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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 this program we explore words and expressions in the English language.
在这个节目中，我们将探索英语语言中的单词和表达方式。
We give examples, notes on usage and sometimes use them in short conversations.
我们会给出示例、用法说明，有时还会在简短对话中使用它们。
Today we talk about an expression that sounds very serious and dangerous: a dead giveaway.
今天我们谈论一个听起来非常严重和危险的表达：暴露无遗。
A “giveaway” is just as it sounds: You give something to someone else.
“giveaway”就如其字面意思：你把某样东西送给别人。
But a dead giveaway has nothing to do with tragedy or death.
但是，“a dead giveaway”与悲剧或死亡无关。
In this expression, the word “dead” has another meaning you might not have known about.
在这个表达中，“dead”这个词还有一个你可能不知道的含义。
In some common usages, the adjective “dead” can mean exact, correct or complete.
在一些常见的用法中，形容词“dead”可以表示确切的、正确的或完全的。
For example, if someone is dead right, they are completely correct and there is no doubt about it.
例如，如果某人“dead right,”，那么他们是完全正确的，毫无疑问。
And, if someone is dead wrong, they are totally wrong.
而且，如果某人“dead wrong”，他们就是完全错误的。
In some trades, the word “dead” is a really good thing.
在某些行业中，“dead”这个词是一件非常好的事情。
For example, when something is dead center, it is exactly at the center.
例如，当某物处于“dead center”时，它恰好就在正中心。
In building, dead level means perfectly horizontal—just what you want. However, you never say “dead plumb. ” Plumb already means perfectly vertical.
在建筑中，“ dead level ”意味着完美的水平——这正是你想要的。然而，你永远不会说“dead plumb”。“垂直”已经意味着完全垂直。
So, a dead giveaway is a detail or action that gives away the truth completely and totally. It is like a clue that answers a question.
所以，“a dead giveaway”是一个完全彻底地揭示真相的细节或行动。它就像一个回答问题的线索。
A dead giveaway shows a truth, fact, or intention in an obvious way.
“a dead giveaway”表示以明显的方式揭示了一个真相、事实或意图。
In other words, a dead giveaway leaves little room for misunderstanding. Now, let’s hear the expression in some examples.
换句话说，“暴露无遗 ”让人几乎没有误解的余地。 现在，让我们举几个例子来听听这个说法。
A completely dark house and a huge pile of mail outside the door were two dead giveaways that no one had been home in quite some time.
一所完全黑暗的房子和门外一大堆邮件是两个明显的迹象，表明已经有相当长一段时间没有人在家了。
She said that she was staying home for the night. But with all the makeup on her face, her hair styled, and her party clothes on, her appearance was a dead giveaway. She was clearly going out.
她说她今晚要待在家里。但是，她脸上化了妆，头发做了造型，还穿上了派对服装。她的外表就是一个明显的破绽，她显然是要出去。
The expression on his face was a dead giveaway that he was guilty. He couldn’t even look me in the eyes!
他脸上的表情完全暴露了他有罪。他甚至不敢直视我的眼睛！
English has another expression that is similar. A telltale sign is an important detail or fact the clarifies the truth. It gives more supporting evidence.
英语中也有类似的表达。“A telltale sign”是指澄清事实的重要细节或事实，提供了更多的佐证。
We often pair telltale with the words “sign” or “symptom.”
我们经常将“telltale”与“sign”或“symptom”这两个词搭配使用。
Let’s hear some examples: Well, my friend has missed work all week and hasn’t responded to my calls.
让我们来听一些例子：嗯，我的朋友整个星期都没来上班，也没有回复我的电话。
Those may be telltale symptoms of a bigger problem.
这些可能是更大问题的征兆。
When the parents returned from their trip, they saw telltale signs everywhere in the house that their children had thrown a party.
当父母旅行归来时，他们看到家里到处都是孩子们开派对的痕迹。
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。
