Words and Their Stories:Back,Shoulders and Chest
Now, the VOA Special English program WORDS AND THEIR STORIES.
There are many American expressions that use parts of the body. These include the eyes, ears, nose, mouth and even the heart. Today we will tell you some expressions that use other body parts – the back, shoulders and chest.
When I am facing a lot of pressure at work, my back and neck will start to hurt. Sometimes, this tension is the result of too much work. I have too many things to do because my supervisor is on my back all the time. In other words, my employer is always telling me to do things.
Sometimes, I want my employer to get off my back! I want her to stop criticizing me and making too many demands on my time. I can not say this, however. I would never turn my back on her and refuse to help when there is a need. If I did refuse to help, my supervisor might say bad things about me behind my back. She might criticize me when I am not present. This would surely be a stab in the back. It is never kind to unfairly harm or say bad things about other people.
Sometimes, when I am very productive in my job, my employer gives me a pat on the back. She praises my work. She might even say "I will scratch your back if you will scratch mine." This means she will do something for me, if I do something helpful for her in exchange. Such an offer usually comes straight from the shoulder. My supervisor has a very direct, open and honest way of speaking.
I know that my employer carries a lot on her shoulders. She is responsible for many things at the office. And because she is so important, she sometimes gets to rub shoulders with the top officials. She gets to spend time with some very important people.
I believe the top official values my superior. He never gives her the cold shoulder. He is never unfriendly to her. He always treats her like she is an important part of the organization.
I also value my supervisor. In fact, I think she is very effective in her job. Of course, I could yell my opinion at the top of my lungs, or as loudly as I possibly could. It might even feel good to get my emotions off my chest. It is always helpful to tell people how you feel so that your emotions do not trouble you.
But it is not necessary for me to praise my superior. Most of my co-workers feel the exact same way about her. So, I think I will just save my breath. I will keep silent because talking or repeating myself will not do any good.
這裡是VOA特別英語詞語典故節目。
美國的許多表達方式使用到身體部位，包括眼睛，耳朵，鼻子，嘴巴，甚至心臟。今天，我們將講述一些使用到其他身體部位的短語——背，肩，和胸。
在工作中面臨許多壓力的時候，我的背和肩膀就會開始疼。有時，這些壓力是由於過多的工作。我有太多的事情要做，因為我的上司總是找茬(on my back)。換句話說，我的'僱主老是告訴我要做什麼工作。
有時，我想讓我的僱主少跟我羅嗦(get off my back)！我想讓她不要總是批評我，總是讓我做那麼多工作。然而，我不能說出來。當有需要的時候，我不能轉過臉不予理睬(turn my back on her)，拒絕幫助她。如果我拒絕幫助，我的上司會在背後說我壞話，她可能在我不在的時候批評我。這絕對是背後中傷(stab in the back)。不公平地中傷別人或說別人壞話是不道德的。
有時，當我在工作中表現比較好的時候，我的僱主會拍拍我的肩膀鼓勵我(pat on the back)。她可能甚至會說“I will scratch your back if you will scratch mine”，意思是說如果我幫助她，她也會為我做些事情。這種提議通常都是直截了當的(straight from the shoulder)。我的上司說話非常直接，非常坦誠。
我知道我的上司負責很多事情(on her shoulders)。因為她非常重要，有時她要與高階官員交往(rub shoulders)，跟重要人物打交道。
我知道高階領導很器重我的上司。他從來不會怠慢(gives her the cold shoulder)她。他從來不會對她不友好。他總把她看成組織中的重要部分。
我也非常重視我的行思。實際上，我認為她在工作方面效率非常高。當然，我可以高聲地說出我的觀點(at the top of my lungs)。把我心中的想法一吐為快(off my chest)感覺會比較好一些。直截了當的告訴某人你的感覺通常會比較好，這樣，你的情感不會對你造成困擾。
但是，我沒必要讚揚我的上司，因為我的大多數同時都和我同樣的感覺。所以，我認為我可以默不作聲(save my breath)。我將繼續保持沉默，因為多說話或者重複地說話沒有任何好處。
