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And now, Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning English.
您现在收听的是VOA慢速英语词汇掌故节目。
On today’s show we talk about some expressions that deal with an important device in our lives – our phones. With a smartphone, we can connect to the world.
在今天的节目中，我们将讨论一些与我们生活中的重要设备——手机相关的表达方式。有了智能手机，我们就可以与世界连接。
In fact, we can say smartphones give us the world at our fingertips.
事实上，我们可以说智能手机让世界触手可及。
Needless to say, we use phones to stay in contact with the people in our lives.
不用说，我们使用手机与生活中的人保持联系。
We use them to reach out to our friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers.
我们用它们来联系我们的朋友、家人、邻居和同事。
So, when we tell someone that we are just a phone call away, what we are really telling them is that we are available. We are there for them.
因此，当我们告诉别人我们“ just a phone call away”（随叫随到），我们真正要告诉他们的是，我们现在有空。我们就在他们身边。
We often use this expression to offer help to someone who is in a difficult situation or just in need of a friendly voice.
我们经常用这种表达方式来帮助处于困境中或者只是需要友好安慰的人。
For example, let’s say my friend is having a hard time with an advanced English course.
例如，假设我的朋友在学习高级英语课程时遇到了困难。
The assignments are difficult, the material is hard to understand, and his teacher has not been answering his emails.
作业很难，材料难以理解，而他的老师一直没有回复他的电子邮件。
I can say to him, “Look, if you ever need help, I’m just a phone call away. Call anytime!”
我可以对他说，“听着，如果你需要帮助，我随叫随到。随时打电话给我！”
It’s good to be available to some people some of the time. But maybe not all the time.
在某些时候为一些人提供帮助是好事，但也许不是所有时候都是如此。
We all have someone in our lives who contacts us too much.
我们的生活中都有一些人，他们与我们联系得过于频繁。
They may blow up our phones with a flood of calls and text messages.
他们可能会用大量的电话和短信打爆我们的手机。
When your phone blows up, someone is trying to contact you repeatedly. Here's an example.
当你的手机被“ blows up”（打爆），意味着有人在反复尝试联系你。 这里有个例子。
Let’s say your neighbor, Jana, is having trouble with another neighbor, Jake. And you are in the middle of it.
假设你的邻居，贾娜，和另一个邻居，杰克，有矛盾。而你夹在中间。
They are both blowing up your phone with calls and texts about their disagreement. You can tell them, “Hold the phone! Just stop! Talk to each other and work out your problems because I’ve had enough.”
他们都在用电话和短信轰炸你的手机，诉说他们之间的分歧。你可以告诉他们："别打电话！别说了！你们互相交流解决问题吧，因为我已经受够了！”
The expression hold the phone is a way to say “wait” or “stop.”
“hold the phone” 这个表达是 “等一下” 或 “停一下” 的一种说法。
We use it when we hear something surprising or when we have had enough of a situation.
当我们听到令人惊讶的事情时，或者当我们对某种情况感到受够了时，我们就会使用这个词。
And it doesn’t have to be about phone calls or texts.
而且，这不一定是关于电话或短信的。
For example, let’s say a friend tells me that my favorite singer is coming to town. I can’t believe it! So, I can say, “Hold the phone! Are you serious? ” It's like saying, "Hold on a minute!"
比如说，朋友告诉我，我最喜欢的歌手要来城里演出。我简直不敢相信！所以，我可以说："等一下！你是认真的吗？“就像说 "Hold on a minute!” 一个意思。
Now, let’s go back to your arguing neighbors, Jana and Jake. Let’s say they take your advice. They are willing to work out their problems.
现在，让我们回到你争吵的邻居贾娜和杰克那里。假设他们接受了你的建议。他们愿意解决他们的问题。
They try to call each other but the keep missing each other’s calls. First Jana calls Jake, but he isn’t available.
他们试图互相打电话，但总是错过对方的电话。首先，贾娜打电话给杰克，但他不在。
Then Jake calls her back, but now Jana isn’t available.
然后杰克给她回电话，但现在贾娜没空。
They play phone tag like this for days until they finally speak to each other.
他们就这样玩了好几天的电话捉迷藏，直到他们终于互相通了话。
Tag is a child’s game.
捉迷藏是一种儿童游戏。
One person is “it” and must chase and tag, or touch, the other children.
一个人当“鬼”，必须追逐并抓住或触碰其他孩子。
So, phone tag is when two people try to contact each other but their calls go unanswered.
那么，电话捉迷藏就是指两个人试图联系对方，但他们的电话都没有得到回应。
At least Jake and Jana are trying to work out their problems.
至少杰克和贾娜正在努力解决他们的问题。
When it comes to keeping relationships happy in the neighborhood, they are not phoning it in.
在保持邻里关系融洽方面，他们并没有“phoning it in”（敷衍了事）。
When we phone it in, we don’t try our best at something. We don’t give our best efforts.
当我们敷衍了事时，我们就不会在某件事情上竭尽全力。我们没有尽全力。
For example, some people who lose interest in their jobs might start phoning it in. They stop trying and do not do their best work.
例如，一些对工作失去兴趣的人可能会开始敷衍了事。他们不再努力，也不再尽最大努力工作。
That's not the case with us here at VOA Learning English. we are not phoning it in.
我们美国之音英语学习频道不是这样。我们不是在敷衍了事。
We work hard every day to bring you new learning English content.
我们每天都在努力工作，为您带来新的学习英语的内容。
And that’s all the time we have for this Words and Their Stories.
以上就是本期《词汇掌故》的全部内容。
Until next time, I’m Anna Matteo.
下次见，我是安娜·马特奥。
