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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。
On this program, we explore words and expressions in the English language.
在本节目中，我们探讨英语中的单词和短语。
We give definitions, examples, notes on usage, and sometimes we use them in short conversations.
我们给出释义，例子并对用法进行解释说明，有时我们还会在简短的对话中使用它们。
In a recent science report we explained about a weather system called the polar vortex.
在最近的一则科学报道中，我们解释了一种叫做极地涡旋的天气系统。
It caused a snowball effect on extreme weather around the world.
它对世界各地的极端天气造成了滚雪球效应。
The event led to record-high temperatures in many parts of the world.
这一事件导致世界许多地区出现创纪录的高温。
But much of North America had to deal with extreme cold.
但北美大部分地区不得不应对极端寒冷的天气。
Some areas recorded temperatures as low as minus 20 degrees Celsius.
一些地区的气温低至零下20摄氏度。
In an earlier Words and Their Stories program, we explained how to use the expression snowball effect to describe a situation where one action or event causes many other similar actions or events.
在之前的《词汇掌故》节目中，我们解释了如何使用“滚雪球效应”来描述一种情况，即一个动作或事件导致许多其他类似动作或事件发生。
Are you thinking that there must be many more English expressions related to snow, ice, and cold weather?
你是不是在想一定还有更多与雪、冰和寒冷天气有关的英语短语呢？
You are right! The term "snowball effect" is just the tip of the iceberg!
没错！“滚雪球效应”只是冰山一角！
Or, to put it another way, we have many more expressions in American English related to the cold weather.
或者，换句话说，美式英语中有更多与寒冷天气有关的短语。
So, today we will explore some winter words and expressions.
因此，今天我们来探索一些有关冬天的单词和短语。
In the dead of winter, many people like to skate on frozen lakes.
隆冬时节，许多人喜欢在结冰的湖面上滑冰。
But watch out! You don't want to skate on thin ice.
但要当心！你不想在薄冰上滑冰。
That is dangerous. If it breaks you could fall into the cold, dark water below. You could even drown.
这很危险。如果冰裂了，你可能会掉进下面又冷又黑的水里。你甚至可能会被淹死。
So, the expression skating on thin ice serves as a warning.
因此，skating on thin ice这个短语是一个警告。
For example, if a friend is always late to work, you might tell him he is skating on thin ice with his employer.
例如，如果一个朋友上班总是迟到，你可以告诉他，他这样是在拿他和老板的关系冒险。
But, you might not want to say anything to your friend.
但是，你可能不想对你的朋友说什么。
Maybe it is none of your business when your friend arrives at work.
也许你的朋友什么时候来上班不关你的事。
So, you decide to put your warning on ice.
所以，你决定暂时不予以警告。
To put something on ice means to suspend action on something – a temporary halt.
put something on ice的意思是暂时停止对某事采取行动。
In fact, today a co-worker asked me to put my project on ice, so I would have time to help her with today's lesson.
事实上，今天一位同事要求我暂停我的项目，这样我就有时间帮她上今天的课了。
When we put food on ice we preserve its quality for a time.
当我们把食物放在冰上时，我们可以暂时保持食物的品质。
We can wait to eat it later and it will still be good.
我们可能会之后再吃，但食物还是很好吃的。
What about when we break the ice, though?
那break the ice是什么意思呢？
That sounds dangerous, right?
这听起来很危险，对吧？
However, it just means reaching out personally to a stranger. Like in this example:
然而，它的意思只是亲自与陌生人沟通。如下例所示：
Hi Matt. Have you met our new teacher, Jennifer?
嗨，马特。你见过我们的新老师詹妮弗吗？
No. Not yet.
没有。还没。
Why don't you break the ice and introduce yourself this afternoon?
今天下午你为何不打破沉默，自我介绍一下呢？
I certainly will.
我当然会的。
Ice is not all we might face in winter.
在冬天，我们面对的不仅仅是冰。
Sometimes the snow is so deep we cannot even get out of the house.
有时雪太深了，我们甚至无法走出家门。
At those times, you might say there is a snowball's chance in hell I'm leaving home today.
在这种情况下，你可能会说，我今天根本不可能离开家。
Hell is fiery and extremely hot.
地狱里充满火焰，非常热。
A snowball has no chance at survival there.
在那里，雪球没有生存的机会。
So, the expression describes something that is impossible.
所以，这个短语描述的是不可能的事情。
Now that we are stuck inside the house, we say we are snowbound or snowed under.
我们被困在房子里，我们可以说我们被大雪困住。
And we often use snowed under to describe a situation in which we have too much work to do.
我们经常用snowed under来描述我们有太多工作要做的情况。
American children usually love a snow day!
美国孩子通常喜欢雪休日！
That phrase is used to mean schools are closed.
这个短语被用来表示学校停课了。
Students might spend the day outdoors throwing snowballs or building a snowman.
学生们可能会花一天的时间在户外扔雪球或堆雪人。
Or maybe they stay inside, covered up in a warm blanket next to a hot fire, snug as a bug in a rug.
或者他们可能会待在室内，盖着温暖的毯子，挨着热火，像毯子里的虫子一样舒适。
We use the expression snug as a bug in a rug to describe a soft, warm and safe position or situation.
我们用snug as a bug这个短语来描述柔软、温暖和安全的位置或情况。
Sounds like a great place to be, especially during a snow storm.
听起来是个不错的地方，尤其是在暴风雪期间。
I mean, no one wants to be left out in the cold.
我是说，没人想被冷落。
That can really hurt, physically and emotionally!
这真的很伤人，无论是身体上还是情感上！
Sometimes we use this phrase, left out in the cold, when someone has rejected or forgotten us.
有时，当有人拒绝或忘记我们时，我们会用这个短语：left out in the cold（冷落）。
We will never leave English learners out in the cold, to be sure!
可以肯定的是，我们绝不会冷落英语学习者！
Especially not in the dead of winter!
尤其是在隆冬时节！
And that's Words and Their Stories. I'm Caty Weaver.
以上就是本期《词汇掌故》节目的全部内容。我是凯蒂·韦弗。
译文为可可英语翻译，未经授权请勿转载！
