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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。
Today we talk about one of those English words that changes meaning depending on the words added to it.
今天，我们要讨论的是一个会根据加在其后面的单词而改变意思的英语单词。
"Double" is just such a word.
“Double”就是这样一个词。
It is such a useful word that we should discuss it on the double!
它是一个很有用的词，我们应该立即讨论它！
That means quickly.
on the double的意思是迅速。
If I say, "Get here on the double," it means get here as soon as you can. Please.
如果我说“Get here on the double”，意思是请尽快赶到这里。
But that is just one of the many uses of this versatile word.
但这只是这个多功能词的众多用法之一。
"Double" means two of something.
“Double”的意思是双份/两倍。
So, if you double up on something, you increase the amount by two.
所以，如果你在某件事上加倍，意思是你增加了两倍的量。
For example, if I plan to enter a swimming race, I might want to double up on my training.
例如，如果我计划参加游泳比赛，我可能想要加倍训练。
So, if I train one hour a day, I would increase my training to two hours a day.
所以，如果我每天训练一个小时，我会把我的训练时间增加到每天两个小时。
Now, if you add “down” to "double" you get something completely different.
现在，如果你把“down”加在“double”后，你会得到完全不同的词组。
If you double down, you stick to a position or undertaking even if it is not a good one.
如果你double down，意思是你坚持一个立场或一项事业，即使它不是好的。
You are not willing to change your position at all.
你根本不愿意改变你的立场。
For example, instead of apologizing for a poorly worded statement, the politician doubled down and said it again.
例如，政客没有为措辞不当的声明道歉，反而是变本加厉，重新说了一遍。
Here, we could also say he dug in his heels.
在这里，我们也可以说他坚持己见。
Now, if something does double duty is serves two purposes.
do double duty的意思是同时具有两种功能。
For example, an exercise bike serves double duty if I can also dry my towels on it.
例如，如果我还可以在健身自行车上晾干毛巾，那它就具有双重功能。
People can also do double duty.
人们也可以有双重功能。
That means they do two jobs or the work of two people.
意思是他们做两份工作或两个人的工作。
Let's combine "double" with the word "back."
让我们把“double”和“back”结合起来。
If you double back, you turn around and come back the same way that you came.
double back的意思是沿原路返回。
One time I took a hike and got a little lost.
有一次，我徒步旅行，迷路了。
So, instead of continuing, I just doubled back: I returned the way that I came.
所以，我没有继续前进，而是沿原路返回：我按照我来的路线返回了。
A delayed reaction to something that takes you by surprise is called a double take.
对让你吃惊的事情的延迟反应被称为double take（愣了一会儿才恍然大悟的反应）。
We usually say do a double take.
我们通常说do a double take（露出不能置信的表情）。
For example, I did a double take when I saw my co-worker after a year.
例如，当我在一年后看到我的同事时，我露出不能置信的表情。
She had a new haircut and a tattoo.
她换了个新发型，还纹了纹身。
I had to double-check if it was even her.
我不得不再次确认那是不是她。
When I looked again and made sure it was my friend, I told her how much I liked her tattoo.
当我再看一眼，确定那是我的朋友时，我告诉她我有多喜欢她的纹身。
Then she doubled over with laughter.
然后她笑弯了腰。
As it turns out, it was a temporary tattoo.
事实证明，这只是一个临时纹身。
When we double over, we bend over and cannot stand up straight because of laughter or from pain.
double over指的是我们因为大笑或疼痛而弯腰，站不直。
For some reason, certain "double" words are not good.
出于某种原因，某些含“double”的词语的含义并不好。
For example, double-crossing someone means to cheat them.
例如，double-crossing的意思是欺骗某人。
A double-cross is a betrayal.
double-cross指的是背叛。
We could also use the word double-dealing which has a similar meaning.
我们也可以使用double-dealing，它有类似的意思。
Double talk is language that appears to be meaningful but, in fact, is a mixture of sense and nonsense.
Double talk（含糊其词的话）是一种看似有意义的语言，但实际上是有意义和无意义语言的混合体。
And doublespeak is language used to trick people by hiding some of the truth.
doublespeak是一种通过隐藏一些真相来欺骗人们的语言。
A double standard is a set of principles or rules that apply differently and usually more severely to one group of people than to another.
double standard（双重标准）是一套规则，通常在实施这套规则时对一群人会比对另一群人更严厉。
For example, people are not surprised if an older man dates a much younger woman.
例如，如果一个年长的男人和一个年轻得多的女人约会，人们并不感到惊讶。
However, those same people may criticize a woman who dates a much younger man.
然而，这些人可能会批评一个和比其年轻得多的男人约会的女人。
That is a common double standard because the outcomes are so different.
这是一种常见的双重标准，因为结果截然不同。
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。
I hope you enjoyed this exploration of the many word combinations using "double."
我希望你喜欢本期有关含有“double”的许多词组的内容。
You may want to double up on your English lessons by practicing with the combinations of this very useful word.
你可能想通过练习含有这个非常有用的单词的词组来使你的英语课加倍。
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！
