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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。
Learning a language is difficult. Sometimes it requires a plan and resources.
学习一门语言是困难的。有时候，需要制定学习计划，还需要学习资源。
But it also usually requires hard work.
但它也需要努力付出。
People who persist with their language goals often get good results.
那些坚持语言学习目标不放弃的人，结果往往都不差。
They keep working even through hard times. They keep their nose to the grindstone.
即使在困难时期他们也会继续努力。他们一直埋头苦干。
When you keep your nose to the grindstone, you work very hard for a long time at something.
当你“keep your nose to the grindstone”，是指你会在某件事情上长时间非常努力地工作。
You don’t give up. How do we use this idiom in daily life?
你不放弃。在日常生活中，我们如何使用这个习语呢？
How did it come to mean perseverance?
它是如何演变成坚持不懈的意思的呢？
And just what is a grindstone? We answer all these questions on today’s show.
磨刀石又到底是什么呢？在今天的节目中，我们会回答所有这些问题。
First, let’s talk about a grindstone.
首先，咱们来说说磨刀石。
A grindstone is a large stone circular stone with a hole in the middle. An axle fits through that hole.
磨刀石是一种中间有孔的大型圆形石头。孔里会穿过一个轴。
When the stone turns quickly on the axle, it can sharpen, shape, or smooth a tool.
当石头沿着轴快速转动时，它可以打磨、塑造或刨光工具。
And that brings us to the beginnings of this idiom.
这就是这个习语的起源。
On his website Phrase Finder, writer and language researcher Gary Martin suggests two possible beginnings.
在他的网站“Phrase Finder”上，作家兼语言研究员加里·马丁提出了两种可能的起源。
Both are set in work environments of long ago: a place for milling grain and a place for sharpening tools.
这两种都是在很久以前的工作环境中：一个是碾磨谷物的地方，一个是磨砺工具的地方。
Some online sources claim that keeping your nose to the grindstone comes from milling grain.
一些在线资源声称，“keeping your nose to the grindstone”这个短语来自于碾磨谷物。
If the stone got too hot while grinding, it could burn the grain.
在碾磨时，如果石头变得太热，它可能会烧焦谷物。
So, workers would have to keep their noses close to the stone and smell for any sign of burning.
因此，工人必须把鼻子贴近石头，闻一闻是否有烧焦的迹象。
However, word expert Martin says that doesn’t seem true. He claims that these mills used millstones.
然而，词汇专家马丁说，这好像不太对。他说磨坊使用的是磨盘。
So, if this story were true, we would say keep your nose to the millstone. But we don’t.
所以，如果真是如此，我们会说“keep your nose to the millstone”。但词组里并不是。
He also notes that the terms “millstone” and “grindstone” were used interchangeably hundreds of years ago.
他还指出，“磨盘”和“磨石”这两个术语在几百年前是可以互换使用的。
But then, at some point long ago, that stopped.
但后来，在很久以前的某个时候，这两个词就不能互换了。
Grain mills used millstones and not grindstones.
谷物磨坊使用的是磨盘，而不是磨石。
And vice versa – tool sharpening workshops used grindstones and not millstones.
反之亦然——工具磨刀车间使用的是磨石，而不是磨盘。
So, let’s talk about the explanation set in a tool sharpening workshop.
那我们来说说工具磨砺车间这种说法的解释。
Martin talks about old workshops in his area of England.
马丁谈到了他所在的英格兰地区的旧车间。
He says these workshops have benches very near to grinding stones.
他说这些车间里的长椅离磨石很近。
Workers would sit on the benches hunched over and work very hard and very long.
工人们会坐在长椅上，弯着腰，非常努力地工作，工作时间也很长。
He goes on to write the following: “They had to pay close attention to their work as a moment too long on the wheel could cause the steel to overheat and be ruined.”
他接着写道：“他们必须密切注意手头的工作，因为在轮子上停留久一会儿可能会导致钢过热并损坏。”
Martin guesses that this story is the more likely explanation.
马丁猜测这个故事更可能解释这个表达的起源。
Imagine being hunched over your work and working hard at it. That describes having your nose to the grindstone.
想象一下，你弯腰驼背地努力工作。那描述的是埋头苦干。
In some cases, we also say put your nose to the grindstone.
在某些情况下，我们也说“put your nose to the grindstone”。
We may say it this way if we give someone advice.
我们在给人建议的时候可能会这么说。
For example, “You need to put your nose to the grindstone if you’re going to finish this project on time.”
例如，“如果你想按时完成这个项目，你就需要埋头苦干。”
Now let’s hear another example.
现在我们来听另一个例子。
Have you seen Marisa lately? She hasn’t called or texted in weeks!
你最近见过玛丽莎吗？她已经好几周没打电话或发信息了！
I was worried about her too. But the other day, I ran into her co-worker. She said Marisa has her nose to the grindstone trying to finish her year-end report.
我也很担心她。但是有一天，我碰到了她的同事。她说玛丽莎正在埋头苦干，试图完成她的年终报告。
Oh I forgot about that! In that case, let’s take her some dinner. She never eats when she’s busy with work.
哦，我把那个给忘了！那样的话，咱们给她带些晚饭吧。她工作忙的时候从不吃东西。
Good idea! I’ll make my famous pasta and meatballs.
好主意！我会做我拿手的意大利面和肉丸。
If I had to pick an opposite of this idiom, it would be this one: All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
如果非要找一个与这个习语意思相反的习语，那就是这个：只工作不玩耍，聪明孩子也变傻。
Life can’t be all about work. So, if you've been keeping your nose to the grindstone, remember to take a break.
生活不能全是工作。所以，如果你一直在埋头苦干，记得休息一下。
And that’s all the time we have 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。
