VOA慢速英语2020 危险的难以控制的人

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

现在是VOA学英语《词汇掌故》节目时间。

On this show, we explore the world of American English. We talk about common expressions, where they come from and, most importantly, how to use them.

在节目中，我们会探索美式英语世界。我们会谈论常见表达的出处，最重要的是，它们的用法。

Today we talk about behavior and self-control. There are ways of behaving that almost everyone considers normal or comes to expect.

今天，我们要讨论的是行为举止（behavior）以及自制力（self-control）。有一些行为方式，几乎每个人都认为是正常的或是意料之中的。

Children learn very early that some behaviors are more accepted than others. They learn how to control themselves and how to behave in certain situations. This learning continues into adulthood¹.

孩子们在很早的时候就知道了一些行为会比其他行为更容易让人接受。他们懂得如何自我克制以及在某些情境下要如何表现。这种学习一直持续到成人阶段。

Well, for most people it does. Not everyone behaves how they are expected to.

好吧，对于大多数人来说是这样。并不是每个人都表现出他们应有的行为。

So today, we talk about loose cannons³!

所以今天我们要谈论的是“loose cannons（难以控制的人）”！

A good word to describe a loose cannon² is unpredictable. You never know how an unpredictable person will act in any given situation.

形容“loose cannons”的一个很恰当的词就是“不可预知（unpredictable）”。你永远无法知道一个不可预知的人在特定情境下会如何反应。

But not all unpredictable people are loose cannons.

但不是所有不可预知的人都是难以控制的人。

Some people often change their minds about things. Or they surprise you by doing something they do not usually do, or that is out of character. We could describe such people as changeable, uncertain or -- here's a good word -- fickle⁴.

其中一些人经常会改变他们对事物的想法。或者，他们会做反常的事情，或者会做一些与他们性格不相符（out of character）的事情来让你感觉出乎意料，我们可以形容这些人易变（changeable）、多变（uncertain），这里有一个很适合的词，反复无常（fickle）。

But I would not describe a loose cannon as fickle. Fickle people can be annoying but they are not usually dangerous.

但是我不会形容难以控制的人反复无常。反复无常的人可能会让人讨厌，但是他们通常没有危险性。

Loose cannons, on the other hand, are often unpredictable in violent ways. So, they can be very dangerous! A good word to describe a loose cannon is volatile⁵, or likely to explode!

然而，难以控制的人在暴力方面往往令人无法预料。因此，他们很危险！形容“难以控制的人”的一个适合的词是“volatile（易变的），或者可能会突然爆发！”

So where did the expression "loose cannon" come from?

那么，“loose cannon”这个表达怎么来的呢？

By definition, a cannon is a large gun that shoots heavy metal or stone balls. Because of their weight, cannons have to be firmly tied down.

根据字典释义，大炮（cannon）是发射重金属或者石弹的大型炮。由于重量的原因，人们必须牢牢绑住大炮。

Hundreds of years ago, cannons were often found on battleships. Sometimes a battle at sea with another warship⁶ or a storm would free them from their mounting⁷. As you can imagine, a loose cannon rolling around could do serious damage to a ship and her crew.

几百年前，人们经常能在战舰上看见大炮。有时候，在与另一艘战舰的海战中，或者遇上暴风雨时，大炮会从固定装置上松开。正如你所想象的，一门未被固定的大炮会四处滚动，给船体或者船上的人员带来严重的伤害。

We can say the same about a person who is a "loose cannon."

那么不受控制的人（loose cannon），也同样会这样。

Loose cannons, both the guns and people, are difficult to control. Their unpredictable behavior can cause problems for them and others. Family, friends, coworkers or larger groups, such as a sports team or political party can all be affected⁸ by a loose cannon.

难以控制的大炮和人都很难以被控制住。两者不可控的行为会给二者自身和其他同类带来麻烦。家庭、朋友、同事或者诸如运动队或者政治党派等大型组织，所有这些都可能会受到“一个难以控制的对象”的影响。

You are not sure how loose cannons will react to something. They could get angry, losing their temper at the smallest thing.

