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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。
Today we talk to you about expressions dealing with payback, getting even, and revenge.
今天我们要和你谈论一些与回报、报复和复仇有关的表达方式。
When a person wants to even the score, that person might have the proverb an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth in mind.
当一个人想要报复时，他可能会想到这句谚语：an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth（以眼还眼，以牙还牙）。
The Merriam-Webster online dictionary describes it as a “repayment in kind as revenge for an injustice. ” In kind means “in the same way.”
“作为对不公正行为的报复，以实物偿还”。In kind 的意思是 “以同样的方式”。
The expression an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth is ancient.
以眼还眼，以牙还牙，这是一种古老的表达。
It appears in The Bible and in The Code of Hammurabi, a set of laws written by the ancient Babylonian king of that name.
它出现在《圣经》和《汉谟拉比法典》中，《汉谟拉比法典》是一套由同名的古巴比伦国王制定的法律。
An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth describes a way of thinking.
以眼还眼，以牙还牙描述了一种思维方式。
It is the idea that retaliating in kind is the best way to deal with a crime or some other offense.
这种观念认为，以牙还牙是处理犯罪或其他违法行为的最佳方式。
It is the idea that a person who causes someone to suffer should suffer in the same amount and in the same way.
认为一个人如果使他人遭受痛苦，那么他自己也应该以同样的方式和程度遭受痛苦。
For example, if someone did something to hurt you, you would want to hurt them equally.
例如，如果有人做了什么伤害你的事，你会想要同样地伤害他们。
To remind others of the proverb, people often simply say an eye for an eye.
为了提醒别人这句谚语，人们经常只是简单地说以眼还眼。
For some people, every second counts when they are looking to settle a score.
对有些人来说，在算账时分秒必争。
For others, the revenge method might require patience.
对于其他人来说，复仇的方法可能需要耐心。
Some people wait years or a lifetime to get their revenge.
有些人等待数年或一生来复仇。
The way people settle the score can be very different.
人们解决问题的方式可能会有很大的不同。
Some cultures have this expression: Revenge is a dish best served cold.
有些文化中有这样一种表达：复仇是一道最好冷着上的菜。
The idea is that settling the score over time without emotion is the best way. A similar expression is tit for tat.
这种观点认为，随着时间的推移，不带感情地解决问题是最好的方式。一个类似的表达是“tit for tat”（针锋相对）。
Tit for tat is often used to describe diplomatic disagreements between nations. It is hundreds of years old.
Tit for tat常被用来描述国家之间的外交分歧。它有几百年的历史了。
Both “tit” and “tat” mean the same thing: a “strike” or a “blow.
“tit”和“tat”的意思是相同的：“打击”或“一击”。
” Experts say the expression changed from tip for tap to its present form after years of sound changes in the English language. Tit for tat literally means blow for blow.
专家表示，这个表达在经过多年的英语语音变化后，从tip for tap变成了现在的形式。Tit for tat的字面意思是“一报还一报”。
Merriam-Webster says it is: “An equal return given for some wrong that’s been done.”
韦氏词典对它的定义是：“对所遭受的某种错误给予的同等回报。”
Now, let’s hear two friends use some revenge expressions.
现在，让我们听听两个朋友使用一些复仇表达。
A: Did you hear what happened to Tom? Someone slashed his tires! It cost him hundreds of dollars to replace the ruined tires.
A：你听说汤姆发生了什么事吗？有人划破了他的轮胎！他花了几百美元来更换损坏的轮胎。
B: That sounds awful. Does he know who did it?
B：听起来很糟糕。他知道是谁干的吗？
A: He suspects it was his ex-girlfriend, Diana.
A：他怀疑是他的前女友戴安娜。
B: Why?
B：为什么？
A: Well, he scratched up the paint on her car last week. I’m still friends with Diana and she told me a security camera caught him doing it. It cost her hundreds of dollars to repaint her car.
A：嗯，他上周刮花了她车上的油漆。我和戴安娜还是朋友，她告诉我一个安全摄像头拍到了他做这件事。她重新给车喷漆花了几百美元。
B: Well, it sounds like they’re even now. You know, an eye for an eye and all that…
B：嗯，听起来他们现在扯平了。你知道，以眼还眼，以牙还牙……
And that’s Words and Their Stories. Until next time … I’m Anna Matteo.
这就是词汇掌故。下次见……我是安娜·马特奥。
