您現在的位置: Language Tips> Audio & Video> Special Speed News  
   
 





 
It will not wash: Does it work, or not?
[ 2008-07-14 10:03 ]

 

Download

I'm Susan Clark with the Special English program, WORDS AND THEIR STORIES.

(MUSIC)

Young Mr. Smith had an idea for his employer. It was an idea for saving money for the company by increasing prices. At the same time, Smith suggested that the company sell goods of less value.

If his employer liked the idea, Smith might be given more pay. Perhaps he might even get a better job with the company.

Business had been very slow. So Mr. Smith's employer thought a few minutes about the idea. But then she shook her head. "I am sorry, Smith," his employer said. "It just will not wash."

Now, the meaning of these English words should be, "It will not get clean." Yet Smith's idea did not have anything to do with making something clean. So why did his employer say, "It will not wash?"

Most word experts agree that "it will not wash" means it will not work. Eric Partridge wrote that the saying probably developed in Britain in the 1800s. Charlotte Bronte used it in a story published in 1849. She wrote, "That wiln't wash, miss." Miss Bronte seems to have meant that the dyes used to color a piece of clothing were not good. The colors could not be depended on to stay in the material.

In 19th century England, the expression came to mean an undependable statement. It was used mainly to describe an idea. But sometimes it was used about a person.

A critic once said of the poet Robert Browning, "He won't wash." The critic did not mean that the poet was not a clean person. He meant that Browning's poems could not be depended on to last.

Today, we know that judgment was wrong. Robert Browning still is considered a major poet. But very few people remember the man who said Browning would not wash.

Happily for the young employee Smith, his employer wanted him to do well in the company. So the employer "talked turkey" to him. She said, "Your idea would be unfair to our buyers. Think of another way to save money."

A century ago, to talk turkey meant to talk pleasantly. Turkeys in the barnyard were thought to be speaking pleasantly to one another. In recent years, the saying has come to mean an attempt to teach something important.

Word expert Charles Funk tells how he believes this change took place.

He says two men were shooting turkeys together. One of them was a white man. The other was an American Indian. The white man began stating reasons why he should get all the turkeys for himself. But the American Indian stopped him. He told the white man, "Now, I talk turkey to you."

Mr. Smith thought of a better idea after his employer talked turkey to him. He was given an increase in pay. So if your idea "will not wash," try "talking turkey" to yourself and come up with a better idea.

(MUSIC)

This Words and Their Stories program was written by Jeri Watson. I'm Susan Clark.

talk turkey: 直率地說

(Source: VOA 英語點津姍姍編輯)

 
英語點津版權說明:凡注明來源為“英語點津:XXX(署名)”的原創作品,除與中國日報網簽署英語點津內容授權協議的網站外,其他任何網站或單位未經允許不得非法盜鏈、轉載和使用,違者必究。如需使用,請與010-84883631聯系;凡本網注明“來源:XXX(非英語點津)”的作品,均轉載自其它媒體,目的在于傳播更多信息,其他媒體如需轉載,請與稿件來源方聯系,如產生任何問題與本網無關;本網所發布的歌曲、電影片段,版權歸原作者所有,僅供學習與研究,如果侵權,請提供版權證明,以便盡快刪除。
相關文章 Related Story
 
 
 
本頻道最新推薦
 
Walking in the US first lady's shoes
“準確無誤”如何表達
英國新晉超女蘇珊大媽改頭換面
豬流感 swine flu
你有lottery mentality嗎
翻吧推薦
 
論壇熱貼
 
別亂扔垃圾。怎么譯這個亂字呀?
橘子,橙子用英文怎么區分?
看Gossip Girl學英語
端午節怎么翻譯?
母親,您在天堂還好嗎?

 

主站蜘蛛池模板: 伊人久久大香线蕉综合影| 国产精品女在线观看| 久久天天躁狠狠躁夜夜avai | 天天摸天天操免费播放小视频| 国产丰满麻豆videossexhd| 99久在线国内在线播放免费观看| 日本在线观看成人小视频| 全黄大全大色全免费大片| 欧美xxxxbbb| 在线观看亚洲免费| 亚洲JIZZJIZZ中国少妇中文| 疯狂魔鬼城无限9999999金币| 国产又黄又大又粗的视频| 91av视频网站| 日本高清xxx| 亚洲最大成人网色香蕉| 韩国福利视频一区二区| 国产麻豆91网在线看| 东北鲜肉痞帅玩xvideos| 日韩精品一区二区三区在线观看| 十大最污软件下载| 88国产精品欧美一区二区三区| 成人毛片18女人毛片免费| 亚洲精品动漫免费二区| 胸奶好大好紧好湿好爽| 国产欧美精品区一区二区三区 | 国产国产东北刺激毛片对白| 一区二区三区在线|欧| 欧美国产成人精品一区二区三区 | 99国产在线视频| 成人免费观看一区二区| 亚洲国产成人久久综合区| 超级乱淫岳最新章节目录| 天天色天天操天天射| 久久午夜夜伦鲁鲁片免费无码影视| 欧美性生活视频免费| 人成免费在线视频| 精品爆乳一区二区三区无码AV| 国产在线19禁免费观看| 青青青手机视频在线观看| 在线免费观看一级毛片|