VOA慢速英语2021 你的“主要收入来源”是什么?

Now the VOA Learning¹ English program Words and Their Stories.

欢迎收听VOA慢速英语《词汇掌故》。

Today we talk about a food expression using something most cultures have – bread. It could be naan bread of India, a pita from the Middle East or steamed bread from China. The French have the baguette and Italians have ciabatta. Scandinavian countries often eat heavy, dark breads. And people throughout South America may eat deep fried² breads.

今天我们谈论一种有关食物的表达方式，大多数文化中都有它——面包。它可以是印度烤饼，中东的皮塔饼，或是中国的馒头。法国人吃长棍面包，意大利人吃夏巴塔面包。斯堪的纳维亚国家的人经常吃很沉的深色面包，而整个南美洲的人都会吃油炸面包。

Some people like to dip their bread into olive³ oil. Some like to spread chocolate on top. But one of the best things to put on bread -- especially if it is warm from the oven⁴ -- is butter!

有些人喜欢用橄榄油蘸面包，有些人喜欢在上面涂巧克力。但在面包上抹的最好的一种东西是黄油，尤其是在烤箱里烤得很热的时候！

Bread and butter is a classic⁵ combination⁶.

面包和黄油是一种经典的组合。

But "bread and butter" also means something almost as comforting: a way to make money!

但“面包和黄油”也意味着一些几乎同样令人安慰的东西：赚钱的方式！

Some word experts say the phrase "bread and butter" began in Europe and England during the Middle Ages. At that time, many peasants could only afford bread and butter as their entire meal. Or they would eat it with soup.

一些词汇专家说，“面包和黄油”这个短语起源于中世纪的欧洲和英国。当时，许多农民只能买得起面包和黄油作为一顿饭，或者他们会把它和汤一起吃。

So, bread and butter was a food staple⁷. And that is what the expression "bread and butter" meant for many years – a basic item for life. After you got your bread and butter, you could then purchase more items for your household.

所以，面包和黄油是主食。这就是“面包和黄油”这个词多年来的含义，即一种基本生活用品。拿到面包和黄油后，你就可以为家人购买更多的东西了。

Then around the 1600s, the meaning changed. People began using it to mean the way they earned a living, or their livelihood⁸.

后来在16世纪前后，这个短语的意思发生了变化。人们开始用它来表示谋生的方式，或他们的生计。

So, that is the origin. Here is how you can use it.

这就是它的起源，下面是如何用它。

Let's say you really like to write and perform songs. But you do not make enough money doing those things to pay for your housing⁹, groceries and other expenses. So you get a job as a website designer. If someone asks what you do, you could say, "Well, I'm a musician. But designing websites is my bread-and-butter."

假设你真的喜欢写歌和表演，但是你做这些事情赚的钱不够支付住房、买杂货和其他费用。所以，你找到一份网站设计师的工作。如果有人问你做什么，你可以说，“嗯，我是个音乐家，但设计网站是我的谋生之道。”

In other words, designing websites pays your bills. Making music ... does not. So, you count on web design for your "bread and butter."

换言之，设计网站为你支付账单，而制作音......则不行。所以，你指望网页设计作为“主要的收入来源。”

For some people, it is important to have a stable bread-and-butter job. They get nervous if they do not have a steady paycheck coming in. Being a doctor is a good bread-and-butter job. If you are an import-export specialist, you could say business and trade are your bread and butter.

对某些人来说，有一份稳定的工作很重要。如果没有稳定的薪水，他们就会紧张。当医生是份好工作。如果你是一个进出口专家，你可以说商业和贸易是你主要的收入来源。

Now, if you really like your job and it pays well, you probably want to keep it. And if you work for someone else, you probably want to keep them happy. In other words, you should know which side your bread is buttered on.

现在，如果你真的很喜欢自己的工作而且薪水不错，你可能就想要保住它。如果你是给别人打工，你可能想让他们开心。换句话说，您应该知道which side your bread is buttered on。

"To know which side your bread is buttered on" means you are aware of the people who can help you. But this expression has a bad feel to it. It means being unusually aware of how others can help you.

“To know which side your bread is buttered on”意思是你知道什么是对自己最有利的事。但是这个表达有一种不好的感觉，它意味着要特别注意别人如何帮助你。

Now, let's hear two friends use some of these expressions in a short conversation.

现在，我们来听下两个朋友在简短的对话中使用这些表达。

Hey, do you want to go to the football game this afternoon?

嘿，你今天下午想去看足球赛吗？

I can't. I have to help my girlfriend's dad paint his garage. He may be able to help me get a job at his software company.

