
Now, let's talk about our last expression: to 86 something.
现在，我们来谈谈我们的最后一个短语：to 86 something。
If you 86 something, you get rid of it.
如果你86 something，意思是你把它扔掉。
You throw it out, or you don't use it.
你要么扔掉它，要么不用它。
If I pitch an idea to a group and they 86 it, they do not want it and do not plan to use it.
如果我向一个团队提出一个想法，而他们拒绝了，意思是他们不想要这个想法，也不打算使用它。
Experts at Merriam-Webster's online dictionary explain that this expression may have come from 1930s business slang meaning that an item was sold out. Maybe.
韦氏在线词典的专家解释说，这个短语可能来自20世纪30年代的商业俚语，意为某件商品已售罄。也许吧。
Other experts think the only reason to 86 something means to get rid of it is because 86 rhymes with nix.
其他专家认为，to 86 something表示摆脱某物的唯一原因是因为86与nix押韵。
"Nix" means to cancel or get rid of something.
“Nix”的意思是取消或摆脱某物。
And that's the end of this Words and Their Stories.
以上就是本期《词汇掌故》节目的全部内容。
Have fun using these number expressions in your next English conversation.
祝你在下次英语对话中愉快地使用这些数字短语。
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！
