VOA慢速英语:Sometimes You Have to 'Bite the Bullet'(翻译)

On this program, we explore the history and usage of common expressions in American English. We also give you examples of how we use these expressions in everyday conversation.
该栏目主要讲述的是美式英语一些常用表达的历史和用法。此外，我们还会讲述如何在日常交谈中使用这些表达。

Today we explore expressions using the word “bullet.”
今天我们要讲的单词是bullet。

Now, of course, a bullet is what you shoot out of gun. And it comes out fast. In fact, that used to be the way to describe the speed of the superhero Superman -- he is “faster than a speeding bullet.”
当然子弹bullet是指枪支中射出的。它的速度很快。实际上，“他比子弹都快”是用来形容超人的。

And that is why very fast trains are often called "bullet trains."
这也是快速火车被称作是bullet train（动车）的原因。

Bullets are not only known for their speed. They are also known for their ability to kill.
子弹不仅以速度著称。还以其极大的杀伤力著称。

However, not all bullets are bad. A magic bullet -- sometimes called a silver bullet -- is something that solves a difficult problem easily. We often use these two expressions in the negative, because usually there is not one thing that solves a difficult problem.
但是，子弹并非都是负面的东西。Magic bullet有时也被称作是silver bullet，是指非常简单就可以解决问题的东西。这两种表达通常用于否定句，因为通常没有哪种方式能够解决难题。

For example, let’s say a country is suffering from a weak economy. People lose their jobs. Some families lose their homes. This leads to an increase in mental and physical health issues. After many years of such conditions, people want change. So, they protest in the streets. Yet, there is no silver bullet to cure all these problems.
比如，一个国家正经历经济疲软的情况。有人失业。有人失去家园。这导致精神和身体健康问题激增。多年之后，人们希望能够有所改变。因此，他们上街抗议。但是，没有哪种灵丹妙药能够解决所有问题。

To take a bullet for someone is a good thing. Well, the thought behind this expression is a good thing. It means you are willing to put yourself in harm’s way to protect someone else.
帮某人挡子弹（take a bullet for someone）则是好事。当然，这种表达之后的思想是好的。这意味着即使受到伤害，你也要保护他人。

This often sounds like a tough expression. Mothers might not say I’d take a bullet for their child, but they would. People in the military, however, might say, “I’d take a bullet for you, man.”
这个表达听起来非常强大。妈妈们可能不会说会替孩子挡子弹，但她们会这么做。但在军队中，可能会听到：“兄弟，我会替你挡子弹，保护你。”

Now, we know that sweating is our body’s way of keeping cool. But we also sweat when we’re nervous. When you sweat bullets you are very nervous or anxious about something.
现在我们知道，流汗是身体保持凉爽的一种方法。但紧张的时候我们也会流汗。你非常紧张或者为某事着急的时候，会满身大汗（sweat bullets）。

If you dodge a bullet, you have successfully avoided a problem -- but barely.
Dodge a bullet的意思是成功避开了一个问题，但这种情况非常少。

For example, let’s say you get up late for work. Your boss has already warned you that if you come in late again, you may get fired. When you arrive at the office, you are sweating bullets -- you are nervous and very worried that your boss will fire you. However, you need not worry. As it turns out, your boss is out sick that day. You have dodged a bullet.
比如，你上班迟到了。老板已经警告过，如果再迟到，就要炒你鱿鱼。因此，你到办公室的时候你满身是汗，你非常紧张，担心老板会把你解雇。但你不要担心。那天，老板因病没有上班。这样你就避开了一个问题。

To ease the pain of a difficult situation, people are sometimes asked to bite the bullet. This actually sounds like really bad advice.
有时，人们为了缓解某种困境带来的苦痛，人们会咬紧牙关（bite the bullet）。这个表达听起来就不好。

What is the origin of this expression?
那么这个表达的起源是什么呢？

The story may go back to the American Civil War or even earlier. War is painful. And our bodies have many natural responses to pain. We tighten our fists, tense our muscles or clench our teeth.
故事要追溯至美国内战甚至更早的时候。战争是痛苦的。我们的身体对疼痛会做出自然的反应。我们会握紧拳头，收缩肌肉，咬紧牙关。

Back during the Civil War, pain-killing drugs were often hard to find. So, doctors working on the battlefield would give their patients a piece of wood to squeeze or something soft to bite on. Many times the nearest thing was a soft, lead bullet.
内战期间，止疼药非常难找。因此战场上的医生们通常会给病人一块木头或者柔软的东西让病人咬住。很多时候，附近最软的东西是铅做的子弹。

Hollywood movies helped to keep this expression alive. In old western movies, more than one rugged cowboy was seen biting a bullet, perhaps drinking some strong whiskey, while removing an arrow from his body.
好莱坞电影让这个表达传播开来。在一些较老的西部片中，不止一个粗犷的牛仔取出身体的子弹时，咬着另一颗子弹或者喝一口威士忌。

But that is in the movies. In modern conversation, “biting the bullet” means to accept a difficult decision or situation. It hints that a person has been putting off this difficult decision.
但这也是在电影中。在现代的交流中，"bitiing the bullet"意思是接受非常困难的决定或者情况。暗示人们一直都在推迟这个困难的决定。

And that brings us to the end of Words and Their Stories.
以上就是今日的词汇掌故节目。

If you want to perfect your English, there is no silver bullet. You must simply practice and study as much as you can. Hopefully, you will do that with us at VOA Learning English.
想让自己的英语更加精进，其实没有灵丹妙药。你必须尽可能的练习和学习。希望你能够在VOA英语学习中继续学习。

I’m Anna Matteo.
Anna Matteo为您报道。