[ti:Monkeys Cause the Best Kind of Trouble] [by:www.51voa.com] [00:00.00]更多听力请访问51VOA.COM [00:08.72]And now, Words and Their Stories from VOA Learning English. [00:18.52]On this program we will explore English expressions. [00:24.24]On today's program we talk about animal expressions! [00:30.04]English has many animal expressions – too many to name. [00:36.12]Also, in English, as in many other languages, [00:40.76]some animals have come to have certain reputations. [00:46.40]That is to say, they are known for certain behaviors. [00:51.04]For example, dogs are loyal. [00:56.44]We often call them "man's best friend." [01:00.08]Cats are independent and mysterious. [01:05.92]In old stories, snakes and foxes are not to be trusted. [01:12.76]Turtles do things slowly. [01:15.64]While rabbits are full of energy. [01:19.88]Then there are monkeys. [01:22.84]Monkeys have a reputation [01:25.28]for being silly and causing trouble. [01:29.48]Good words for that are naughty and mischievous. [01:35.56]Monkeys are especially known for being fun. [01:40.00]And if one monkey is fun, [01:43.12]just think how much fun many monkeys would be! [01:48.72]If an activity or event is super fun, [01:52.64]we can say it is "as fun as a barrel of monkeys." [01:58.56]Even a fun person can be described as a barrel of monkeys. [02:05.40]Now, a barrel is a large wooden container. [02:09.40]I'm not sure how to get monkeys into a barrel. [02:13.56]But I'm guessing it would be fun. [02:17.80]While we are on the subject, keep in mind [02:20.80]that fun and funny are used differently. [02:25.68]If something is funny it makes you laugh. [02:29.08]If something is fun it is simply enjoyable. [02:34.28]For example, last weekend [02:36.96]I went to a party and it was really fun. [02:40.52]At the party, my friend told me a funny story, [02:45.04]and I laughed out loud. [02:48.60]Some word historians think that the expression [02:52.28]"barrel of monkeys" was first recorded in 1895. [02:58.72]It describes the playful behavior of these primates. [03:03.04]We use it to describe any type of fun of activity or person. [03:09.96]To call something a barrel of monkeys is definitely informal. [03:15.88]You could call a really fun event a riot. [03:20.72]Where I grew up in West Virginia, [03:23.92]people might call something really fun a hoot. [03:28.20]That is also informal and a bit rural. [03:33.68]Now, monkeys do more than have fun. [03:36.68]Because they are also smart, [03:39.56]they are known for causing trouble. [03:42.56]So, it is not surprising that we have monkey expressions [03:47.40]that describe causing trouble. [03:51.00]The first is to simply "monkey around." [03:55.64]To monkey around means to goof around [03:59.24]or cause harmless trouble. [04:02.96]But it could lead to more serious trouble. [04:06.00]So, a parent may warn a child, [04:09.04]"If you monkey around someone could get hurt. [04:12.28]So, stop it!" [04:14.96]If I make a funny joke at a work meeting, [04:18.36]someone could tell me to stop "monkeying around [04:21.68]and get serious." [04:24.52]Our last expression is "monkey business." [04:28.12]Monkey business usually means dishonest activities. [04:34.96]For example, most people expect [04:38.08]a little monkey business in politics. [04:41.68]It just seems to come with the territory, as we like to say. [04:48.80]Here at VOA Learning English, [04:51.80]we don't monkey around with English. [04:55.32]We take it very seriously. [04:58.40]We are all business. [05:00.92]But not, you know, monkey business – that would be bad. [05:08.12]And that's all the time we have for this Words and Their Stories. [05:12.76]Until next time ... I'm Anna Matteo. [05:15.72]更多听力请访问51VOA.COM