Now, the
VOA Special English program, Words and Their Stories.
Have you ever1 considered all the Englishexpressions that include words about clothes2? Let’s see if I can name a few3 "off the cuff"4 -- or without any preparation5.
People wear pants6 to cover the lower part7 of their bodies. We sometimes8 say that people who are restless9 or nervous have "ants10 in their pants." They might also11 "fly by the seat of their pants12" – they use their natural sense to do something instead of 13
Have you ever1 considered all the Englishexpressions that include words about clothes2? Let’s see if I can name a few3 "off the cuff"4 -- or without any preparation5.
People wear pants6 to cover the lower part7 of their bodies. We sometimes8 say that people who are restless9 or nervous have "ants10 in their pants." They might also11 "fly by the seat of their pants12" – they use their natural sense to do something instead of 13
their learned knowledge14. Sometimes, people may
"get caught with their pants down15"
-- they are found16
doing something they should not
be doing17.
And, in every family, one person takes control18. Sometimes a wife19 tells her
husband20 what to do. Then we say "she wears the pants in
the family."
Pants usually21 have pockets22 to hold things23. Money that is likely24 to be spent quickly25 can "burn26 a hole27 in your pocket."
Pants usually21 have pockets22 to hold things23. Money that is likely24 to be spent quickly25 can "burn26 a hole27 in your pocket."
Sometimes you need a
belt28 to hold up29 your pants. If you have less money than usual, you may
have to "tighten30 your belt"
-- you may have to live31 on less money and spend your money carefully32.
But once33 you have succeeded34 in
budgeting35 your money, you will have that skill36 "under37 your belt."
I always praise38 people who can save39 their money and not spend too much. I really "take my hat off to them40." Yet41, when it comes to42 my own money43, I spend it "at the drop of44 a hat" -- immediately, without waiting45. And sadly46, you cannot47 "pull48 money out of a hat" -- you cannot get49 money by inventing or imagining it.
Boots50 are a heavy51 or strong kind of shoes52. People who are "too big53 for their boots" think they are more important than they really are. I dislike such people54. I really do. You can bet55 your boots on that!
Yet, truly important people56 are hard to replace57. Rarely58 can you "fill59 their shoes" -- or replace them with someone equally effective60.
My father is an important person. He runs61 a big company. He wears a suit and tie62 and a shirt63 with sleeves64 that cover his arms. Some people who do not know him well think he is too firm and severe65. They think he is a real "stuffed shirt66." But I know that my father "wears his heart67 on his sleeve" -- he shows68 his feelings69 openly70. And, he knows how to "keep71 his shirt on" -- he stays calm and never gets angry72 or
I always praise38 people who can save39 their money and not spend too much. I really "take my hat off to them40." Yet41, when it comes to42 my own money43, I spend it "at the drop of44 a hat" -- immediately, without waiting45. And sadly46, you cannot47 "pull48 money out of a hat" -- you cannot get49 money by inventing or imagining it.
Boots50 are a heavy51 or strong kind of shoes52. People who are "too big53 for their boots" think they are more important than they really are. I dislike such people54. I really do. You can bet55 your boots on that!
Yet, truly important people56 are hard to replace57. Rarely58 can you "fill59 their shoes" -- or replace them with someone equally effective60.
My father is an important person. He runs61 a big company. He wears a suit and tie62 and a shirt63 with sleeves64 that cover his arms. Some people who do not know him well think he is too firm and severe65. They think he is a real "stuffed shirt66." But I know that my father "wears his heart67 on his sleeve" -- he shows68 his feelings69 openly70. And, he knows how to "keep71 his shirt on" -- he stays calm and never gets angry72 or
too excited73.
Also, my father has never "lost his shirt" in a business deal74 -- he is too smart75 to lose all or most of his money. This is because my father "rolls up his sleeves" -- and prepares to work hard77. He often78 has a special plan or answer to a problem that he can use if he needs it. He is like a person who does magic tricks79. We say "he has a card up his sleeve80."
This VOA Special English program “Words and Their Stories” was written by Jill Moss.
I’m Faith Lapidus.
Also, my father has never "lost his shirt" in a business deal74 -- he is too smart75 to lose all or most of his money. This is because my father "rolls up his sleeves" -- and prepares to work hard77. He often78 has a special plan or answer to a problem that he can use if he needs it. He is like a person who does magic tricks79. We say "he has a card up his sleeve80."
This VOA Special English program “Words and Their Stories” was written by Jill Moss.
I’m Faith Lapidus.
Vocabulary
1. Have you ever = Voce ja…(alguma vez)
2. words about clothes = palavras sobre roupas
3. a few = alguns, uns poucos
4. off the cuff = “de improviso”
5. without any preparation = sem nenhuma preparação
6. wear pants = vestir calças
7. lower part = parte inferior
8. sometimes = as vezes
9. restless = inquieto
10. ants = formigas
11. might also = pode também
12. fly by the seat of their pants = “voar pelo assent de suas calças”
13. instead of = ao invés de
14. learned knowledge = conhecimento adquirido
15. get caught with their pants down = ser pego com as calças arriadas
16. found = encontrado(a)
17. should not be doing = não deveria estar fazendo
18. takes control = assume o controle
19. wife = esposa
20. husband = esposo
21. usually = normalmente
22. pockets = bolsos
23. hold things = guarder coisas
24. likely = provavel
25. to be spent quickly = ser gasto rapidamente
26. burn = queimar
27. hole = buraco
28. belt = cinta
29. hold up = segurar
30. tighten = apertar
31. live = viver
32. carefully = cuidadosamente
33. once = uma vez que
34. have succeeded = tem sido bem sucedido
35. budgeting = orçamento, controlar dinheiro
36. skill = habilidade
37. under = sob
38. praise = elogiar
39. save = economizar
40. take my hat off to them = tiro meu chapéu para eles
41. Yet = Porém
42. when it comes to = quando se trata de
43. own money = próprio dinheiro
44. at the drop of = na queda de
45. without waiting = sem esperar
46. sadly = tristemente
47. cannot = não pode
48. pull = puxar
49. get = obter, conseguir
50. Boots = botinas, botas
51. Heavy = pesado
52. kind of shoes = tipo de sapatos
53. too big = grande demais
54. dislike such people = não gusto de tais pessoas
55. bet = apostar
56. truly important people = pessoas verdadeiramente importantes
57. hard to replace = dificil de substituir
58. Rarely = raramente
59. fill = preencher, encher
60. equally effective = igualmente eficiente
61. runs = administra
62. suit and tie = terno e gravata
63. shirt = camisa
64. sleeves = mangas
65. severe = severo, rígido
66. stuffed shirt = camisa de pelúcia
67. heart = curacao
68. shows = mostra
69. feelings = sentimentos
70. openly = abertamente
71. keep = manter
72. gets angry = ficar bravo, zangado
73. excited = empolgado, agitado
74. business deal = acordo de negocios
75. too smart = esperto demais
76. rolls up his sleeves = arregaça suas mangas
77. work hard = trabalhar duro
78. often = frequentemente
79. magic tricks = truques de mágica
80. he has a card up his sleeve = “ele tem uma carta na manga”
