VOA慢速英语:Words and Their Stories: More Clothing Expressions

Last week, I explained some English expressions about clothes. Everything I told you was true. I did not talk through my hat or say something without knowing the facts.
上周，我们讲解了一些关于衣服的英语表达。我告诉你的一切都是真实的，我可没有胡说八道（talk through my hat），或者说，说一些不知道事实的事情。

Everyone knows there are many English expressions about clothes. There is no need to keep it a secret, or keep it under your hat. In fact, if I keep talking, soon enough you will start to think I am an old hat about this -- a real expert. Do not be fooled, though. My friends sometimes call me a wolf in sheep’s clothing. This is someone who acts like a good person, but is really a bad person.
大家都知道有许多关于衣服的英语表达。没有必要再保密（keep it under your hat）。事实上，如果我继续谈这些，很快你就会以为我是这方面的老手（old hat）-- 一位真正的专家。但是不要被愚弄了。有时，我朋友称我是披着羊皮的狼（wolf in sheep’s clothing）。这是指某人表现得像以个好人，但实际上是一个坏蛋。

I’m not really a bad person. But I do love clothes. It is always fun to get dressed up. I look great in my best clothes. When I put them on, I feel decked out. You might say when I wear my best clothes, I am dressed to the nines or dressed to the teeth. In fact, my husband says I look dressed to kill. Of course, I would never kill anyone. But, there is something special about putting on clothes that are pleasing to the eye.
我不是一个真正的坏人。但我确实喜爱衣服。精心打扮是一件充满乐趣的事情。穿上我最好的衣服让我看起来棒极了。当我穿上它们，我感觉像盛装打扮（decked out）。你可能会说，当我穿上我最好的衣服，我打扮得漂亮时髦极了（dressed to the nines），或精心打扮（dressed to the teeth）。事实上，我丈夫说我打扮得迷死人了（dressed to kil）。当然，我绝不会杀死任何人。但是，这是关于穿衣让人赏心悦目的一些特别的表达。

My best clothes are not modern or fashionable. Maybe someday they will come into fashion. But I really do not care. They certainly look better on me than my birthday suit. Did you know that everyone has a birthday suit? You wear it when you are wearing no clothes at all. Babies are born wearing their birthday suits.
我最好的衣服既不现代也不时尚，也许有一天会成为时尚（come into fashion），但我真的不在乎。他们看起来肯定比我一丝不挂（my birthday suit）好多了。你知道，每个人都有一套生日服装吗？当你完全不穿衣服的时候就是穿上它了。婴儿出生时就身穿生日服装的。

I am very careful with my clothes. I handle them with kid gloves. I try not to get them dirty or torn. Most of my clothes fit like a glove. They fit perfectly. But when I eat too much, I feel like my clothes might burst at the seams. My clothes feel too restrictive and tight.
我对服装很小心。我小心的处理（handle them with kid gloves）。我尽量不要让它们弄脏或撕裂。我大部分的衣服都很合身（fit like a glove）。但是，当我吃得太多，我觉得我的衣服可能会撑破（burst at the seams），它们太紧太束身了。

Some of the clothes I like best are hand-me-downs. My older sister gave them to me when she no longer wanted them. Hand-me-downs are great because clothes often cost too much money. I live on a shoestring. I have a very small budget and little money to spend on clothes. However, my sister has a lot of money to spend on clothes. Maybe someday the shoe will be on the other foot. The opposite will be true. I will have a lot of money to buy clothes and my sister will get hand-me-downs from me.
我最喜欢的一些衣服是旧衣服（Hand-me-downs），我的姐姐不穿了就给我。旧衣服很好，因为衣服往往花费太多钱。我的日子过得很紧（live on a shoestring）。我的预算很少，几乎没什么钱能花在衣服上。但是，我姐姐有很多钱可以买衣服。也许有一天，情况变得和原来相反（the shoe will be on the other foot）。我将有许多钱来买衣服，而我姐姐将要从我这里拿我的旧衣服。

I admit I dream of being rich. I dream that someday I will be able to live like a rich person. I will know what it is like to walk in another person’s shoes. Some of my friends got rich by riding someone else’s coat tails. They are successful today as a result of someone else being successful. But, I believe you should never criticize others for something you would do yourself. What is said about someone else can also be said about you. Remember, if the shoe fits, wear it.
我承认我做着发财梦。我梦想有一天我将能够像一个富人那样生活。我就会知道换成他们（walk in another person’s shoes）是什么感觉。我的一些朋友通过成功人士的关系（riding someone else’s coat tails）变得富有了。他们今天的成功是靠他人成功的结果。但是，我认为你永远不应该批评这种人，如果换作你也会这么做的话。用来评论别人的话同样也可以用在你身上。请记住，如果觉得是对的，那就去做吧（If the shoe fits, wear it.）。

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