VOA慢速英语--Get Ready for 'A Slap in the Face'

 

Now, it's time for Words and Their Stories, a program from VOA Learning English.

Each week, we tell the story of words and expressions often used in American English. Some of them are old. Others are new. Together, they form a living language.

On today’s show, we will be talking about the act of hitting someone with the palm of your hand. We call this a slap!

Growing up, you may have experienced a slap or two. Do you remember how it felt? Probably not good.

And when the slap is on your face, the feeling is even worse! You often do not see it coming until the open palm lands on your cheek. The sting on your face can cause tears to well up in your eyes. It hurts. And you may feel insulted and offended.

And that brings us to today’s expression: a slap in the face.

Used as an expression, “a slap in the face” is not a physical act. It is a surprising action or comment that offends someone. A slap in the face is humiliating and can also cause disappointment.

Word experts say the expression dates back to the late 1800s.

It may have come from the idea of defending yourself against unwanted sexual attention. When that happens, you might slap that person across the face. Generally speaking, in the 1800s women would likely be the ones slapping men in those situations.

But the expression “a slap in the face” could also come from an old tradition between men – the duel¹. A duel is a contest with deadly weapons arranged between two people in order to settle a point of honor.

In the past, a man could challenge another to a duel by slapping him across the face with an empty glove. To protect his honor, or to save face, the slapped person must agree to the duel.

Today, the expression “a slap in the face” means an insult. More often than not, “a slap on the face” is done on purpose. It is intentional².

Now, let’s hear how to use “a slap in the face” in everyday life.

Imagine actors preparing for a big show.

Catherine is in the studio rehearsing her song. Then suddenly, Oscar bursts into the room. He is so angry he can barely speak. Catherine stops singing and stops the music.

Catherine: Oscar, I’m right in the middle of my big song. What’s the matter?

Oscar: Sorry, Cat. But I just got some really bad news.

Catherine: My name is Catherine. Not Cat.

Oscar: Can we please stop talking about you for a minute? The director is giving my part in the show to Manuel!

Catherine: What? Why?

Oscar: She said that Manuel is really talented and deserves to play the lead.

Catherine: Whoa. What a slap in the face! Your face, I mean.

Oscar: I know how that idiom works, Catherine. Thanks.

Catherine: So, what else did she say?

Oscar: She said that lately I’ve been very ‘unprofessional.’

Catherine: She must be talking about all those rehearsals³ you’ve missed.

Oscar: Perhaps.

Catherine: But the show opens in a week. What are you going to tell your friends and family?

Oscar: I have no idea. They’ve planned a big opening night party and everything. This is so humiliating. How can I face them?

Catherine: That’s going to be a huge loss of face … again I’m talking about your face.

Oscar: Can you stop with the all these humiliation⁴ idioms?? They’re not helping⁵!

Catherine: Sorry. But wow, what a blow.

Oscar: Cat!

What a blow, indeed. The director’s decision is certainly a major slap in the face. As we heard in the dialogue, you could also say that the news came as a blow to Oscar. In other words, the director’s decision was surprising, unwanted and hurtful. It did damage as a blow would do.

And Catherine really increased the tension with all of her idioms of humiliation.

And that’s all we have for you on today’s show. Until next time … I’m Anna Matteo.

Words in This Story

sting – v. to affect with sharp quick pain or smart

well up – phrasal verb come up in a strong way (as of feelings and thoughts or tears)

humiliating – adj. extremely destructive to one's self-respect or dignity

save face - idiom to avoid having other people lose respect for oneself

intentional – adj. done in a way that is planned or intended

studio – n. a place for the study of an art (such as dancing, singing, or acting)

rehearse – v. to prepare for a public performance of a play, a piece of music, etc., by practicing the performance

lead (role) – n. the main role in a movie or play

idiom – n. an expression that cannot be understood from the meanings of its separate words but that has a separate meaning of its own

dialogue – n. a written composition in which two or more characters are represented as conversing : a conversation between two or more persons

1 duel   

n./v.决斗；(双方的)斗争

参考例句：

• The two teams are locked in a duel for first place.两个队为争夺第一名打得难解难分。
• Duroy was forced to challenge his disparager to duel.杜洛瓦不得不向诋毁他的人提出决斗。

2 intentional   

adj.故意的，有意（识）的

参考例句：

• Let me assure you that it was not intentional.我向你保证那不是故意的。
• His insult was intentional.他的侮辱是有意的。

3 rehearsals   

n.练习( rehearsal的名词复数 )；排练；复述；重复

参考例句：

• The earlier protests had just been dress rehearsals for full-scale revolution. 早期的抗议仅仅是大革命开始前的预演。
• She worked like a demon all through rehearsals. 她每次排演时始终精力过人。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 humiliation   

n.羞辱

参考例句：

• He suffered the humiliation of being forced to ask for his cards.他蒙受了被迫要求辞职的羞辱。
• He will wish to revenge his humiliation in last Season's Final.他会为在上个季度的决赛中所受的耻辱而报复的。

5 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。