VOA慢速英语:Let's Get Down to Brass Tacks!

短语讲解：

1. Our expression today is "getting down to brass tacks."

get down to开始认真处理, 对待
例句：I really must get down to some study.
我的确必须开始认真学点东西。

2. For example, a man may say, " I want to work for you. But how much will you pay me?"

work for受雇于
例句：How long have you been working for this firm?
你为这家公司效力多久了?

3. At one time most women made their own clothes, buying the cloth in small stores.

at one time一度, 从前
例句：At one time they used to mine coal in these valleys.
从前他们在这些峡谷中采煤。

4. And the storekeeper cut off as much as a woman wanted.

cut off剪〔切, 砍〕下
例句：Kehr cut off some flowers from the bush.
凯尔从树丛中剪下一些花。

5. He could get an exact measure only by laying the material down along the brass tacks.

lay down 放下; 使躺下
例句：Lay the baby down gently.
请将婴儿轻轻放下。

6. These bolts were made of copper.

be made of用…造成 (用于原材料显而易见的场合)
例句：Coins are made of metal.
硬币是金属做的。

7. When something went wrong with the chair, someone quickly examined the bottom to discover the trouble.

go wrong 走错路,误入岐途,(机器等)发生故障
例句：Everything seems to go wrong.
我总觉得事事都不顺利。

8. This happened in the case of a critic who made the mistake of reading a play written by a close friend.

in the case of在……的情况下, 就…来说, 就……而言
例句：Poverty, in the case of John, was considered honorable.
对于约翰来说，贫穷被当作荣誉来看待。