[ti:Back, Shoulders and Chest] [ar:Faith Lapidus] [al:WORDS AND THEIR STORIES] [by:www.51voa.com] [00:00.00]Now, the VOA [00:12.71]Special English program [00:14.64]WORDS AND THEIR STORIES. [00:17.05]There are many American [00:19.31]expressions that use parts [00:21.36]of the body. [00:22.62]These include the eyes, [00:24.56]ears, nose, mouth [00:27.60]and even the heart. [00:29.74]Today we will tell you [00:31.83]some expressions that [00:33.77]use other body parts [00:35.50]¨C the back, shoulders and chest. [00:38.99]When I am facing [00:41.18]a lot of pressure at work, [00:43.42]my back and neck will [00:45.82]start to hurt. [00:46.77]Sometimes, this tension [00:49.42]is the result of too much work. [00:52.06]I have too many things [00:55.00]to do because my supervisor [00:58.14]is on my back all the time. [01:00.53]In other words, [01:02.12]my employer is always [01:04.10]telling me to do things. [01:05.56]Sometimes, I want my employer [01:08.79]to get off my back! [01:11.34]I want her to stop [01:13.42]criticizing me and making [01:16.03]too many demands on my time. [01:18.87]I can not say this, however. [01:22.01]I would never turn my back [01:25.15]on her and refuse to help [01:27.55]when there is a need. [01:29.31]If I did refuse to help, [01:32.19]my supervisor might say [01:34.78]bad things about me [01:36.64]behind my back. [01:38.38]She might criticize me [01:40.67]when I am not present. [01:42.74]This would surely be [01:44.83]a stab in the back. [01:46.53]It is never kind [01:49.47]to unfairly harm [01:51.61]or say bad things [01:53.19]about other people. [01:54.81]Sometimes, when I am [01:57.81]very productive in my job, [01:59.91]my employer gives me [02:01.99]a pat on the back. [02:04.14]She praises my work. [02:06.29]She might even say [02:08.59]"I will scratch your back [02:11.55]if you will scratch mine." [02:14.18]This means she will [02:16.72]do something for me, [02:18.52]if I do something helpful [02:21.26]for her in exchange. [02:23.35]Such an offer usually [02:25.64]comes straight [02:27.37]from the shoulder. [02:28.34]My supervisor has [02:30.48]a very direct, [02:31.93]open and honest way of speaking. [02:35.33]I know that my employer carries [02:39.57]a lot on her shoulders. [02:41.29]She is responsible [02:43.67]for many things at the office. [02:46.11]And because she is so important, [02:49.40]she sometimes gets [02:51.24]to rub shoulders [02:53.10]with the top officials. [02:55.07]She gets to spend time [02:57.11]with some very important people. [03:00.10]I believe the top official [03:04.23]values my superior. [03:06.47]He never gives her the cold shoulder. [03:09.90]He is never unfriendly to her. [03:13.14]He always treats her [03:15.58]like she is an important part [03:17.97]of the organization. [03:19.93]I also value my supervisor. [03:23.81]In fact, I think she [03:26.60]is very effective in her job. [03:29.43]Of course, I could yell my opinion [03:33.33]at the top of my lungs, [03:35.42]or as loudly as I possibly could. [03:38.73]It might even feel good [03:41.76]to get my emotions off my chest. [03:44.82]It is always helpful [03:47.12]to tell people how you feel [03:49.50]so that your emotions [03:51.62]do not trouble you. [03:53.26]But it is not necessary [03:56.85]for me to praise my superior. [03:59.84]Most of my co-workers feel [04:02.62]the exact same way about her. [04:05.31]So, I think I will [04:08.12]just save my breath. [04:10.48]I will keep silent [04:12.22]because talking [04:13.62]or repeating myself [04:15.66]will not do any good. [04:17.94](MUSIC) [04:29.59]WORDS AND THEIR STORIES, [04:31.66]in VOA Special English, [04:34.15]was written by Jill Moss. [04:36.26]I'm Faith Lapidus.