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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, and notes on usage.
我们给出释义，例子并对用法进行解释说明。
Today we talk about a piece of furniture used for sitting.
今天我们谈论的是一件用来坐的家具。
As the name suggests, an armchair has extensions for resting your arms.
顾名思义，扶手椅有可以让你的手臂休息的延伸部分。
So, armchairs are more comfortable than other chairs.
因此，扶手椅比其他椅子更舒适。
In fact, they are so comfortable that people sit in them for hours.
事实上，它们非常舒适，人们可以在扶手椅上坐好几个小时。
Besides being a kind of furniture, Americans use the word "armchair" in front of other words.
除了作为一种家具外，美国人还会在其他词之前使用“armchair”这个词。
They do this to describe different sorts of people and the experiences they might or might not have.
他们这样做是为了描述不同类型的人以及他们可能有或可能没有的体验。
For example, some experiences can be called vicarious.
例如，有些体验可能是间接感受到的。
If you live vicariously, you experience things through other people.
vicariously指的是通过他人来体验某事物。
You do not actually do the thing you are interested in yourself.
你实际上并没有做你自己感兴趣的事情。
Rather, you enjoy the activity by watching or reading about what others do.
相反，你通过观看或阅读别人的所作所为来享受这项活动。
Armchair detectives are not real detectives investigating crimes.
安乐椅神探不是真正意义上调查罪案的侦探。
An armchair detective enjoys reading detective novels or watching true crime shows.
安乐椅神探喜欢读侦探小说或看真实的犯罪节目。
Armchair detectives may even try to solve a crime.
安乐椅神探甚至可能试图破案。
But all their efforts are done from the safety and comfort of their homes.
但他们所有的努力都是在安全舒适的家中完成的。
Living vicariously through others can be a wonderful chance to escape.
通过别人体验生活可能是绝佳的逃避机会。
Let's say you do not have the time or money to travel.
比方说你没有时间或金钱去旅行。
But you still want to experience the pleasure of traveling.
但你还是想体验一下旅行的乐趣。
You can read about places that you would like to visit.
你可以读有关你想去的地方的文章。
You can watch travel documentaries about them too.
你也可以看关于它们的旅行纪录片。
And you can do these things from the comfort of your own home.
你可以在自己舒适的家里做这些事情。
So, you could call yourself an armchair traveler.
所以，你可以称自己为足不出户的神游旅行者。
If you enjoy watching and reading about people who do dangerous activities -- such as climbing Mount Everest or free diving into the depths of the ocean -- you might be an armchair adventurer.
如果你喜欢看和阅读有关做危险活动（比如攀登珠穆朗玛峰或自由潜入海洋深处）的人的故事，你可能是一个足不出户的神游冒险家。
However, we also use "armchair" to describe another sort of person.
然而，我们也用“armchair”来形容另一种人。
If someone does not have responsibility for a job but talks about it from a distance, we can use the word "armchair" to describe them.
如果某人不负责某项工作，但却在远处谈论它，我们可以用“armchair”这个词来形容他们。
Also, if someone is not an expert in a subject, but gives advice anyway, we could use the word "armchair."
此外，如果某人不是某一学科的专家，但还是会给出建议，我们可以用“armchair”这个词。
For example, an armchair strategist gives strategies that are more theoretical than practical.
例如，一位夸夸其谈的战略家给出的策略更多的是理论而不是实践。
This means they are talking about a problem but are not actually involved in solving it.
意思是他们在谈论一个问题，但实际上并没有参与解决这个问题。
In the same way, an armchair general gives advice on going into battle … from a safe distance.
同样地，无实际经验的将军会在安全距离之外给出出兵建议。
Armchair generals are not involved in a real battle.
无实际经验的将军并不参与真正的战斗。
In the U.S., a favorite term comes from American football.
在美国，最受欢迎的一个词来自美式足球。
Armchair quarterbacks comment on a football game from the comfort of their own chair.
放马后炮的人坐在自己舒适的椅子上评论足球比赛。
They criticize and insult the players who actually play the game while they themselves have never played it.
他们批评和侮辱那些真正打比赛的选手，而他们自己却从未打过比赛。
But the use of the term "armchair quarterback" goes far beyond the world of sports.
但“armchair quarterback”一词的用法远远超出了体育界的范畴。
So, you could hear the term used to describe anyone who does not do an activity or have responsibility but still makes sharp comments or criticizes others who work at the job every day.
所以，你可能会听到人们用这个词来描述那些不做某项活动或不负责某项工作但仍然每天对从事这项工作的其他人发表尖锐评论或批评的人。
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·马特奥。
译文为可可英语翻译，未经授权请勿转载！
