【趣谈英语】卓别林的胡子是假的-Charlie Chaplin’s Moustache Was Fake

Pre-Listening Vocabulary

 

sport: to wear something fashionable

bristles¹: short, rough hairs

philtrum: the indentation between the nose and the upper lip (also called Cupid’s bow)

tramp: a homeless beggar

taboo²: forbidden in social circles

 

 

Charlie Chaplin’s Moustache Was Fake

During the month of November many men grow a moustache to raise awareness³ and funds for men’s health issues, including prostate cancer. The observance is called Movember, and has been in existence since 1999. While you’ll see men sporting a variety of moustache styles in the month of November, you’ll see few with Charlie Chaplin’s signature “toothbrush” moustache. This style of moustache, a short rectangular strip of bristles that covers the philtrum, was worn by some men in the early 1900s when Charlie Chaplin played The Little Tramp in his silent comedies. Chaplin’s moustache was fake, and he removed it along with his bowler⁴ hat and cane⁵ when he was not in character. Movember participants aren’t likely to grow this style of moustache because of its association with Adolf Hitler whose toothbrush moustache was real. After World War II, the toothbrush moustache became known as the “Hitler” moustache and became taboo along with the name Adolf.

1 bristles   

短而硬的毛发，刷子毛( bristle的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• the bristles on his chin 他下巴上的胡楂子
• This job bristles with difficulties. 这项工作困难重重。

2 taboo   

n.禁忌，禁止接近，禁止使用；adj.禁忌的；v.禁忌，禁制，禁止

参考例句：

• The rude words are taboo in ordinary conversation.这些粗野的字眼在日常谈话中是禁忌的。
• Is there a taboo against sex before marriage in your society?在你们的社会里，婚前的性行为犯禁吗？

3 awareness   

n.意识，觉悟，懂事，明智

参考例句：

• There is a general awareness that smoking is harmful.人们普遍认识到吸烟有害健康。
• Environmental awareness has increased over the years.这些年来人们的环境意识增强了。

4 bowler   

n.打保龄球的人，（板球的）投（球）手

参考例句：

• The bowler judged it well,timing the ball to perfection.投球手判断准确，对球速的掌握恰到好处。
• The captain decided to take Snow off and try a slower bowler.队长决定把斯诺撤下，换一个动作慢一点的投球手试一试。

5 cane   

n.手杖，细长的茎，藤条；v.以杖击，以藤编制的

参考例句：

• This sugar cane is quite a sweet and juicy.这甘蔗既甜又多汁。
• English schoolmasters used to cane the boys as a punishment.英国小学老师过去常用教鞭打男学生作为惩罚。