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“单词背后的故事”是一个电台节目,通过讲故事和举例子,让英语学习者更系统地了解到英语习语的意思与用法。当然,要学以致用才能真正掌握这些习语哦。对于“新新人类”来说,也许扑克牌的用途大多是玩“斗地主”和“杀人游戏”,传统的扑克牌玩法似乎很少见了。本期介绍的习语跟传统扑克牌玩法有关哦(如果你已经忘记了,不妨温习一下《赌圣》系列电影或者2009年10月号的“口语角”,哈哈)。Ready? Go!
It is surprising how many expressions that Americans use every day came from the card game of poker. For example, you hear the expression, 1)ace in the hole, used by many people who would never think of going near a poker table. An ace in the hole is any argument, plan, or thing kept hidden until needed. It is used especially when it can turn failure into success.
In poker and most card games, the ace is the highest and most valuable card. It is often a winning card. In one kind of poker game, the first card to each player is given face down. A player does not show this card to the other players. The other cards are 2)dealt face up. The players bet money each time they receive another card.
No one knows until the end of the game whose hidden card is the winner. Often, the ace in the hole wins the game.
Smart card players, especially those who play for large amounts of money, closely watch the person who deals the cards. They are watching to make sure he is dealing honestly. They want to be sure that he is not dealing off the bottom of the stack of cards. A dealer who is
doing that has 3)stacked the deck. He has fixed the cards so that he will get higher cards. He will win and you will lose.
The expression, 4)dealing off the bottom, now means cheating in business, as well as in cards. And when someone tells you that 5)the cards are stacked against you, he is saying you do not have a chance to succeed.
In a poker game you do not want to let your opponents know if your cards are good or bad. So having a 6)poker face is important. A poker face never shows any emotion, never expresses either good or bad feelings. No one can learn – by looking at your face – if your cards are good or bad.
People now use “poker face” in everyday speech to describe someone who shows no emotion.
Someone who has a poker face usually is good at 7)bluffing. Bluffing is trying to trick a person into believing something about you that is not true.
In poker, you bluff when you bet heavily on a poor hand. The idea is make the other players believe you have strong cards and are sure to win. If they believe you, they are likely to drop out of the game. This means you win the money they have bet.
You can do a better job of bluffing if you 8)hold your cards close to your vest. You hold your cards close to you so no one can see what you have. In everyday speech, holding your cards close to your vest means not letting other know what you are doing or thinking. You are keeping your plans secret.
We are not bluffing when we say we hope you have enjoyed today’s program.
Notes
1) ace in the hole 备用的应急手段(或方法),隐秘的王牌,杀手锏
2) deal 发牌,派牌
3) stack the deck 预先设定,洗牌作弊,把一副纸牌预先安排好以行骗
4) deal off the bottom 在生意中行骗,打牌时作弊
5) the cards are stacked against you 对手有作弊或欺诈行为,情况对你不利
6) poker face (口)毫无表情的面孔
7) bluff 虚张声势,唬人,欺骗
8) hold one’s cards close to one’s/the vest 不透露自己的想法或计划
It is surprising how many expressions that Americans use every day came from the card game of poker. For example, you hear the expression, 1)ace in the hole, used by many people who would never think of going near a poker table. An ace in the hole is any argument, plan, or thing kept hidden until needed. It is used especially when it can turn failure into success.
In poker and most card games, the ace is the highest and most valuable card. It is often a winning card. In one kind of poker game, the first card to each player is given face down. A player does not show this card to the other players. The other cards are 2)dealt face up. The players bet money each time they receive another card.
No one knows until the end of the game whose hidden card is the winner. Often, the ace in the hole wins the game.
Smart card players, especially those who play for large amounts of money, closely watch the person who deals the cards. They are watching to make sure he is dealing honestly. They want to be sure that he is not dealing off the bottom of the stack of cards. A dealer who is
doing that has 3)stacked the deck. He has fixed the cards so that he will get higher cards. He will win and you will lose.
The expression, 4)dealing off the bottom, now means cheating in business, as well as in cards. And when someone tells you that 5)the cards are stacked against you, he is saying you do not have a chance to succeed.
In a poker game you do not want to let your opponents know if your cards are good or bad. So having a 6)poker face is important. A poker face never shows any emotion, never expresses either good or bad feelings. No one can learn – by looking at your face – if your cards are good or bad.
People now use “poker face” in everyday speech to describe someone who shows no emotion.
Someone who has a poker face usually is good at 7)bluffing. Bluffing is trying to trick a person into believing something about you that is not true.
In poker, you bluff when you bet heavily on a poor hand. The idea is make the other players believe you have strong cards and are sure to win. If they believe you, they are likely to drop out of the game. This means you win the money they have bet.
You can do a better job of bluffing if you 8)hold your cards close to your vest. You hold your cards close to you so no one can see what you have. In everyday speech, holding your cards close to your vest means not letting other know what you are doing or thinking. You are keeping your plans secret.
We are not bluffing when we say we hope you have enjoyed today’s program.
Notes
1) ace in the hole 备用的应急手段(或方法),隐秘的王牌,杀手锏
2) deal 发牌,派牌
3) stack the deck 预先设定,洗牌作弊,把一副纸牌预先安排好以行骗
4) deal off the bottom 在生意中行骗,打牌时作弊
5) the cards are stacked against you 对手有作弊或欺诈行为,情况对你不利
6) poker face (口)毫无表情的面孔
7) bluff 虚张声势,唬人,欺骗
8) hold one’s cards close to one’s/the vest 不透露自己的想法或计划