VOA慢速英语2019--美国习语:“证据就在布丁里”

Learn Why 'The Proof Is in the Pudding'

Now, the VOA Learning English program Words and Their Stories.

Each week we teach expressions often used in American English. We explain how to use them and sometimes where they come from. But do not take my word for it. Go to our website: learningenglish.voanews.com! You will soon see for yourself that our teaching methods work!

Or as we like to say: The proof is in the pudding.

This expression means that the best way to find out if something is good or successful is to test it yourself.

The Oxford¹ Dictionary of Quotations² claims this expression was first used in early 14th century. As with many expressions, this one has changed over the years. People back then said it this way: the proof of the pudding is in the eating.

Knowing the full original version is important when explaining this expression. Also important is understanding the two main words in the sentence: pudding and proof.

First, pudding. You may ask, “What is that?”

Well, the answer depends on whether you are using American English or British English.

In the United States, Canada and many countries in South America, “pudding” is a treat made with milk, eggs, sugar and flavoring like vanilla³ or chocolate.

However, if you order pudding at a restaurant in London and expect a soft, sweet dessert, you could be in for a big surprise. In Britain, pudding is a savory⁴ meat dish. In fact, the British would call our sweet dessert pudding a custard.

Now, the British do have sweet puddings such as their sticky toffee pudding and Christmas pudding. But they are solid puddings made with a lot of dried fruits. Again, nothing like an American milk-based pudding.

And their savory puddings are even more different.

Centuries ago in Britain, people combined different meats, placed them into an animal membrane⁵, or tissue, and then made a kind of sausage. They covered the meat-filling with a soft shell made from flour and meat fat. Then they would cook the pudding by boiling or steaming it.

Like I said, the two puddings are very different.

But it is this traditional English “pudding,” that gives us the expression: “The proof is in the pudding.”

And that brings us to the second word: proof.

Today “proof” means something that shows that something else is true. A similar word is evidence. But centuries ago “proof” meant to test something. So we could say the expression this way: “The test of the pudding is in the eating.”

And now, another question. Why is testing the pudding important?

Well, to answer this we need to go back to the main ingredient in the British pudding: sausage.

Centuries ago, there was no refrigeration to keep food cool and fresh. So meat would often go bad.

If you weren’t careful, you could get “botulism,” a food-borne sickness. And the root word of botulism, botulus, is the Latin word for – you guessed it – sausage.

So, testing the pudding was the only way to really know if the meat was still good to eat.

So, that is the story of this expression. Now, let’s talk about when and how to use it.

The proof is in the pudding is very common. I would feel at home using it with an office supervisor⁶, strangers or people much older than me. Other ways to say this expression are: “I’ll believe that when I see it” and “I’ll be the judge of that!” These are both a little more casual.

To best explain how to use it, I’ll give you a few examples.

In this first one, a woman’s car won’t start. So, her friend is helping⁷ to fix it. Or is he?

A: And then after I connect this wire here … your car will be fixed⁸.

B: Are you sure? That doesn’t look right.

A: Yes, I’m sure!

B: Well the proof is in the pudding. Let’s start it up!

B: Yeah, I didn’t think that was right. Here, give me the tools.

In this next example, a team leader is talking to a group of computer programmers. They have been working hard on a new product and are preparing to test it.

A: All right, team. This is it. We have written the program and designed the website. Tomorrow we run our first live test.

B: We have worked so hard! I’m sure it will work!

A: I know you’ve all worked really hard. But the proof is in the pudding. If it doesn’t work, be prepared to work over the weekend to fix it.

And that is all the time we have for Words and Their Stories. Until next time, I’m Anna Matteo.

See I think you think that new means better off

But the proof's in the pudding once the shine is lost

So go and get yourself...

Words in This Story

version – n. a form of something (such as a product) that is different in some way from other forms

flavoring – n. a substance that is added to a food or drink to give it a desired taste

dessert – n. a usually sweet course or dish (as of pastry⁹ or ice cream) usually served at the end of a meal

savory – adj. having a spicy¹⁰ or salty quality without sweetness

custard – n. a pudding-like usually sweetened mixture made with eggs and milk

boil – v. to cook in boiling water

steam – v. to cook, heat, or treat (something) with steam

ingredient – n. one of the things that are used to make a food, product, etc.

casual – adj. designed for or permitting ordinary dress, behavior, etc. : not formal

1 Oxford   

n.牛津（英国城市）

参考例句：

• At present he has become a Professor of Chemistry at Oxford.他现在已是牛津大学的化学教授了。
• This is where the road to Oxford joins the road to London.这是去牛津的路与去伦敦的路的汇合处。

2 quotations   

n.引用( quotation的名词复数 )；[商业]行情（报告）；（货物或股票的）市价；时价

参考例句：

• The insurance company requires three quotations for repairs to the car. 保险公司要修理这辆汽车的三家修理厂的报价单。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• These quotations cannot readily be traced to their sources. 这些引语很难查出出自何处。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

3 vanilla   

n.香子兰，香草

参考例句：

• He used to love milk flavoured with vanilla.他过去常爱喝带香草味的牛奶。
• I added a dollop of vanilla ice-cream to the pie.我在馅饼里加了一块香草冰激凌。

4 savory   

adj.风味极佳的，可口的，味香的

参考例句：

• She placed a huge dish before him of savory steaming meat.她将一大盘热气腾腾、美味可口的肉放在他面前。
• He doesn't have a very savory reputation.他的名誉不太好。

5 membrane   

n.薄膜，膜皮，羊皮纸

参考例句：

• A vibrating membrane in the ear helps to convey sounds to the brain.耳膜的振动帮助声音传送到大脑。
• A plastic membrane serves as selective diffusion barrier.一层塑料薄膜起着选择性渗透屏障的作用。

6 supervisor   

n.监督人，管理人，检查员，督学，主管，导师

参考例句：

• Between you and me I think that new supervisor is a twit.我们私下说，我认为新来的主管人是一个傻瓜。
• He said I was too flighty to be a good supervisor.他说我太轻浮不能成为一名好的管理员。

7 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

8 fixed   

adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的

参考例句：

• Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗？
• Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定，我们就不应该随意改变。

9 pastry   

n.油酥面团，酥皮糕点

参考例句：

• The cook pricked a few holes in the pastry.厨师在馅饼上戳了几个洞。
• The pastry crust was always underdone.馅饼的壳皮常常烤得不透。

10 spicy   

adj.加香料的；辛辣的，有风味的

参考例句：

• The soup tasted mildly spicy.汤尝起来略有点辣。
• Very spicy food doesn't suit her stomach.太辣的东西她吃了胃不舒服。