VOA慢速英語：詞匯掌故：sneakers

The Language of Sneakers

詞匯掌故：sneakers

Now, from VOA Learning English, this is Words and Their Stories.

這里是美國之音慢速英語詞匯掌故節(jié)目。

American English, like all languages, has countless colorful words and expressions. We call some slang. It is not always easy to explain the history of slang expressions. Some seem to develop out of nowhere. Some do not last very long or become dated very quickly.

美式英語跟其他語言一樣，都有無數(shù)豐富的詞匯和表達方式，我們稱其中一些為俚語。要解釋俚語的歷史并不總是容易，有些俚語似乎不知道從哪冒出來的，有些不會持續(xù)很長時間，很快就過時了。

Other expressions, however, live on for years. We use them in our day-to-day lives, usually without knowing how they began. Today we look at one such word -- and one you may be wearing right now -- sneakers!

然而有些短語存在了很多年，我們在日常生活中會用到它們，通常都不知道它們是如何開始的。今天我們來看看一個這樣的詞：sneakers(帆布鞋)，你可能正把它穿在腳底下。

Sneakers are a type of comfortable shoe. We wear them for sports and when we have to walk a lot. Many children wear them to school. And some adults wear them to work, especially if they must walk to work or ride a bike.

Sneakers是一種舒適的鞋子，我們在參加運動或需要走很多路時穿著這種鞋子。很多孩子穿著它們上學校，有些成年人穿著它們去上班，尤其是當他們需要步行或是騎車的時候。

Some say that the word "sneaker" is slang for a tennis shoe. Others say it comes from the old English verb "sneak," meaning to move silently and with speed. If you sneak up on someone and you are wearing sneakers they probably will not hear you. Well, unless your sneakers squeak. We all know squeaky sneakers stop silent sneaking. (Say that five times fast!)

有人說sneaker這個單詞是網球鞋的俚語，還有人說它出自古英文動詞“sneak”，意思是悄悄地、快速地移動。如果你偷偷地接近某人，并且又穿著帆布鞋，他們可能就聽不到你走過來。好吧，除非你的帆布鞋發(fā)出吱吱的聲音。我們都知道“squeaky sneakers stop silent sneaking。”

For many people, sneakers are not just for comfort -- they are also fashionable. These people choose the colors and styles very carefully to make a statement about their own personal style. And they may pay a lot of money for them!

對很多人來說，帆布鞋不僅舒適還很時尚。這些人非常仔細地挑選顏色和款式來表達他們自己的個人風格，他們可能會為此付出很多錢。

So, sneakers can be more than a fashion statement. They can also be a sign of wealth. Some schools in the U.S. even have rules about what sneakers students can and cannot wear. This prevents students from wearing extremely costly sneakers and avoids "sneaker shaming." This is when you make fun of someone because they are wearing less costly sneakers.

所以，帆布鞋不僅僅是一種時尚宣言，也可以成為豪的標志。美國一些學校甚至規(guī)定了學生可以穿和不可以穿的帆布鞋，這可以防止學生穿著極其昂貴的帆布鞋，避免“帆布鞋羞辱。”這是指你因為別人穿著更廉價帆布鞋而取笑他。

To some people, sneakers are a form of art. In fact, there is a museum in the American city of Boston just for sneakers! The Sneaker Museum celebrates the history of the sneaker and their cultural importance as works of art.

對一些人來說，帆布鞋還是一種藝術形式。事實上，在美國波士頓就有一家帆布鞋博物館。這家帆布鞋博物館展示了帆布鞋的歷史及其作為藝術品的文化重要性。

But there are other words for these types of shoes. There are running shoes, cross-trainers and trainers. All of these fit under the same term: athletic shoes.

但是這類鞋還有其它名稱，包括跑鞋、多功能訓練鞋以及訓練鞋。它們都有一個相同的專業(yè)名稱：運動鞋。

Sometimes we just call our sneakers by their brand names -- our Chuck T's, Nikes or Adidas.

有時候我們只稱呼這些帆布鞋的品牌，例如匡威的Chuck T系列，耐克或阿迪。

If you have an old pair of shoes that you always wear you might call them your beaters.

如果你有雙常穿的舊鞋，我們稱之為你的戰(zhàn)靴(beaters，是指雨天或惡劣天氣穿著的專用鞋)。

Now, sneakers may not be your choice of shoe. But you must admit that they are comfortable to wear. Well, if they fit correctly, that is.

帆布鞋現(xiàn)在可能不是你的所愛，但是你必須得承認它們穿著舒服。好吧，前提是合腳。

Maybe that is why we say, "If the shoe fits ... wear it!"

也許這就是我們?yōu)槭裁凑f：“如果鞋子合腳，就穿上它吧!”

Actually, no. That is not why we say this. We use this expression in a very strange way. Here is what it means.

實際上，這句話不是這個意思，這不是我們?yōu)楹芜@樣說的原因。我們使用這段短語的方式很奇怪，以下才是它的真正含義：

If someone says something bad about you but it is true -- you have to accept it. You cannot deny it!

如果有人說你的壞話，但是事實的確如此，你必須接受它，你無法否認。

For example, a friend of yours is always late for everything. One day, he shows up to your apartment (late, of course) and says, "Can you believe it!? My boss just fired me! She says I am always late!"

例如，你的一個朋友總是遲到。有一天，他出現(xiàn)在你的公寓里(當然又遲到了。)，然后說：“你能相信嗎?我老板剛把我開了，她說我總遲到!”

You could simply answer, "Well, if the shoe fits..."

你可以只回答：“Well, if the shoe fits…”

You do not even need to finish. Your friend will know exactly what you mean. He is always late and now must take responsibility. He must "wear the shoes" of a person who is always late, so to speak.

你都不用把話說完，你的朋友就能懂你到底是什么意思。他總是遲到，現(xiàn)在必須承擔后果了。也就是說，他必須接受總是遲到所要付出的代價。

But do not be surprised if he leaves your apartment and never talks to you again. The expression "If the shoe fits, wear it" is somewhat rude. So, it is not exactly a nice thing to say, especially if someone has just lost their job!

但是如果他離開你的公寓，并且跟你絕交了，你也不要意外。“If the shoe fits, wear it”這句話有點粗魯。所以，這不是一句好話，尤其是如果有人剛剛丟了飯碗。

Now, there is nothing stopping you from using this expression for good behavior...well, except for the fact that I personally have only ever heard it used for bad.

現(xiàn)在，你可以隨意把它用于表述良好行為......好吧，除了一點，我個人只聽過它用于表述不好的事情。

And that's the end of this Words and Their Stories.

以上就是本期詞匯掌故節(jié)目的全部內容。

I'm Anna Matteo.

安娜·馬特奧報道。