VOA词汇掌故2023 "第三次能有好运"吗?

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

欢迎收听VOA慢速英语《词汇掌故》节目。

On today's program we talk about the word "charm¹."

在今天的节目中，我们来谈谈“charm”这个词。

"Charm" has several meanings.

“Charm”有多种含义。

It can be a word, action, or thing believed to have magic power, to keep away evil, or to bring good luck.

它可以指被认为具有魔力、驱邪或带来好运的言语、行为或事物。

It can be a small item worn on a chain or bracelet².

它可以指项链或手镯上的小物件。

Charm bracelets³ are popular because you can add charms⁴ that show things you like, your hobbies, or your interests.

带饰物的手链很受欢迎，因为你可以添加小饰物，显示你喜欢的东西，你的爱好或你的兴趣。

"Charm" is also a quality that attracts and pleases people.

“Charm”也指一种吸引人、取悦人的品质。

If you are charming, you charm people or you make them like you.

如果你很有魅力，指的是你会让别人着迷，或者让他们喜欢你。

In the story of Cinderella, the prince is called… Prince Charming.

在灰姑娘的故事中，王子被称为白马王子。

Now, let's talk about our first expression.

现在，我们来谈谈我们的第一个短语。

If something works like a charm it works perfectly⁵.

“work like a charm”的意思是非常奏效。

Something that works like a charm does exactly want it is supposed to do.

像魔法一样起作用的东西确实发挥了它应有的作用。

This expression can describe an approach, a method, a tactic⁶, or even a device.

这个短语可以描述方法、策略，甚至手段。

Whatever it is works so well, that it seems like magic!

不管它是什么，就像魔法一样非常奏效！

Let's hear two friends use it.

我们来听听两个朋友是如何用它的。

One friend invites another to go boating for the weekend.

一个朋友邀请另一个朋友周末去划船。

But before that can happen, the invitee must find a dog watcher for the weekend.

但在此之前，受邀者必须找到一位在周末看狗的人。

Let's hear how they use the expression to work like a charm.

让我们来听听他们是如何使用“work like a charm”这个短语的。

So, can you go boating with me this weekend?

这个周末你能和我一起去划船吗？

Yes! My roommate agreed to watch my dog Milo.

好的！我的室友同意照看我的狗麦洛。

She did? I thought she didn't like Milo… at all.

她同意了？我以为她根本不喜欢麦洛。

Me too. She complains about my dog all the time. Milo is too big. Milo is too playful. Milo is too… whatever!

我也是。她总是抱怨我的狗。麦洛太大了。麦洛太顽皮了。麦洛太……！

So, why did she agree to watch him?

那她为什么同意照看他呢？

Well, I told her that when I take Milo to the dog park lots of men want to play with such a big, friendly dog. And I added that some of these men are very good-looking.

我告诉她，当我带麦洛去狗公园时，很多男人都想和这样一只又大又友好的狗一起玩。我补充说，其中一些男人非常英俊。

Oh, that is too funny!

哦，那太好笑了！

It might be funny, but it worked like a charm.

这可能很好笑，但非常奏效。

Now, for our next expression. Let's say a person tries to do something but fails at it two times, or twice.

现在，我们来看下一个短语。假设一个人试图做某事，但失败了两次。

But they want to try again for a third time.

但他想再试第三次。

They hope that on the third attempt, it will work.

他希望第三次尝试能奏效。

In this situation, we can say the third time is the charm.

在这种情况下，我们可以说第三次能有好运。

However, when we use this expression we usually say it quickly – like this "third time's the charm."

然而，当我们使用这个短语时，我们通常会说得很快——比如“third time's the charm”。

We often use this expression to encourage someone to do something that they have tried a couple of times.

我们经常用这个短语来鼓励某人去做他们已经尝试过几次的事情。

Sometimes we use it to describe our own efforts.

有时我们用它来描述我们自己的努力。

We try to convince ourselves that our efforts, whatever they are, will finally work out.

