VOA词汇掌故2023--Learn When to Wear 'Kid Gloves'

Learn When to Wear 'Kid Gloves'

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

On this program, we explore words and expressions in the English language. We give definitions, notes on usage, and use them in conversations.

Today we talk about a piece of clothing – gloves.

We wear gloves to protect our hands. When the weather is cold, we wear gloves to keep our hands warm. When we do difficult outdoor work, we might wear work gloves. And when we clean indoors, we might wear rubber gloves to protect our hands from chemicals.

But when do we wear "kid gloves"?

Kid gloves are made from the skin of a young goat, also called a kid. Kid leather is very soft. So, kid gloves are perfect for holding objects such as silverware and art without leaving fingerprints¹. Years ago, many servants would wear kid gloves.

But today, we use the expression kid gloves to describe a way of dealing² with certain people or situations. People who are sensitive require kid gloves. And situations that are complex and delicate often need the kid-glove treatment.

However, when we use kid gloves to talk about people, it is a little different than when we talk about situations.

To treat something with kid gloves is to handle a situation carefully and with tact³. When we do something tactfully, we do it in a thoughtful way. Tactful people deal with people and situations very well. They are diplomatic.

Handling a situation with kid gloves is the opposite of being a bull in a china shop. If you are a bull in a china shop, you handle a situation very carelessly. (We talked about this idiom on another Words and Their Stories.)

Kid-glove treatment shows special skill and sensitivity. People who need kid-glove treatment might be very sensitive, meaning their feelings are easily hurt. Or they might be fussy⁴ and demanding. For example, really famous actors or pop stars might need the kid-glove treatment.

Now, let's hear the idiom used in a conversation between two friends.

A: What are you doing this weekend?

B: An old friend is visiting me. We were best friends all through middle school and high school.

A: That sounds fun!

B: Well, I hope it will be.

A: Why do say ‘hope'?

B: Well, she just went through a very nasty divorce from her high school sweetheart. She's still very sensitive about it. So I have to handle her with kid gloves and not talk about our high school days.

A: Sounds like a little kid-glove treatment is just what she needs. And you can talk about the future instead.

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

rubber –n. n elastic⁵ substance obtained from the milky⁶ juice of various tropical plants

sensitive –adj. easily hurt or damaged especially : easily hurt emotionally

delicate –adj. easily unsettled or upset : resulting from or requiring skill or careful treatment

tact –n. the ability to deal with others without upsetting them : tactfully –adv.

fussy –adj. easily upset : hard to please

nasty –adj. morally disgusting or degrading

1 fingerprints   

n.指纹( fingerprint的名词复数 )v.指纹( fingerprint的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Everyone's fingerprints are unique. 每个人的指纹都是独一无二的。
• They wore gloves so as not to leave any fingerprints behind (them). 他们戴着手套，以免留下指纹。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

3 tact   

n.机敏，圆滑，得体

参考例句：

• She showed great tact in dealing with a tricky situation.她处理棘手的局面表现得十分老练。
• Tact is a valuable commodity.圆滑老练是很有用处的。

4 fussy   

adj.为琐事担忧的，过分装饰的，爱挑剔的

参考例句：

• He is fussy about the way his food's cooked.他过分计较食物的烹调。
• The little girl dislikes her fussy parents.小女孩讨厌她那过分操心的父母。

5 elastic   

n.橡皮圈，松紧带；adj.有弹性的；灵活的

参考例句：

• Rubber is an elastic material.橡胶是一种弹性材料。
• These regulations are elastic.这些规定是有弹性的。

6 milky   

adj.牛奶的，多奶的；乳白色的

参考例句：

• Alexander always has milky coffee at lunchtime.亚历山大总是在午餐时喝掺奶的咖啡。
• I like a hot milky drink at bedtime.我喜欢睡前喝杯热奶饮料。