VOA慢速英语:Words and Their Stories: Back, Shoulders and Chest

There are many American expressions that use parts of the body. These include the eyes, ears, nose, mouth and even the heart. Today we will tell you some expressions that use other body parts – the back, shoulders and chest.
美国的许多表达方式使用到身体部位，包括眼睛，耳朵，鼻子，嘴巴，甚至心脏。今天，我们将讲述一些使用到其他身体部位的短语——背，肩，和胸。

When I am facing a lot of pressure at work, my back and neck will start to hurt. Sometimes, this tension is the result of too much work. I have too many things to do because my supervisor is on my back all the time. In other words, my employer is always telling me to do things.
在工作中面临许多压力的时候，我的背和肩膀就会开始疼。有时，这些压力是由于过多的工作。我有太多的事情要做，因为我的上司总是找茬(on my back)。换句话说，我的雇主老是告诉我要做什么工作。

Sometimes, I want my employer to get off my back! I want her to stop criticizing me and making too many demands on my time. I can not say this, however. I would never turn my back on her and refuse to help when there is a need. If I did refuse to help, my supervisor might say bad things about me behind my back. She might criticize me when I am not present. This would surely be a stab in the back. It is never kind to unfairly harm or say bad things about other people.
有时，我想让我的雇主少跟我罗嗦(get off my back)！我想让她不要总是批评我，总是让我做那么多工作。然而，我不能说出来。当有需要的时候，我不能转过脸不予理睬(turn my back on her)，拒绝帮助她。如果我拒绝帮助，我的上司会在背后说我坏话，她可能在我不在的时候批评我。这绝对是背后中伤(stab in the back)。不公平地中伤别人或说别人坏话是不道德的。

Sometimes, when I am very productive in my job, my employer gives me a pat on the back. She praises my work. She might even say “I will scratch your back if you will scratch mine.” This means she will do something for me, if I do something helpful for her in exchange. Such an offer usually comes straight from the shoulder. My supervisor has a very direct, open and honest way of speaking.
有时，当我在工作中表现比较好的时候，我的雇主会拍拍我的肩膀鼓励我(pat on the back)。她可能甚至会说“I will scratch your back if you will scratch mine”，意思是说如果我帮助她，她也会为我做些事情。这种提议通常都是直截了当的(straight from the shoulder)。我的上司说话非常直接，非常坦诚。

I know that my employer carries a lot on her shoulders. She is responsible for many things at the office. And because she is so important, she sometimes gets to rub shoulders with the top officials. She gets to spend time with some very important people.
我知道我的上司负责很多事情(on her shoulders)。因为她非常重要，有时她要与高级官员交往(rub shoulders)，跟重要人物打交道。

I believe the top official values my superior. He never gives her the cold shoulder. He is never unfriendly to her. He always treats her like she is an important part of the organization.
我知道高级领导很器重我的上司。他从来不会怠慢(gives her the cold shoulder)她。他从来不会对她不友好。他总把她看成组织中的重要部分。

I also value my supervisor. In fact, I think she is very effective in her job. Of course, I could yell my opinion at the top of my lungs, or as loudly as I possibly could. It might even feel good to get my emotions off my chest. It is always helpful to tell people how you feel so that your emotions do not trouble you.
我也非常重视我的行思。实际上，我认为她在工作方面效率非常高。当然，我可以高声地说出我的观点(at the top of my lungs)。把我心中的想法一吐为快(off my chest)感觉会比较好一些。直截了当的告诉某人你的感觉通常会比较好，这样，你的情感不会对你造成困扰。

But it is not necessary for me to praise my superior. Most of my co-workers feel the exact same way about her. So, I think I will just save my breath. I will keep silent because talking or repeating myself will not do any good.
但是，我没必要赞扬我的上司，因为我的大多数同时都和我同样的感觉。所以，我认为我可以默不作声(save my breath)。我将继续保持沉默，因为多说话或者重复地说话没有任何好处。

(MUSIC)