[ti:Birds and Their Stories] [ar:Faith Lapidus] [al:Words and Their Stories] [by:www.51voa.com] [00:00.00]Now, the VOA Special English program Words and Their Stories. [00:16.47]Today we explain some expressions about birds. [00:21.86]For example, if something is "for the birds," [00:25.71]it is worthless or not very interesting. [00:29.11]Someone who "eats like a bird" eats very little. [00:34.10]And "a birds-eye view" is a general look [00:38.20]at an area from above. [00:40.12]Did you know that if you tell a young person [00:44.37]about "the birds and the bees" [00:46.59]you are explaining about sex and birth? [00:49.79]Have you ever observed [00:52.07]that "birds of a feather flock together"? [00:55.52]In other words, [00:56.79]people who are similar become friends [00:59.32]or do things together. [01:01.31]Here is some good advice: [01:03.83]"a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush." [01:07.87]This means you should not risk losing something [01:12.45]you have by trying to get [01:14.79]more of something you do not have. [01:17.19]Sometimes I can do two things [01:21.26]by performing only one action. [01:23.95]This is called "killing two birds with one stone." [01:28.47]But I would never really kill any birds. [01:32.17]I love all kinds of animals. [01:35.21]This is "a real feather in my cap" -- [01:38.34]it is something to be proud of. [01:40.80]Most of the people I work with are "early birds." [01:45.93]They believe that "the early bird catches the worm" -- [01:49.99]they think that a person [01:52.37]who gets up early in the morning for work [01:55.29]has the best chance of success. [01:57.97]Everyone in my office works hard, [02:01.22]but some people "have had their wings clipped" -- [02:05.19]their jobs have been limited. [02:07.86]This is because the office is organized [02:11.62]"by pecking order" -- [02:13.07]people with more years and experience [02:16.24]are given more responsibility. [02:18.72]Some bird expressions are about crows, [02:23.41]chickens and ducks. [02:25.62]For example, when I am driving, [02:28.45]I always "travel as the crow flies" -- [02:32.47]I go the most direct way. [02:35.21]Anyone who "eats crow" has to admit a mistake [02:40.40]or defeat. [02:41.73]Now let's talk about my sister. [02:46.23]She is not very young. [02:48.80]She is no "spring chicken." [02:51.50]She will work any job for "chickenfeed" -- [02:55.65]a small amount of money. [02:58.03]She is easily frightened. [03:00.82]For example, [03:02.23]she is too "chicken-livered" to walk down [03:05.96]a dark street alone at night. [03:08.35]Often she will "chicken out" -- [03:10.99]she will not go out alone at night. [03:13.77]My sister was an "ugly duckling." [03:18.28]She looked strange when she was a child, [03:21.36]but she grew up to be a beautiful woman. [03:24.69]Sometimes she thinks too much [03:28.58]about having something in the future [03:31.18]before she really has it. [03:33.70]She "counts her chickens before they are hatched. [03:38.05]" Sometimes her chickens "come home to roost." [03:43.10]That means her actions or words cause trouble for her. [03:47.66]However, my sister does not worry about [03:51.72]what people say about her. [03:53.57]Criticism falls off her [03:56.12]"like water off a duck's back." [03:58.76]Politicians are sometimes considered "lame ducks" [04:04.23]after losing an election -- [04:06.10]they have little time left in office [04:09.28]and not much power. [04:11.44]Congress holds a "lame duck session" [04:15.16]after an election -- [04:16.63]important laws are not passed [04:19.70]during this period. [04:20.91]This VOA Special English program [04:35.28]Words and Their Stories was written by Jill Moss. [04:39.23]I'm Faith Lapidus.