VOA词汇掌故2023 "惹毛某人"用英语怎么说?

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

欢迎收听VOA慢速英语《词汇掌故》节目。

Birds bring so many wonderful things to our lives.

鸟儿给我们的生活带来了许多美好的事物。

They have beautiful songs for our ears and beautiful feathers for our eyes.

它们为我们的耳朵带来了美妙的歌声，为我们的眼睛带来了美丽的羽毛。

Birds also add to our English expressions.

鸟儿也增加了我们的英语短语。

You may have heard the early bird catches the worm.

你可能听说过早起的鸟儿有虫吃。

This saying means the person who arrives first is most likely to get what they want.

这句谚语的意思是先到的人最有可能得到他们想要的东西。

And what about birds of a feather flock² together?

“birds of a feather flock together（物以类聚）”是什么意思呢？

That means people with the same interests are often together.

它的意思是有相同兴趣的人经常在一起。

Well, today we talk about a bird expression that describes being upset, or bothering someone.

今天我们来谈论一个有关鸟儿的短语，这个短语的意思是惹恼某人。

When we upset others, we have ruffled⁴ their feathers.

“we have ruffled their feathers”的意思是我们惹恼了他们。

For example, if I am often late meeting a friend, that could ruffle³ her feathers.

例如，如果我经常在和朋友见面时迟到，就可能会惹恼她。

It could bother her.

这可能会困扰她。

And if someone lies to me, that will ruffle my feathers.

如果有人对我撒谎，那会惹恼我。

Besides meaning to bother or upset people, this expression has another meaning.

除了表示惹恼他人外，这个短语还有另一种含义。

It also means that your action shakes things up.

意思是你的行动改变了一切。

We use it to describe an action that changes the status quo, or the usual way of doing things.

我们用它来描述改变现状或通常的做事方式的行动。

Sometimes, we upset more than just one person.

有时候，我们不止惹恼一个人。

In that case, we can say we ruffled a few feathers.

在这种情况下，我们可以说我们惹恼了一些人。

For example, if a new work policy is not popular with workers, it will probably ruffle a few, or more than a few, feathers.

例如，如果一项新的工作政策不受员工欢迎，它可能会惹恼几个人，或者不止几个人。

In English, we have quite a few expressions that mean something similar.

在英语中，我们有相当多表示类似意思的短语。

To drive someone up the wall, to get under someone's skin, and to get on someone's nerves⁵ all mean to bother someone.

drive someone up the wall，get under someone's skin和get on someone's nerves都表示惹恼某人。

However, we do not use those expressions to describe changing the usual way of doing things.

然而，我们并不用这些短语来描述改变通常的做事方式。

So, in that sense, ruffling⁶ some feathers is different.

因此，从这个意义上说，ruffling some feathers是不同的。

Word experts say that the use of this expression began in the mid-1800s.

词汇专家说，这个短语的使用始于19世纪中期。

It comes from the fact that, sometimes, birds ruffle their feathers when they are upset.

它来自这样一个事实，有时，鸟儿在心烦的时候会弄乱它们的羽毛。

But birds also ruffle their feathers at other times, for example to keep warm or during mating season.

但鸟儿在其他时候也会弄乱羽毛，例如为了保暖或在交配季节。

Now, let's hear two friends use the expression.

现在，让我们来听两个朋友是如何用这个短语的。

The meeting for our Ukulele Club is going to start in 20 minutes.

我们尤克里里俱乐部的会议将在20分钟后开始。

I brought drinks and some food.

我带了饮料和一些食物。

And I brought copies of our new rules!

我带来了我们新规定的复印件！

Um ... I don't think you should hand those out.

嗯……我认为你不应该把那些复印件发出去。

Why?

为什么？

Well, some members are NOT going to like them.

有些成员不会喜欢它们。

What do you mean?

你什么意思？

I mean -- these new rules are going to ruffle some feathers.

我的意思是——这些新规定会惹恼一些人。

No way! Whose feathers are going to be ruffled?

不可能！会惹恼谁？

Well, Marjorie, for one. Your first new rule is no dogs are permitted during practice. She doesn't go anywhere without her little dog BinkyBoo.

马乔里就是其中之一。你的第一条新规定是练习时不允许带狗。没有她的小狗BinkyBoo，她哪儿也不去。

Well, maybe we can change that one.

好吧，也许我们可以改一下这一条规定。

And the dress requirement? Do you really think people want to dress in costume for performances?

那着装要求呢？你真的认为人们想要穿着戏服去表演吗？

It'll make it more fun for the audience.

这会让观众觉得更有趣。

Actually, every one of the new rules is going to ruffle someone's feathers.

事实上，每一条新规定都会惹恼某些人。

Okay, I get it. I'll throw them away. The last thing I want to be accused of is being a feather-ruffler.

好吧，我明白了。我会把它们扔掉。我最不想被指责的事情就是做一个惹恼别人的人。

And that's all the time we have for this Words and Their Stories. Until next time ... I'm Anna Matteo.

以上就是本期《词汇掌故》节目的全部内容。下次见……我是安娜·马特奥。

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 flock   

n.羊群，一群，大量；vi.群集，聚集，成群

参考例句：

• A flock of customers were waiting for the store to open.一群顾客在等候着商店开门。
• A few sheep have been lost from the flock.羊群里少了几只羊。

3 ruffle   

v.弄皱，弄乱；激怒，扰乱；n.褶裥饰边

参考例句：

• Don't ruffle my hair.I've just combed it.别把我的头发弄乱了。我刚刚梳好了的。
• You shouldn't ruffle so easily.你不该那么容易发脾气。

4 ruffled   

adj. 有褶饰边的, 起皱的 动词ruffle的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• She ruffled his hair affectionately. 她情意绵绵地拨弄着他的头发。
• All this talk of a strike has clearly ruffled the management's feathers. 所有这些关于罢工的闲言碎语显然让管理层很不高兴。

5 nerves   

n.神经紧张 vt.鼓起勇气

参考例句：

• What he said at the meeting strung her nerves up. 他在会议上的发言使她的神经很紧张。
• At the end of a day's teaching, her nerves were absolutely shattered. 教了一天课，她精疲力竭。

6 ruffling   

弄皱( ruffle的现在分词 )； 弄乱； 激怒； 扰乱

参考例句：

• A cool breeze brushed his face, ruffling his hair. 一阵凉风迎面拂来，吹乱了他的头发。
• "Indeed, they do not,'said Pitty, ruffling. "说真的，那倒不一定。" 皮蒂皱皱眉头，表示异议。