Expressions for New Year's Resolution

Expressions for New Year's Resolution

And now, Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning¹ English.

During a new year, many of us decide to try something new. With a new year's resolution, we resolve² to do something we have not done in the past.

Sometimes new things are risk-free – like eating healthier food or getting more exercise.

Sometimes we decide to learn a new skill, like a language or a musical instrument. Again, these things are not risky³, nor do they have bad consequences. If you do not learn how to play the guitar, nothing bad will happen — probably.

However, sometimes we need to shake up our lives and do something different that does have consequences. That means there are risks if things do not work out.

Such a change could involve moving to a new city, starting a new job, or ending a relationship. These new things do have a level of risk . Things could go wrong. On the other hand, things could go very right.

So, for these situations, we introduce two expressions that encourage you to take a chance.

Nothing ventured⁵, nothing gained.

The first expression is nothing ventured, nothing gained.

This means that without doing something risky or difficult, a bad situation will not improve. You could also sum it up this way: If you try something risky, you could fail. But if you do not try at all ... you will surely fail.

The word "venture⁴" can be both a noun⁶ and a verb. As a verb, it means to proceed⁷ in a dangerous or risky plan. As a noun, it means an action that involves chance, risk, or danger.

For example, starting a new restaurant is a risky business venture these days. And venturing⁸ into an unknown area could be dangerous.

A friend of mine wanted to learn how to drive a stunt⁹ car and then move to Los Angeles to become a stunt car driver. A stunt car is a vehicle used in the movies to perform crashes and wild driving. There are not many women in this profession. So, I told her that her decision involved lots of risk. She said to me: "Well, nothing ventured, nothing gained."

Fortune favors the bold¹⁰.

Our second expression is fortune favors the bold.

"Fortune" usually means wealth or fame. But it can also mean being in a good situation. And, if you are bold, you are brave.

So, this expression means that people who are brave and take chances help themselves. Their bold, brave actions put them in a good place.

When using this expression, keep this in mind. The person who finds a fortune has done something to get it. It just doesn't happen to them by chance. So, if someone happens to win a lot of money in a lottery¹¹, you wouldn't use the expression fortune favors the bold.

However, let's say you quit your job and moved to a new city. That is a bold decision. But you are sure that it will be good for you. In the new city, you find your dream job. It might even pay more money than your old job. Here, you could definitely¹² say, "Fortune favors the bold!"

And that's all the time we have for this Words and Their Stories. For the start of 2023, I wish you and yours health and wealth.

Words in This Story

resolution –n. a promise to yourself to do something you believe you should do

consequence –n. the result of an action usually that is meaningful or serious

encourage –v. to make someone likely to take some action

shake up –v. (phrasal) to make a lot of changes or to make a big change

venture –v. to do something that involves risk and reward

fortune –n. wealth, fame or good conditions (often because of influences beyond direct control of an individual)

favor –v. to approve of or to support

bold –adj. not afraid of danger of difficult situations

1 learning   

n.学问，学识，学习；动词learn的现在分词

参考例句：

• When you are learning to ride a bicycle,you often fall off.初学骑自行车时，常会从车上掉下来。
• Learning languages isn't just a matter of remembering words.学习语言不仅仅是记些单词的事。

2 resolve   

vt.解决，解除；决定，决心

参考例句：

• It's up to him to resolve this problem.这个问题应由他来解决。
• This did not shake his resolve.这事并未动摇他的决心。

3 risky   

adj.有风险的，冒险的

参考例句：

• It may be risky but we will chance it anyhow.这可能有危险，但我们无论如何要冒一冒险。
• He is well aware how risky this investment is.他心里对这项投资的风险十分清楚。

4 venture   

v.敢于，大胆表示；冒险，拼，闯；n.冒险

参考例句：

• He is too timid to venture upon an undertaking.他太胆小，不敢从事任何事业。
• Don't venture into the jungle without a guide.没有向导，不要冒险到丛林里去。

5 ventured   

v.敢于，冒险( venture的过去式和过去分词 )；冒…的危险；拿…冒险；用…进行投机

参考例句：

• Very few people ventured to go out on that stormy night. 在那个风雨交加的夜晚，很少有人敢出去。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• I admire those explorers who ventured forth to explore new lands. 我敬佩那些为发现新大陆而外出的探险家们。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 noun   

n.名词

参考例句：

• What kind of noun is this?这是哪类名词？
• This word is a collective noun.这个词是个集体名词。

7 proceed   

vi.着手，继续进行；前进，行进

参考例句：

• Wrong opinions often proceed from lack of information.错误的看法往往产生于不了解情况。
• Let's proceed with our work.我们接着干吧。

8 venturing   

v.敢于，冒险( venture的现在分词 )；冒…的危险；拿…冒险；用…进行投机

参考例句：

• Not venturing to go myself, I sent several sham messengers. 我不敢自己再去，就派几个假装的探信人去。
• I'm not venturing out in this rain. 我不敢冒这样的雨外出。

9 stunt   

n.惊人表演，绝技，特技；vt.阻碍...发育，妨碍...生长

参考例句：

• Lack of the right food may stunt growth.缺乏适当的食物会阻碍发育。
• Right up there is where the big stunt is taking place.那边将会有惊人的表演。

10 bold   

adj.果敢的，冒险的，无畏的；冒失的，鲁莽的

参考例句：

• Her words were so bold that people caught their breath.她的话太大胆了，使人们都倒抽了一口气。
• The room was decorated in bold colours.房间的色调布置得鲜明醒目。

11 lottery   

n.抽彩；碰运气的事，难于算计的事

参考例句：

• He won no less than ￡5000 in the lottery.他居然中了5000英镑的奖券。
• They thought themselves lucky in the lottery of life.他们认为自己是变幻莫测的人生中的幸运者。

12 definitely   

adv.一定地，肯定地；明确地，确切地

参考例句：

• The team will definitely lose if he doesn't play.如果他不参加比赛，这个队肯定会输。
• I shall definitely be home before six o'clock.6点以前，我一定回家。