WORDS AND THEIR STORIES - Baseball
时间：2018-12-01 作者：英语课 分类：Words & Their Stories
By Shelley Gollust
Broadcast: Sunday, June 05, 2005
Now the VOA Special English program: Words and Their Stories.
Baseball is America's national sport, so it is not unusual that many popular expressions come from baseball. But first, let me explain a little about the game.
Each baseball team has nine players. The pitcher 1 of one team throws the ball to a batter 2 from the other team. The batter attempts to hit the ball. If he misses, it is called a strike. If a batter gets three strikes he loses his turn at bat and is called out. The batter also is out if he hits the ball in the air and an opposing 3 player catches it. But if the batter hits the ball and it is not caught, the batter tries to run to one or more of the four bases on the field. The batter can run to all four bases if he hits the ball over the fence 4 or out of the ballpark. Such a hit is called a home run.
Now, here are some common expressions from baseball. Someone who is on the ball is intelligent and able to do a good job. But a person who threw a curveball did something unexpected 5. Someone who steps up to the plate is ready to do his or her job. A pinch 6 hitter takes the place of someone else at a job or activity.
A person who strikes out or goes down swinging attempted something but failed. We also might tell the person that three strikes and you are out. But someone who hit a home run or hit it out of the park did something extremely 7 well.
Sometimes I have to give information quickly without time to think it over. Then I would say something right off the bat. If someone is doing an extremely good job and is very successful, you might say he or she is batting 1000. If I say I want to touch base with you, I will talk to you from time to time about something we planned to do. I might say I touched all the bases if I did what is necessary to complete a job or activity. And if I covered my bases, I was well prepared. However, someone who is way off base did something wrong or maybe even dishonest or immoral 8.
A person with strange ideas might be described as out in left field. Let us say I want to sell my car but I do not know exactly how much it is worth. If someone asks me the price，I might give a ballpark figure or a ballpark estimate 9. If someone offers me an amount that is close to my selling price, I might say the amount is in the ballpark. However, if I say we are not in the same ballpark I mean we cannot agree because my ideas are too different from yours.
Finally, when a situation changes completely 10 we say that is a whole new ball game.
This VOA Special English program words and their stories was written by Shirley Gaullist. I'm Faith Lapidus.
- He poured the milk out of the pitcher.他从大罐中倒出牛奶。
- Any pitcher is liable to crack during a tight game.任何投手在紧张的比赛中都可能会失常。
- The batter skied to the center fielder.击球手打出一个高飞球到中外野手。
- Put a small quantity of sugar into the batter.在面糊里放少量的糖。
- The two opposing armies faced each other across the battlefield. 敌对两军在战场上严阵对峙。
- She earned a black mark for opposing company policy. 她因反对公司政策而得到考绩不良评语。
- They put a fence around the garden.他们在园子的周围建起了篱笆。
- The thief jumped himself over a fence and escaped.贼纵身跃过篱笆逃走了。
- I always keep some good wine in for unexpected guests.我总保存些好酒，用来招待不速之客。
- His promotion was unexpected.他的升迁出人意料。
- She would pinch on food in order to spend on clothing.她过去常把伙食费省下来买衣服。
- He put a pinch of salt on his food.他在自己的食物上撒了一撮盐。
- The film is extremely good,I just cannot miss it.这部电影太精彩了，我非看不可。
- The old man was extremely difficult to get along with.这个老人极难相与。
- She was questioned about his immoral conduct toward her.她被询问过有关他对她的不道德行为的情况。
- It is my belief that nuclear weapons are immoral.我相信使核武器是不邪恶的。
- We estimate the cost to be five thousand dollars.我们估计费用为5000美元。
- The lowest estimate would put the worth of the jewel at ＄200.按最低的评估这块宝石也值200美元。
- She never completely gave up hope.她从不完全放弃希望。
- I feel completely in the dark on this question.这件事使我感到茫然。