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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。
This program takes a deeper look at words and expressions in the English language.
本节目深入研究英语中的单词和表达。
Sometimes we take one word and see where it leads us.
有时我们取一个词，看看它会带给我们什么。
Today, we look at the word “fence.”
今天，我们来看看“fence”这个词。
One definition of "fence" is an outdoor structure that encloses an area.
“fence”的一个定义是围住一个区域的户外结构。
Fences mark property.
篱笆标明财产所属范围。
They are barriers.
它们是屏障。
A fence is different from a wall because it does not have a solid foundation along its whole length.
篱笆不同于墙，因为它整体没有坚实的基础。
Fences are used to keep things in -- like animals -- or keep things out -- like criminals.
篱笆用于把东西关在里面--比如动物--或者把东西挡在外面--比如罪犯。
Speaking of criminals, when they deal in stolen goods they are fencing and could be called a fence.
说到犯罪分子，当他们交易赃物时，他们是在销赃，这一行为可以被称为fence。
And if the criminals are fencing stolen goods while having a sword fight, you could say they are fencing fences.
如果犯罪分子一边持剑对决，一边销赃，可以说他们是在fencing fences。
But let’s get back to “fence” meaning an outdoor structure.
但让我们回到“fence”是户外结构的意思。
As we said, a fence marks a property line.
正如我们所说，篱笆标志着财产的分界线。
It gives you privacy.
它给你隐私。
People can’t see onto your property and vice versa.
人们看不到你的财产，反之亦然。
To many people, this is a good way to keep peace in a neighborhood.
对许多人来说，这是维持邻里和平的好方法。
Everybody just minds their own business.
每个人都只关心自己的事。
Sometimes if a neighbor knows too much of your business, it could lead to problems.
有时候，如果邻居对你的事情过于了解，可能会导致问题。
That is where this proverb comes from: “Fences make good neighbors.
这就是这句谚语的由来：“有篱笆才有好邻居。”
This proverb appears several times in Robert Frost’s poem Mending Wall published in 1914.
这句谚语在罗伯特·弗罗斯特1914年出版的诗歌《修墙》中多次出现。
Our next expression is very common: To be on the fence.
我们的下一个表达很常见：To be on the fence。
If you are sitting “on the fence” about something you are undecided.
如果你对某事“on the fence”，那你就是犹豫不决。
A fence divides property into sides.
篱笆把财产分成几部分。
So, if you are on the fence about something, you have not taken sides.
因此，如果你在某事上on the fence，你就没有偏袒任何一方。
For example, let’s say your child’s school just raised $20,000.
例如，假设你孩子的学校刚刚筹集了2万美元。
School officials want to spend that money on either new science equipment or a new outdoor play area.
学校官员希望把这笔钱花在新的科学设备或新的户外游乐区上。
They ask the parents to give their opinion.
他们请家长给出意见。
But you don’t know which is more important for the students.
但你不知道哪个对学生更重要。
So, you sit on the fence for awhile.
所以，你sit on the fence了一段时间。
You don’t feel strongly about either choice.
你对这两个选择都没有强烈的感觉。
If you did, you would certainly pick a side and not stay on the fence.
如果你有，你肯定会选择一边立场，而不是stay on the fence。
Sometimes we turn this saying into a noun.
有时我们把这句话变成一个名词。
A "fence-sitter" is someone who always stays neutral.
“fence-sitter”指的是那些总是保持中立的人。
They never take sides in an argument.
他们从不偏袒争论中的任何一方。
They do not seem to have an opinion of their own.
他们似乎没有自己的观点。
And they never take a stance for anything.
而且他们从来不会对任何事情表明立场。
This could show a lack of courage.
这可能表明他们缺乏勇气。
So, calling someone a fence-sitter is usually an insult.
因此，称某人为fence-sitter通常是一种侮辱。
Now, that is not the case if you are simply undecided about an issue; or if you need more time to make a decision; or if you just don’t care.
现在，如果你只是对一个问题犹豫不决，或者需要更多时间来做决定，又或者只是不在乎，情况就不是这样了。
For example, let’s say there is an election coming, and I have not decided who I am voting for.
例如，假设有一场选举即将到来，而我还没有决定投票给谁。
I can say, “I don’t know.
我可以说，“我不知道。
I’m on the fence between two candidates.”
我在两位候选人之间on the fence。”
This doesn’t mean I’m unwilling or unable to pick a candidate.
这并不意味着我不愿意或无法挑选候选人。
I just haven’t yet.
我只是还没有决定。
However, let’s say I never vote because I can’t make a decision.
但是，假设我无法做出决定，所以我从来不投票。
And I have a long history of being indecisive.
而且我向来优柔寡断。
Someone could rightfully call me a fence-sitter.
那别人可以理所当然地叫我fence-sitter。
And that would rightfully be an insult.
而这理所当然一种侮辱。
And that’s all the time we have for this Words and Their Stories. Until next time, I’m Anna Matteo.
以上就是本期《词汇掌故》节目的全部内容。下次见，我是安娜·马泰奥。
译文为可可英语翻译，未经授权请勿转载！
