Now,the VOA Special English program WORDS AND THEIR STORIES.
现在是VOA慢速英语词汇掌故节目.
Have you ever considered all the English expressions that include words about clothes?Let's see if I can name a few off the cuff,or without any preparation.
你有没有留意过和衣服相关词汇的英语表达?让我们看看我是否可以即席（off the cuff）说出一些,即席的意思是不预先做任何准备.
People wear pants to cover the lower part of their bodies.We sometimes say that people who are restless or nervous have ants in their pants.They might also fly by the seat of their pants.They use their natural sense to do something instead of their learned knowledge.Sometimes,people may get caught with their pants down.They are found doing something they should not be doing.And,in every family,one person takes control.Sometimes a wife tells her husband what to do.Then we say she wears the pants in the family.
人们穿着短裤以遮掩身体下部.我们有时形容紧张不安的人裤裆里有蚂蚁（ants in their pants）.他们也可能是fly by the seat of their pants,也就是说他们凭直觉而不是他们所学的知识来做一些事情.有时,人们可能会caught with their pants down,意思是他们被发现正在做一些不应该做的事.此外,每一个家庭都有当家人.有时妻子会吩咐丈夫怎么做,我们就说,她在这个家里当家做主（wears the pants in the family）.
Pants usually have pockets to hold things.Money that is likely to be spent quickly can burn a hole in your pocket.Sometimes you need a belt to hold up your pants.If you have less money than usual,you may have to tighten your belt.You may have to live on less money and spend your money carefully.But once you have succeeded in budgeting your money,you will have that skill under your belt.
裤子通常都有装东西的口袋.花钱如流水就像口袋上烧了个洞（burn a hole in your pocket）.有时你需要用皮带系住裤子.如果较之平常钱少,你可能不得不勒紧腰带（tighten your belt）,也就是说您可能只能靠更少的钱生活,并且精打细算.但是,一旦您成功地对钱做好预算,你就扎实地（under your belt)获得了做预算的本事.
I always praise people who can save their money and not spend too much.I really take my hat off to them.Yet,when it comes to my own money,I spend it at the drop of a hat – immediately,without waiting.And sadly,you cannot pull money out of a hat.You cannot get money by inventing or imagining it.
我总是赞扬那些节省、不大手大脚的人.我真的take my hat off to them（佩服他们）.然而,当涉及到自己的钱,我总是立马（at the drop of a hat）花个精光.而可悲的是,你不能pull money out of a hat,也就是说你不能靠空变出钱来.
Boots are a heavy or strong kind of shoes.People who are too big for their boots think they are more important than they really are.I dislike such people.I really do.You can bet your boots on that.Yet,truly important people are hard to replace.Rarely can you fill their shoes or replace them with someone equally effective.
靴子是一种沉重结实的鞋.自负的人（People who are too big for their boots）把自己想得比实际重要.我不喜欢这样的人,真的.你可以bet your boots（赌上你的靴子,即深信不疑）.然而,真正重要的人是难以替代,你很难fill their shoes（适合他们的靴子,即取代他们）.
My father is an important person.He runs a big company.He wears a suit and tie,and a shirt with sleeves that cover his arms.Some people who do not know him well think he is too firm and severe.They think he is a real stuffed shirt.But I know that my father wears his heart on his sleeve.He shows his feelings openly.And,he knows how to keep his shirt on.He stays calm and never gets angry or too excited.
我父亲是一个重要的人,他经营一家大公司.他总是衣着考究,西装革履.不了解他的人认为他太古板严厉.他们认为他爱摆架子（a real stuffed shirt）.但我知道我的父亲十分直爽坦率（wears his heart on his sleeve）,他会直接表明他的感受.而且,他知道如何keep his shirt on,意思是他能保持冷静,从不生气或兴奋过头.
Also,my father has never lost his shirt in a business deal.He is too smart to lose all or most of his money.This is because my father rolls up his sleeves and prepares to work hard.He often has a special plan or answer to a problem that he can use if he needs it.He is like a person who does magic tricks.We say he has a card up his sleeve.
此外,我父亲在生意场上从未失手过（lost his shirt）.也就说他足够聪明,不会损失他全部或大部分资金.这是因为我父亲rolls up his sleeves,也就是说他做好了努力工作的准备.他常常对问题有特殊的方案或解决方法,在需要时用得上.他像个魔术师.我们说他有制胜法宝（a card up his sleeve）