不行，我得帮我女友的爸爸漆车库。他也许能帮我在他的软件公司找到一份工作。

I see. Well, it's always good to know which side your bread is buttered on.

知道了，嗯，能清楚什么对自己最有利总是件好事。

Do you have to make it sound that way?

你一定要这样说吗？

Which way is that?

哪样说？

Like I'm scheming or plotting or something like that.

好像我在策划什么似的。

I'm just saying you're being smart. If he can help you, it's a good idea to help him.

我只是说你很聪明。如果他能帮助你，帮助他是个好主意。

Look. Designing software is my bread-and-butter. And don't forget – I'm the breadwinner for my mom and two brothers. So, I'm lucky to know someone who is so connected in the business.

你看，设计软件是我的主要的收入来源。别忘了，我是要养家糊口的人，我有母亲和两个兄弟。所以，我很幸运认识一个在这个行业中人脉很广的人。

Well, just make sure you stay on his daughter's good side too. If you guys break up, you might find yourself on the breadline.

好吧，你也要站在他女儿这边。如果你们分手的话，你可能会发现自己生活清贫。

Urgh. Let's change the subject!

呃，我们换个话题吧！

And that's all the time we have for Words and Their Stories. I hope you have enjoyed learning about these bread expressions. The story editor, Kelly Jean Kelly, liked it. She said it was the best thing since sliced bread! When bakers¹⁰ started slicing bread it made it easier to eat. So, when something is very good we can say it is the best thing since sliced bread. This was a very nice thing for Kelly to say even if it was a great exaggeration¹¹!

今天的节目就到这里了，我希望你喜欢学习这些有关面包的表达方式。故事编辑凯利·吉恩·凯利很喜欢。她说这是有切片面包以来最好的事！面包师切面包后，吃面包就更方便了。所以，当某样东西非常好时，我们可以说it is the best thing since sliced bread（这是有史以来最好的事情）。对凯利来说，这很棒，即使它夸大其词了！

Until next time, I'm Anna Matteo!

下期节目见，我是安娜·马特奥！

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 fried   

adj.油煎的；油炒的

参考例句：

• I ate everything fried.所有油炸的我都吃。
• I prefer fried peanuts.我选择炸花生。

3 olive   

n.橄榄，橄榄树，橄榄色；adj.黄绿色的，黄褐色的，橄榄色的

参考例句：

• Have you eaten a kind of fruit called olive?你吃过橄榄这种水果吗？
• She likes olive because It'symbolizes peace.她喜欢橄榄色因为它象征着和平。

4 oven   

n.烤炉；烤箱

参考例句：

• You put food inside an oven to cook it.你把食物放进烤箱里热一下。
• She baked bread in an oven.她用烤炉烤面包。

5 classic   

n.经典作品；adj.经典的，一流的；古典的

参考例句：

• The novel is regarded as one of the classic works.这篇小说被公认为是最优秀的作品之一。
• The football match was a classic.那场足球比赛堪称典范。

6 combination   

n.组合，合并，联合；

参考例句：

• He carried on the business in combination with his friends.他与朋友们合伙做生意。
• The materials can be used singly or in combination.这些材料可以单独使用也可以混合用。

7 staple   

n.主要产物，常用品，主要要素，原料，订书钉，钩环；adj.主要的，重要的；vt.分类

参考例句：

• Tea is the staple crop here.本地产品以茶叶为大宗。
• Potatoes are the staple of their diet.土豆是他们的主要食品。

8 livelihood   

n.生计，谋生之道

参考例句：

• Appropriate arrangements will be made for their work and livelihood.他们的工作和生活会得到妥善安排。
• My father gained a bare livelihood of family by his own hands.父亲靠自己的双手勉强维持家计。

9 housing   

n.房屋，住宅；住房建筑；外壳，外罩

参考例句：

• Do you think our housing sales will turn around during this year?你认为今年我们的住宅销路会好转吗？
• The housing sales have been turning down since the summer.入夏以来，房屋的销售量日趋减少。

10 bakers   

n.面包师( baker的名词复数 )；面包店；面包店店主；十三

参考例句：

• The Bakers have invited us out for a meal tonight. 贝克一家今晚请我们到外面去吃饭。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The bakers specialize in catering for large parties. 那些面包师专门负责为大型宴会提供食品。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 exaggeration   

n.夸张

参考例句：

• Without exaggeration I can say that I hardly slept a wink. 可以毫不夸大地说，我几乎没有合过眼。
• John is rather given to exaggeration. 约翰很喜欢夸张。