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美国词语典故——答案和脸上的鼻子一样显而易见
Now, the VOA Special English program, Words and Their Stories.
词语典故
A person's nose is important for breathing and smelling. The nose is also used in many popular expressions.
人的鼻子对呼吸和嗅觉很重要。而且许多流行语中也使用“鼻子”
Some people are able to lead other people by the nose. For example, if a wife leads her husband by the nose, she makes him do whatever she wants him to do.
一些人能够牵着别人的鼻子走。例如，如果妻子能牵着她丈夫的鼻子走，那她就能让他做她希望他做的事。
Some people are said to be hard-nosed. They will not change their opinions or positions on anything. If someone is hard-nosed, chances are he will never pay through the nose, or pay too much money, for an object or service.
一些人被说成很顽固。他们不会改变自己在任何事情上的意见和立场。如果某个人性格顽固，那他就从不会付出比真正价值更高的钱，或者说他不会为一件东西或是一种服务付出太多的钱。
It is always helpful when people keep their nose out of other people's business. They do not interfere. The opposite of this is someone who noses around all the time. This kind of person is interested in other people's private matters. He is considered nosey.
不插手别人的事情永远都是有好处的。他们不干涉（别人的事）。与此相反的是，某些人总是打听别人的事情。这种人对他人的私事很感兴趣。人们认为他爱管闲事
Someone who keeps his nose to the grindstone works very hard. This can help a worker keep his nose clean or stay out of trouble.
某些埋头于磨刀石的人工作十分勤劳，这样做会让工人循规蹈矩，远离麻烦
One unusual expression is that is no skin off my nose. This means that a situation does not affect or concern me. We also say that sometimes a person cuts off his nose to spite his face. That is, he makes a situation worse for himself by doing something foolish because he is angry.
一个不常用的表达是我的鼻子没有差破皮，意思是情况没有影响我或是与我相关。我们有时也会说某些人（因为生气）作出损人不利己的事情。那就是因为他不生气就做出一些让情况更糟的事情。
More problems can develop if a person looks down his nose at someone or something. The person acts like something is unimportant or worthless. This person might also turn up his nose at something that he considers not good enough. This person thinks he is better than everyone else. He has his nose in the air.
如果一个人小看某个人或某件事，那就要出问题了。这个人的做法好像是觉得某些事无关紧要或是没有价值。这个人也可能对他认为不够好的东西而不屑。这种人认为自己比任何人都好，他很自负。
In school, some students thumb their nose at their teacher. They refuse to obey orders or do any work. Maybe these students do not know the correct answers. My mother always told me, if you study hard, the answers should be right under your nose or easily seen.
在学校，一些学生对老师很不尊重，他们拒绝遵守纪律或是做任何工作。这些同学可能不知道正确的答案。我的母亲一直告诉我，如果你努力学习，答案就显而易见。
I think we have explained the nose expressions. What about ears? Well, I hope you are all ears or very interested in hearing more expressions. We might even put a bug in your ear or give you an idea about something. We also advise you to keep your ear to the ground. This means to be interested in what is happening around you and what people are thinking.
我认为我们已经讲解了与鼻子相关的词语。耳朵呢？我希望你们全神贯注的听更多的词语表达。我们可能甚至对某件事给你提出建议。我们也建议你多关注周围的动向，意思是关注你身边发生的事以及人们的想法。
If you are a good person, you will lend an ear to your friends. You will listen to them when they have a problem they need to talk about. Our last expression is to play it by ear. This has two meanings. One is to play a song on a musical instrument by remembering the tune and not by reading the music. Play it by ear also means to decide what to do at the last minute instead of making detailed plans.
如果你是个好人，你会倾听朋友讲话。当他们有问题需要倾诉时，你会听他们讲。我们最后的词语表达是 play it by ear。这个有两层意思，一个是用乐器演奏时是通过记曲调而非阅读乐谱；它也意味着在最后一刻做决定而非制作详细计划。