VOA词汇掌故2025--'Kitchen-Table' Is a Type of Politics

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

On this program we explore words and expressions in the English language. We give examples and notes on usage.

Today we talk about different kinds of politics.

We start with kitchen-table politics. The kitchen is often considered the hub, or center, of the home. It is where we gather to not only share a meal but to talk about the events of the day. We often discuss issues of importance with our family and friends around the dining room table.

So, kitchen-table issues are those that affect individuals and their families daily. A family might discuss these issues at the kitchen table during mealtimes.

Rising gas and food prices are two good examples of kitchen-table politics. These issues affect decisions we make day to day. They are sometimes also called dinner-table politics. Or we could describe them as bread-and-butter issues.

Merriam Webster dictionary defines bread-and-butter issues as "being as basic as the earning of one's livelihood¹." The online Cambridge Dictionary defines a bread-and-butter issue as "a subject or problem that relates directly to most people's needs and interests."

For example, affordable² food prices and availability of good healthcare are the kinds of bread-and-butter political issues that people vote on.

The noun bread and butter means a way of making a living. For example, for a creative writer, her ideas are her bread and butter.

So, bread-and-butter political issues deal with our ability to provide for the needs of ourselves and our families.

Next, let's talk about green politics. These political issues deal with caring for the natural environment. Green politics can cover ideas such as environmental sustainability, recycling, and threats to wildlife. The natural world is central to green politics.

Identity politics is more personal. This term means that a person's political views are formed by their experiences and understanding of themselves. Things like gender³, age, social and economic position, and religious belief can inform identity politics.

Finally, we come to gotcha politics. This type of politics is centered on damaging opponents through public accusations⁴ of wrongdoing or misbehavior. Gotcha politics often involves investigation⁵ into the private lives, past and present, of politicians in search of negative information.

In gotcha politics, "Gotcha" is short for "I got you," meaning, "I caught you!"

And that's the end of this Words and Their Stories.

Until next time, I'm Anna Matteo.

Anna Matteo wrote this story for VOA Learning English.

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Words in This Story

dine -v. to eat dinner

dinner -n. the main meal of the day

basic -adj. of, relating to, or forming the base or essence

livelihood -n. means of support

affordable -adj. having a cost that is not too high

sustainability -n. of, relating to, or being a method of harvesting or using a resource so that the resource is not depleted⁶ or permanently⁷ damaged

recycling -n. to process (something, such as liquid body waste, glass, or cans) in order to regain⁸ material for human use

gender -n. the behavioral, cultural, or psychological traits typically associated with one sex

negative -adj. not positive or helpful

1 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。

2 affordable   

adj.支付得起的，不太昂贵的

参考例句：

• The rent for the four-roomed house is affordable.四居室房屋的房租付得起。
• There are few affordable apartments in big cities.在大城市中没有几所公寓是便宜的。

3 gender   

n.（生理上的）性，（名词、代词等的）性

参考例句：

• French differs from English in having gender for all nouns.法语不同于英语，所有的名词都有性。
• Women are sometimes denied opportunities solely because of their gender.妇女有时仅仅因为性别而无法获得种种机会。

4 accusations   

n.指责( accusation的名词复数 )；指控；控告；（被告发、控告的）罪名

参考例句：

• There were accusations of plagiarism. 曾有过关于剽窃的指控。
• He remained unruffled by their accusations. 对于他们的指控他处之泰然。

5 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

6 depleted   

adj. 枯竭的, 废弃的 动词deplete的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• Food supplies were severely depleted. 食物供应已严重不足。
• Both teams were severely depleted by injuries. 两个队都因队员受伤而实力大减。

7 permanently   

adv.永恒地，永久地，固定不变地

参考例句：

• The accident left him permanently scarred.那次事故给他留下了永久的伤疤。
• The ship is now permanently moored on the Thames in London.该船现在永久地停泊在伦敦泰晤士河边。

8 regain   

vt.重新获得，收复，恢复

参考例句：

• He is making a bid to regain his World No.1 ranking.他正为重登世界排名第一位而努力。
• The government is desperate to regain credibility with the public.政府急于重新获取公众的信任。