VOA词汇掌故2024--One Person's Trash Is Another Person's Treasure

And now, Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning¹ English.

People around the world share many things in common. But we are also different from each other. Not only do we look, think, and act differently, but we also like different things. Even identical² twins may look the same but are very different individuals.

On today's program, we will look at a few expressions to describe how no person is exactly the same as another.

The first expression involves trash and treasure.

When we say one person's trash is another person's treasure, we mean that something that one person may consider worthless³ could be highly⁴ prized or valued by someone else.

Let's hear an example of how to use this expression:

A: I really don't understand the appeal of Jackson Pollock's paintings. To me, they look like a team of monkeys painted them!"

B: I love Pollock's paintings. I see something new every time I look at them.

A: Well, I guess it's true what they say, one person's trash is another person's treasure.

Now, rubbish and garbage mean the same as trash. But, in this expression, we use trash because the "tr" in trash and treasure makes the expression sound more natural. It just sounds better.

And, sometimes, we use the word "man" in place of "person" such as one man's trash is another man's treasure. Again it is just easier to say.

Another expression with a similar meaning is different strokes⁵ for different folks⁶.

This also means⁷ that different things appeal to different people. But as a set expression, we do not say "different strokes for different people." That just doesn't sound right.

Different strokes for different folks can also mean that people live in different ways and value different things.

For example, a perfect evening for my friend is to go out and dance all night long. For me, a perfect evening is to stay at home with a book and a cup of tea. Neither is a better way to spend the evening. So, we should not judge. Or in other words, different strokes for different folks.

When we want to say that we are all different and we like different things without judgment⁸, we can also use the following expressions:

It takes all kinds to make the world go round.

It takes all kinds.

To each his (her) own.

Whatever floats your boat.

They all mean ... whatever makes you happy!

And all of these expressions have the same general meaning: We are all different and unique.

Words in This Story

identical twin - n. either member of a pair of twins that are produced from a single egg and who look exactly alike⁹

unique - adj. being the only one of its kind

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 identical   

adj.完全一样的，完全相同的；同一的

参考例句：

• She wore the identical dress on both occasions.她在两种场合穿的是同一件衣服。
• He is identical in character with his wife.他的品性和他的夫人相同。

3 worthless   

adj.无价值的，无用的，可鄙的

参考例句：

• Don't read worthless books.不要读没有用的书。
• He was worthless as a painter.他作为画家一事无成。

4 highly   

adv.高度地，极，非常；非常赞许地

参考例句：

• It is highly important to provide for the future.预先做好准备非常重要。
• The teacher speaks very highly of the boy's behaviour.老师称赞这个男孩的表现。

5 strokes   

中风； a sudden loss of consciousness resulting when the rupture or occlusion of a blood vessel leads to oxygen lack in the brain.； （游泳或划船的）划( stroke的名词复数 )； 中风； （打、击等的）一下； （成功的）举动

参考例句：

• Apply the paint thickly in even strokes. 涂颜料要厚，笔画要匀。
• To improve your tennis strokes you try using a different grip. 为了提高你网球的击球法，你试试用另一种握拍方法。

6 folks   

n.人们；父母；亲人；家属；人们( folk的名词复数 )；亲属；大伙儿；民间音乐

参考例句：

• Ask yourself what the folks in Peoria will think of it. 想一想皮奥里亚的人会如何看待这件事。
• When good folks meet, evil men keep their distance. 好人相逢，恶人远离。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

7 means   

n.方法，手段，折中点，物质财富

参考例句：

• That man used artful means to find out secrets.那人使用狡猾的手段获取机密。
• We must get it done by some means or other.我们总得想办法把它干完。

8 judgment   

n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见

参考例句：

• The chairman flatters himself on his judgment of people.主席自认为他审视人比别人高明。
• He's a man of excellent judgment.他眼力过人。

9 alike   

adj.同样的，相像的；adv.一样地；同程度地　

参考例句：

• The twins are so alike that I can't tell which is which.这对双胞胎一模一样，我分辨不出谁是谁。
• All stories seemed dreadfully alike,no matter who told them.看来，不管谁讲，故事都是千篇一律的。