VOA慢速英语2020--“千载难逢”

'Once in a Blue Moon'

And now, Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning English.

On this program we take an English word or expression and explore it a little deeper. Today we are talking about a lunar phenomenon – a moon event. It's called a blue moon.

Blue moon you saw me standing¹ alone Without a dream in my heart Without a love of my own Blue moon...

Experts at the U.S. National Aeronautics² and Space Administration (NASA) explain this lunar event. They say a blue moon is the "extra" moon in a season with four full moons.

The NASA website says that "since the 1940s, the term ‘blue moon' has also been used for the second full moon in a calendar month." This usually happens only every two-and-a-half years.

The NASA experts explain that a blue moon is not actually blue in color. In fact, it looks the same as a regular monthly full moon.

What makes a blue moon different is that it does not appear in the sky that often. And this is how we use it as an English expression.

A "blue moon" is a long or seemingly³ long period of time.

If I say something happens "once in a blue moon," it is uncommon⁴, infrequent, rare. It happens very seldom. These words all describe something that happens once in a blue moon.

For example, I usually keep busy. So when I'm not working, I like to take sing songs, write stories or read books. But sometimes, I just like to do nothing. So, once in a blue moon, you'll find me on the couch⁵, watching movies and eating popcorn⁶.

Here's another example.

Let's say you have a friend who you do not see very much anymore. You can say you see him once in a blue moon. It feels like an eternity⁷ since you have talked. It's like he has dropped off the face of the Earth! You can also say it has been forever since you have seen him.

Forever is a long time. So, forever and a day is even longer! And it has been forever and a day since you have seen your friend. You miss him! You should call.

And finally, here is our last example. If you have been busy, you may not have had time to practice your English. But just remember, if you only practice once in a blue moon, your English may not improve very quickly.

So, join us again next week for another Words and Their Stories! Until next time ... I'm Anna Matteo.

Blue moon of Kentucky, keep on a-shining Shine on the one that's gone and left me blue, Blue moon of Kentucky, keep on a-shining, shine on the one that's gone and left me blue ...

Anna Matteo wrote this story for VOA Learning English. Bryan Lynn was the editor. The song at the beginning of the program is Billie Holliday singing "Blue Moon." The song at the end is Patsy Cline singing "Blue Moon."

Words in This Story

lunar – adj. of or relating to the moon

phenomenon – n. something (such as an interesting fact or event) that can be observed and studied and that typically is unusual or difficult to understand or explain fully⁸

infrequent – adj. not happening often : not frequent

rare – adj. very uncommon

seldom – adj. not often : almost never

eternity – n. time that seems to be without an end

1 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

2 aeronautics   

n.航空术，航空学

参考例句：

• National Aeronautics and Space undertakings have made great progress.国家的航空航天事业有了很大的发展。
• He devoted every spare moment to aeronautics.他把他所有多余的时间用在航空学上。

3 seemingly   

adv.从表面上看起来，似乎是

参考例句：

• Seemingly,we can do nothing to prevent this from happening.我们似乎没有什么办法阻止这件事发生。
• For several seemingly interminable seconds no one spoke.有几秒钟没有人讲话，这几秒钟似乎十分漫长。

4 uncommon   

adj.罕见的，非凡的，不平常的

参考例句：

• Such attitudes were not at all uncommon thirty years ago.这些看法在30年前很常见。
• Phil has uncommon intelligence.菲尔智力超群。

5 couch   

n.睡椅，长沙发椅；vt.表达，隐含

参考例句：

• Lie down on the couch if you're feeling ill.如果你感觉不舒服就躺到沙发上去。
• The rabbIt'sprang from its grassy couch.兔子从草丛中跳出。

6 popcorn   

n.爆米花

参考例句：

• I like to eat popcorn when I am watching TV play at home.当我在家观看电视剧时，喜欢吃爆米花。
• He still stood behind his cash register stuffing his mouth with popcorn.他仍站在收银机后，嘴里塞满了爆米花。

7 eternity   

n.不朽，来世；永恒，无穷

参考例句：

• The dull play seemed to last an eternity.这场乏味的剧似乎演个没完没了。
• Finally,Ying Tai and Shan Bo could be together for all of eternity.英台和山伯终能双宿双飞，永世相随。

8 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。