VOA词汇掌故2023--Oil and Water Do Not Mix

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

Oil and water are two very different substances². Oil is thick. Water is thin. If you pour oil into water, they do not mix, and the oil floats to the top.

This difficult relationship can play a part in some laboratory³ experiments. It can play a big part in kitchens as we cook food. It can also be used to describe some of our personal relationships.

If we say two people are like oil and water, it means⁴ they do not get along. They are not compatible⁵.

Things like objects, elements⁶, and people that do not or cannot mix together easily can be compared to oil and water.

Here is an example from experience. My friend often asked me to watch her cat Bluey when she would travel out of town. Usually, cats love me but not Bluey. He would make terrible cat noises as soon as I walked into the apartment. Every time I tried to pet him, he would bite and scratch⁷ me. So, I didn't like him either. We were like oil and water. I took care of him, but for the most part, we ignored each other.

This expression describes how oil and water naturally separate⁸. They are incompatible⁹. So are people who have nothing in common and do not get along.

We sometimes say oil and water do not mix to express an opinion that two things do not go together.

Here is another "oil" expression. If you pour oil on troubled water, you calm a tense situation. You might not hear this expression too much in America as it is mainly a British usage¹⁰.

Now let's hear the expression used between two friends.

A: I'm worried about my birthday party.

B: Why? It's not until next weekend.

A: It doesn't matter. My two best friends will never find a way to get along. Ben likes to plan everything and is a bit of a control freak. Kara is super easy going and likes to play things by ear.

B: Those two sound like oil and water.

A: They are! And they want to throw the party together. What a truly bad idea.

B: I have a good idea. I'll come to the party early. If things between them get heated, I'll get between them and calm things down.

A: You'll be the oil on my troubled waters!

B: Sure. Whatever you say. I just want to have fun at your party!

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

Words in This Story

compatible – adj. able to coexist without problems

control freak – n. a person whose behavior indicates a powerful need to control people or circumstances in everyday matters

play things by ear – idiom to do something without special preparation

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 substances   

n.物质( substance的名词复数 )；实质；物体；[哲学]1)。 本质

参考例句：

• substances with high levels of toxicity 毒性大的物质
• Many highly corrosive substances are used in the nuclear industry. 核工业使用许多腐蚀性很强的物质。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 laboratory   

n.实验室，化验室

参考例句：

• She has donated money to establish a laboratory.她捐款成立了一个实验室。
• Our laboratory equipment isn't perfect,but we must make do.实验室设备是不够理想，但我们只好因陋就简。

4 means   

n.方法，手段，折中点，物质财富

参考例句：

• That man used artful means to find out secrets.那人使用狡猾的手段获取机密。
• We must get it done by some means or other.我们总得想办法把它干完。

5 compatible   

adj.兼容的；能和睦相处的，合得来的

参考例句：

• You should choose a roommate more compatible to your tastes.你应该挑个和你意气更相投的人同住一室。
• Health and hard work are compatible.健康与努力工作是一致的。

6 elements   

原理，基础； 要素（旧时认为土、空气、火和水是构成一切物质的四大要素）( element的名词复数 )； （化学）元素； 基础； 成分

参考例句：

• Oxygen is one of the basic elements of substance. 氧是物质的基本元素之一。
• A language teacher should initiate pupils into the elements of grammar. 语言老师应该把基本语法教给学生。

7 scratch   

n.草稿，抓痕，搔，抓，擦伤，刮擦声，乱写，零，起跑线，未中的一击；vt.搔，抓，挖出，擦

参考例句：

• Scratch my name out please.请把我的名字划掉。
• The suggestion is that they should start from scratch.提出的建议是，他们从头开始。

8 separate   

n.分开，抽印本；adj.分开的，各自的，单独的；v.分开，隔开，分居

参考例句：

• Are they joined together or separate?它们是合在一起还是分开的？
• Separate the white clothes from the dark clothes before laundering.洗衣前应当把浅色衣服和深色衣服分开。

9 incompatible   

adj.不相容的，不协调的，不相配的

参考例句：

• His plan is incompatible with my intent.他的计划与我的意图不相符。
• Speed and safety are not necessarily incompatible.速度和安全未必不相容。

10 usage   

n.惯用法，使用，用法

参考例句：

• I am clear about the usage of this word at last.这个词的用法我算是弄明白了。
• The usage is now firmly established.这种用法现已得到确认。