我们试图说服自己，我们的努力，无论是什么，最终会奏效。

Here is another conversation using the expression third time's the charm.

下面是另一段对话，该对话中使用了短语“third time's the charm”。

Where are you going with all those boxes?

你带着那些箱子要去哪里？

I'm helping⁷ James open his new business.

我在帮詹姆斯开他的新公司。

James is opening another business? Didn't his past two businesses fail?

詹姆斯要开另一家公司了？他过去开的两家公司不是都倒闭了吗？

They did. He lost a lot of money on both of them.

它们是倒闭了。他在开那两家公司时赔了很多钱。

Wow, he is brave for starting another business. You'd think he would have learned his lesson.

哇，他又创立了一家公司，真勇敢。你认为他已经吸取了教训。

He said the third time's the charm! He really believes this one will work out.

他说第三次能有好运！他真的相信这一次会成功。

What is the business anyway?

这次开的公司是做什么的？

He is opening a dog summer camp.

他要开一个狗狗夏令营。

A summer camp … for dogs?

狗狗夏令营？

Yep. Those boxes are filled with dog treats and toys.

是的。那些箱子里装满了狗粮和玩具。

But people love spending time with their dogs in the summer.

但在夏天人们喜欢和他们的狗待在一起。

Look, I'm just helping him out.

听着，我只是在帮他。

Well, in this case, I don't think third time's the charm is the best expression to use. I'd use … don't quit your day job.

我认为“第三次能有好运”不是最好的描述这种情况的短语。我会用不要辞去你的正职。

The expression may have its roots in old superstitions⁸.

这个短语可能源于古老的迷信。

It means that the third time will be lucky and therefore successful.

它的意思是第三次能有好运，因此会成功。

Word experts say that some cultures throughout history viewed three as a lucky number.

词汇专家表示，历史上有些文化把3视作幸运数字。

And that's the end of 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。我是安娜·马特奥。

1 charm   

vt.使着迷，使陶醉；n.招人喜欢之处，魅力

参考例句：

• With all imperfections the short play has a real charm.尽管有不少缺欠，这出小戏仍颇具魅力。
• He could resist her charm no longer.他再也抗拒不住她的魅力。

2 bracelet   

n.手镯，臂镯

参考例句：

• The jeweler charges lots of money to set diamonds in a bracelet.珠宝匠要很多钱才肯把钻石镶在手镯上。
• She left her gold bracelet as a pledge.她留下她的金手镯作抵押品。

3 bracelets   

n.手镯，臂镯( bracelet的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The lamplight struck a gleam from her bracelets. 她的手镯在灯光的照射下闪闪发亮。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• On display are earrings, necklaces and bracelets made from jade, amber and amethyst. 展出的有用玉石、琥珀和紫水晶做的耳环、项链和手镯。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 charms   

n.魔力( charm的名词复数 )；魅力；迷人的特征；（链或手镯上的）吉祥小饰物v.使高兴( charm的第三人称单数 )；使着迷；吸引；使中魔法

参考例句：

• Gold charms dangled from her bracelet. 她的手镯上挂着许多金饰物。
• She was impervious to his charms. 他的魅力不能令她动心。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 perfectly   

adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The witnesses were each perfectly certain of what they said.证人们个个对自己所说的话十分肯定。
• Everything that we're doing is all perfectly above board.我们做的每件事情都是光明正大的。

6 tactic   

n.战略，策略；adj.战术的，有策略的

参考例句：

• Reducing prices is a common sales tactic.降价是常用的销售策略。
• She had often used the tactic of threatening to resign.她惯用以辞职相威胁的手法。

7 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

8 superstitions   

迷信，迷信行为( superstition的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Old superstitions seem incredible to educated people. 旧的迷信对于受过教育的人来说是不可思议的。
• Do away with all fetishes and superstitions. 破除一切盲目崇拜和迷信。