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。
Do you like to learn about ancient history?
你喜欢学习古代史吗？
If you do, you could call yourself a history buff.
如果喜欢，你可以称自己为历史爱好者。
If you are a "buff," you have a strong interest in a subject and want to learn all about it.
如果你是一个“爱好者”，那么你会对某一主题有浓厚的兴趣，并且想要了解它的全部。
History buffs can have a special interest in a particular historical period in the past.
历史爱好者可能对过去的某个特定历史时期特别有兴趣。
For example, they might read a lot about ancient Greek or Roman history.
例如，他们可能会阅读大量关于古希腊或古罗马历史的书籍。
History buffs might be interested in ancient Mesopotamia or Carthage.
历史爱好者可能会对古代美索不达米亚或迦太基感兴趣。
Or perhaps the ancient Mayans or Incas would be up their alley.
或者，古代玛雅人或印加人也可能是他们的兴趣所在。
If something is up your alley, it goes along with your interests.
如果有什么事情“up your alley”，那就表示这件事是你的兴趣所在。
It is something you want to know more about.
这是你想要了解更多的东西。
However, English speakers use the expression ancient history in other ways.
然而，英语使用者也会在其他方面使用“ancient history”这个短语。
And many have nothing to do with exploring cultures from long ago.
而且很多情况下的意义都与探索很久以前的文化无关。
For example, if something is ancient history, it is no longer meaningful or relevant.
例如，如果某件事是“ancient history”，就代表它不再有意义或有价值。
It is outdated or totally forgotten.
它要么已经过时了，要么完全被遗忘了。
Something that is ancient history is old news.
成为“ancient history”的东西就是旧闻。
Let's say a business owner wants to modernize and update her workspace.
假设一位企业家想要更新她的工作空间。
She says she wants to get a new fax machine.
她说她想买一台新的传真机。
But then, her young son tells her fax machines are ancient history.
但接着，她年幼的儿子告诉她，传真机已经过时了。
Ancient history can describe events in a person's past.
“Ancient history”可以用来描述一个人过去发生的事情。
Let's say a co-worker always talks about his time in high school.
比方说，一位同事总是谈论他的高中时光。
When he asks about yours, you might say that your high school days are ancient history.
当他问起你的时候，你可能会说你的高中时代已经成为过去了。
You barely remember them.
你几乎记不得什么了。
Sometimes we use ancient history to mean something has been completely forgotten – even if it is a fairly recent event.
有时我们用“ancient history”来表示某件事已经完全被遗忘了，哪怕它是最近才发生不久的事情。
It just feels like it happened a long time ago.
但就是感觉它是很久以前的事了。
For example, two friends of yours want to start a business together.
例如，你的两个朋友想一起创业。
Last month, it was a café.
上个月，他们的想法还是一家咖啡馆。
Now, their latest idea is offering storage units for rent.
现在，他们最新的想法是提供可供出租的存储单元。
When you ask about the café idea, they might say, "Oh, that idea is ancient history.
当你问起关于咖啡馆的想法时，他们可能会说，“哦，那个想法我们已经忘了。
We've moved on from that.”
我们已经向前看了。”
We also use ancient history in another way.
我们还以另一种方式使用“ancient history“。
Sometimes ancient history means an issue has been resolved and is no longer a problem.
有时，“ancient history”表示一个问题已经解决，不再是问题。
It is water under the bridge.
它已经是桥下的水了。
Water under the bridge is another idiom that means a problem no longer exists.
“Water under the bridge”是另一个成语，意思是问题不再存在。
For example, let's say you had an unpleasant experience with a good friend, but it happened years ago.
例如，假设你和好朋友有过一次不愉快的经历，但那是几年前的事了。
You both value your friendship and choose to forgive and forget.
你们都很珍视彼此的友谊，并选择原谅和忘记。
The problem is no longer an issue between the two of you.
那么这个问题不再是你们两个之间的问题。
It is ancient history.
这是一段往事了。
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。
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！
