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Now, Words and Their Stories from VOA Learning English. 这里是VOA学英语《词汇掌故》节目。 Beans are a popular food in many countries. From black to red, from kidney to pinto, beans are important in the diet of many cultures. Rich in fiber, protein and nutrients, beans are a healthy, plant-based food. 豆类在许多国家都很受欢迎。从黑豆到红豆，从芸豆到斑豆，豆类在许多文化的饮食中都很重要。豆类富含纤维、蛋白质和营养成分，是一种健康的植物食品。 So, spilling the beans at home or in a store would not be good. Food is important and does not belong on the floor. 因此在家里或是商店洒豆子（spill the beans）是一种不好的行为。食物很重要，不应该弄到地板上。 'Spilling the beans' when you communicate with others is also a bad thing. “当你和别人交谈时泄露秘密（spill the beans）也是一种不好的行为。 When you spill the beans, you share or make public secret information. You don't mean to do it. The secrets just spill out of you. 当你泄露了秘密，你分享或者公开秘密信息。你不是有意为之。你只是脱口说出了秘密。 However, this expression does not come from cooking beans or the fact that we shouldn't waste food. 但是，这个表达并不是源于烹饪豆类或是我们不应浪费食物的事实。 The expression 'spill the beans' has been a part of the English language for hundreds of years. Some word historians say the term was first used all the way back in the 1500s. “spill the beans”这个表达作为英语的一部分已经有数百年了。一些文字历史学家说这个表达的首次使用要追溯到16世纪。 If you think that sounds old, you may be surprised to learn that the origin of 'spill the beans' goes back to ancient Greece. 如果你认为那听上去很久远，那你可能会惊讶地发现“spill the beans”源于古希腊。 Several websites say this expression comes from one way ancient Greeks voted. 有几个网站表示这个表达源自于古希腊的一种选举方式。 Back then in some communities, people voted by dropping a white or black bean into a clay urn. If the container fell on its side or broke, the beans would spill out. And this would show everyone the results of the secret vote before all the beans were counted. 在当时的一些社区中，人们通过往陶瓮里放黑白豆来选举。如果这个容器翻了或是破了，那豆子就会洒出来。这样在豆子被全部清点之前，就会向众人暴露无记名投票的结果。 While this origin story is interesting, it does not explain why the term 'spill the beans' does not appear in common usage until much later. 尽管这个来源故事很有趣，但这并没有解释为什么这个短语在很久之后才成为常用表达。 Maybe it is because other expressions with the same meaning were simply more popular. For example, letting the cat out of the bag means the same as spilling the beans. We've explained the meaning of 'to let the cat out of the bag' before. But it's always good to hear it again. 也许只是因为有表示同样意思的其他更受欢迎的表达。例如，“let the cat out of the bag（（无意中）泄露秘密）”和“spil the beans（泄露秘密）”是一个意思。我们之前解释过“let the cat out of the bag”的意思。但再听一遍也挺好的。 Americans use the verb 'spill' in much the same way. Sometimes we simply say, 'Spill it!' When you tell others to 'spill it', you are asking them to tell you all the details about something immediately. 美国人对于动词“spill”的用法几乎一样。有时候，我们只是说，“说吧！（spill it!）”当你让别人“说吧”的时候，你是让别人立刻告诉你某事的全部细节。 This term is very casual and could even sound offensive depending on the situation and expression in your voice. So it's best to use it with close friends, family or when you are joking around. 这个短语很口语化，甚至可能听起来有点冒犯，这取决于你所处的情境以及你声音的表达。所以，最好是和好朋友、家人在一起，或是你想和大家开玩笑的时候使用这个表达。 Blab is another word meaning 'to spill the beans.' Blab is not the nicest word, however. A man who blabbers keeps talking and talking, as if he can't keep his mouth closed. “blab”是另一个意思是“泄露秘密”的单词，但它不是一个褒义词。喋喋不休的人（a man who blabbers）一直不停地说，好像他的嘴合不拢一样。 A blabber mouth is someone who can't keep their mouth shut. Blabber mouths are known for often spilling the beans and for letting more than a few cats out of the bag. “a blabber mouth（多嘴）”指某人话多。“多嘴的人”经常泄露秘密是出了名的，而且泄露许多秘密。 From among our expressions today -- spill the beans, let the cat out of the bag, and blabber -- the blabber mouth does not always mean someone who gives away secrets. They sometimes just talk too much! 在我们今天的表达之中：spill the beans（泄露秘密）、 let the cat out of the bag（泄露秘密）、and blabber（泄露秘密），“the blabber mouth”不总是表示“某人泄露秘密”，有时候只是“话多”的意思！ Well, I don't want to be accused of being a blabber mouth. So, this will be the end this Words and Their Stories from VOA Learning English. 好吧，我不想被嫌话多。那么，本期的VOA学英语《词汇掌故》节目就到此结束啦。 I'm Anna Matteo. 我是安娜·马特奥。 |
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