你无法确定一个难以控制的人会如何应对某事。他们可能会因为极小的事情而生气、发脾气。

Now, let's hear how these words and expressions can be used.

现在，让我们来听听这些单词和表达是如何运用的。

Okay. So, local officials are meeting tomorrow night to decide whether or not our neighborhood gets a new school. We need to bring some people who can speak about this issue.

好的。那么，地方官员明晚会开会决定是否在我们的社区建立一所新学校。我们需要带一些能就此事发表看法的人去参加会议。

Let's ask D.J. from across the street. He works at a school.

让我们问问对街的音响师。他在学校工作。

No way! He's a loose cannon! One minute he seems fine, but the next he is shouting and hitting the table.

不行！他是一个难以控制的人！前一分钟他还好好的，下一分钟他就在大喊大叫，砸桌子了。

Hmm. What about Helen?

嗯。那海伦怎么样？

Helen! She's more unpredictable and volatile than D.J. One wrong word and she could explode. They are both loose cannons.

海伦！她比音响师更令人无法捉摸、更善变。说错一个词，她都能炸了。他们都是难以控制的人。

Well, can you think of any other people? How about Matthew?

好吧，那你能想到别的人吗？马修怎么样？

No. The city council banned him from attending any meetings for one year.

不行。市议会禁止他一年内出席任何会议。

Are you serious?

你是说真的吗？

Yes. At the last meeting he completely lost his temper and actually hit someone!

是的。上次会议上，他情绪彻底失控，事实上，他还打了人！

Wow! I'm feeling our neighbors are a collection of loose cannons.

哇！我感觉我们的邻居是一群难以控制的人。

Maybe ... let's not tell them about the meeting. They will do more harm than good!

也许……我们不要告诉他们这次会议的事。他们会成事不足，败事有余！

And that is Words and Their Stories for this week. I'm Anna Matteo.

这就是本周的《词汇掌故》节目。我是安娜·马特奥。

Is there someone in your life who is a volatile loose cannon? Let us know in the Comments Section.

在你的生命里有出现过善变的难以控制的人吗？在评论区告诉我们吧。

1 adulthood   

n.成年，成人期

参考例句：

• Some infantile actions survive into adulthood.某些婴儿期的行为一直保持到成年期。
• Few people nowadays are able to maintain friendships into adulthood.如今很少有人能将友谊维持到成年。

2 cannon   

n.大炮，火炮；飞机上的机关炮

参考例句：

• The soldiers fired the cannon.士兵们开炮。
• The cannon thundered in the hills.大炮在山间轰鸣。

3 cannons   

n.加农炮，大炮，火炮( cannon的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Cannons bombarded enemy lines. 大炮轰击了敌军阵地。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• One company had been furnished with six cannons. 某连队装备了六门大炮。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 fickle   

adj.(爱情或友谊上)易变的，不坚定的

参考例句：

• Fluctuating prices usually base on a fickle public's demand.物价的波动往往是由于群众需求的不稳定而引起的。
• The weather is so fickle in summer.夏日的天气如此多变。

5 volatile   

adj.反复无常的，挥发性的，稍纵即逝的，脾气火爆的；n.挥发性物质

参考例句：

• With the markets being so volatile,investments are at great risk.由于市场那么变化不定，投资冒着很大的风险。
• His character was weak and volatile.他这个人意志薄弱，喜怒无常。

6 warship   

n.军舰，战舰

参考例句：

• He is serving on a warship in the Pacific.他在太平洋海域的一艘军舰上服役。
• The warship was making towards the pier.军舰正驶向码头。

7 mounting   

n.装备；衬托纸；登上；乘骑adj.上升的，增长的v.登上，骑上( mount的现在分词 )；增加，上升；上演；准备

参考例句：

• There is mounting tension along the border. 边境局势日趋紧张。
• Though he felt his anger mounting, he kept perfect control of himself. 虽然他觉得越来越生气，但还是很好地控制住了自己。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

8 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。