[ti:Different Ways to Pass and Fail] [by:www.51voa.com] [00:00.00]更多听力请访问51VOA.COM [00:07.68]Now, the VOA Learning English program [00:11.04]Words and Their Stories. [00:13.32]On this show, we explore the origins [00:16.89]and usage of common expressions in American English. [00:22.92]During September in the United States [00:26.00]— and in many places around the world [00:29.00]— children are going back to school. [00:32.28]Even if your school days have long passed, [00:35.80]you may remember this time of the year well: [00:40.60]the smell of books and pencils, [00:43.59]the sound of your footsteps as you enter a strange classroom, [00:49.04]the nervous feeling in your stomach as you meet your new teacher. [00:54.60]Naturally, we all want to do well in school and life. [01:00.60]Sometimes we do, sometimes we don't. [01:05.76]So, today we are going to talk about both. [01:11.00]The expressions you will hear in today's program are commonly used in a classroom. [01:17.88]But, they can also be used in other situations. [01:22.72]Let's start with the bad situations first. [01:26.88]Now, as you probably know, [01:29.76]a bomb is something that blows things up. [01:34.48]In American slang, when something bombs, it fails completely. [01:41.12]So, if you fail a test, you bombed it. [01:46.76]We also often use "bomb" this way [01:49.76]when talking about movies, plays or performing. [01:54.92]For example, if a comedian is on stage telling jokes [01:59.56]but no one is laughing, you can say his jokes are bombing. [02:05.96]Afterward, if you are feeling very mean, [02:09.48]you could say to him, "Wow, you really bombed." [02:14.72]Now, let's say nobody goes to the new superhero movie, [02:19.64]you can say it bombed at the box office. [02:24.52]The box office is where people buy their movie tickets. [02:29.24]In this case, they were buying tickets for a dud or a flop. [02:35.44]These two words are often used to describe a form of entertainment [02:40.72]that failed in its purpose -- to entertain. [02:45.64]Even a party that bombs can be called a dud or a flop. [02:52.12]And if a class you are taking is boring or useless, [02:56.60]you could call it a "a real dud." [03:00.24]Now, let's go back to bombing. [03:03.92]Please take note that when the word "bomb" is a verb, [03:08.67]it means to fail. [03:11.72]As a slang expression, however, [03:14.28]"the bomb" often describes something really good. [03:19.28]For example, if a high school student wears a new pair of sneakers to school, [03:25.00]his friends could say, "Those shoes are the bomb!" [03:30.00]That means they are great -- in a cool, awesome kind of way. [03:34.56]But please be careful: using "the bomb" this way is extremely casual [03:42.08]and would not be appropriate to use in a formal situation. [03:47.56]For example, let's say your boss wears a new suit to an important meeting. [03:54.08]It might not be a good career move to say to her, [03:57.80]"That outfit is the bomb! You look awesome!" [04:02.56]And making comments about a bomb at a U.S. airport [04:07.36]could get you arrested. [04:10.36]So, as we said, be careful! [04:14.07]Now, let's talk about expressions to use when you do something really well. [04:21.12]Let's say you did well on a test. [04:24.32]You got 100% correct. You aced it! [04:29.92]You can also say that you passed with flying colors. [04:34.96]The last expression might make you think of a big celebration [04:39.64]— like maybe your parents celebrated your passing grade by lighting colorful fireworks. [04:46.64]But you would be wrong. [04:49.68]Word experts seem to agree that the expression [04:53.40]"to pass with flying colors" comes from the military. [04:58.84]In this case, "pass" doesn't mean to succeed, but to travel. [05:04.96]And "colors" doesn't mean shades like red or blue, but flags. [05:11.52]According to the website The Phrase Finder, [05:14.56]"pass with flying colors" originally describes [05:18.40]winning ships sailing into port "with flags flying from all the mastheads." [05:26.32]By around 1700, the phrase was being used to describe any kind of victory. [05:34.96]That means you can use "pass with flying colors" [05:39.08]when you are being graded on a test or course, [05:42.85]but also in a situation that is out of your control [05:47.92]-- such as a medical exam. [05:51.68]Let's say you are nervously waiting in a doctor's exam room [05:56.32]for the results of a blood test. [05:59.80]The doctor may come in and say, [06:02.36]"Don't worry! I'm looking at the results of your blood test [06:06.08]and you passed with flying colors!" [06:09.52]It's not as if you studied for your blood test and then did well on it. [06:14.68]So, this is the doctor's way of being lighthearted or funny. [06:20.92]And that brings us to the end of this Words and Their Stories! [06:25.46]We here at VOA Learning English hope you pass your next exam with flying colors [06:33.24]— or at least we hope you don't bomb on your next project! [06:38.61]I'm Anna Matteo. [06:45.16]更多听力请访问51VOA.COM