[ti:Use the 'Ocean' to Express Big Thoughts] [by:www.51voa.com] [00:00.00]更多听力请访问51VOA.COM [00:00.04]And now, Words and Their Stories from VOA Learning English. [00:15.12]On this program, we explore words and expressions in the English language. [00:27.04]Today we talk about the ocean. [00:33.80]Oceans are amazingly large, deep bodies of water. [00:40.24]When talking about some of the deepest parts of the world's oceans, much is still not known. [00:49.76]With something so big and full of wonder, [00:53.51]it is not surprising that English has several expressions that use the word "ocean." [01:02.04]For starters, we can simply say "oceans of" something to mean "a lot" something. [01:11.08]For example, Timothy will have oceans of problems if he does not find a job soon. [01:18.23]He is racking up oceans of debt. [01:23.32]Naturally, it is very common to use the word "ocean" [01:27.53]in expressions that describe very large, seemingly limitless, things. [01:34.76]For example, my love of my reading is as big as the ocean! I really love to read. [01:44.52]You can also say "as deep as the ocean" to describe something very vast and intense. [01:54.12]For example, if you love someone deeply, [01:57.50]you can say your love for them is as deep as the ocean. [02:02.80]It seems as if it has no end. [02:06.70]Saying that something is as deep, big, or wide as the ocean is a simile. [02:15.23]A simile compares things using "like" or "as." [02:21.92]An ocean can also help describe something that is very far away from something else. [02:29.48]The expression "to be oceans apart" can be used for more than just physical distance. [02:37.56]If you are oceans apart from something, [02:40.45]you are far from reaching a point of agreement or having common ground. [02:47.46]Consider these examples: [02:50.64]During an important business deal, the two parties found that they were oceans apart. [02:57.76]It was impossible to make a deal that was good for both sides. [03:04.28]Even though their political and religious views were oceans apart, [03:09.36]the two people shared a love of music and became close friends. [03:17.92]Finally, the ocean is so big that it would not make a difference [03:22.98]if you added a drop of water to it. [03:27.12]So, if I say something is just a drop in the ocean, [03:31.68]it is a small amount compared to the amount that is needed. [03:38.00]For example, some might say investing $1 million dollars [03:43.59]in a country's educational system is just a drop in the ocean. [03:50.04]Millions more dollars will be needed to make real change. [03:55.04]And that's all the time we have for this Words and Their Stories. [03:59.92]Until next time ... I'm Anna Matteo. 更多听力请访问51VOA.COM