Anna Matteo

笪景行选译

Today we are going to talk about a very small， sharp and useful object： a pin. We usepins when we sew clothes. We also use pins in some art projects. And we use pins toattach2 things to ourClothing. The sharp point easily goes right through most kinds of cloth.

今天我们要讨论一种非常小、锋利、有用的物体：别针。我们缝衣服的时候会用到别针。我们也在一些手工中使用别针。我们还会用别针把东西别在衣服上。针尖很容易穿过大多数布料。

And pin gives us an expression： To pin your hopes on something. If you pin your hopeson something， you hope very much that it will help you succeed. You attach your hopes toit. When we pin our hopes on something， we really want it to happen. It can also mean tohave expectations3 connected to the success or performance of a person or thing.

别针带给我们一个表达方式：把你的希望寄托在某事上。如果你把希望寄托在某事上，那就是你非常希望它能帮助你取得成功。你寄希望于它。当我们把希望寄托在某事上时，我们真的希望它能发生。它也意味着对一个人或事物的成功或表现有所期待。

For example，a friend of mine reallv wanted to attend a well-known college. But thetuition4Cost a lot and she did not have much money. So. she pinned her hopes on winninga scholarship'5. When the scholarship fell through， she was pretty upset. On the same day.she got more bad news.A verv old and verv distant6 uncle had died. It was sad news. butthere was a silver lining7.You might ask，¨What good could come from that？”Well. thisuncle left her a lot of money.

比如，我的一个朋友真的很想上一所名牌大学。但学费很高，她又没有多少钱。所以，她把希望寄托在赢得奖学金上。当奖学金落空时，她很难过。同一天，她得到了更多的坏消息。她的一个年纪很大的远房叔叔去世了。这是个令人悲伤的消息，但事情也出现了一点转机。你可能会问：“那还能有什么好事？”哦，這个叔叔给她留下了很多钱。

Some word experts say the expression dates from the 1500s. It may have come from soldierspinning their leader's insignias on their sleeves. This showed where they belonged and who theysupported. By the 1800s. however. it took on its current meaning.

一些词语专家说，这个表达可以追溯到1 5世纪。它可能源于士兵把领袖的标志钉在袖子上的行为。这表明了他们的所属，以及他们支持谁。然而，到了19世纪，它就有了现在的意义。

Here is an example. These two friends talk about saving money for the future.

下面是一个例子。两个朋友谈论的是为未来攒钱的事。

so，how much money have you saved so far. Youknow， for your retirement？None. But Iplay the lottery9 every day.！I，dont think it's a good life plan to pin all yourhopes on winning the lottery.You' re right， I should have a Plan B，I know，willget on game .show and win. a lot of money！I think you should talk t0 an，expert.Are there game show experts？No I mean afnancial l0 planner.Oh. That kind of expert.

那么，到目前为止，你攒了多少钱。是为了退休以后存的吗？没有。但我每天都在买彩票！我不认为把你所有的希望都寄托在彩票中奖上是个好的生活计划。你说得对。我应该有一个B计划。我知道我会参加一个游戏节目，赢到很多钱！我想你应该和专家谈谈。有游戏节目的专家吗？不，我指的是理财规划师。哦，原来是那种专家。

Yeah：it is not a good idea to pin your financial hopes on a lottery.And in life it isprobably not a good idea to pin aU your hopes and dreams on other people.Instead，pin yourhopes on you and what you can do to make things better.

是的，把你的经济希望寄托在彩票上不是个好主意。在生活中，把你所有的希望和梦想都寄托在别人身上很可能不是一个好主意。你应该把希望寄托在你自己身上，寄托在你能做的让情况变得更好的事情上。

（英语原文选自：VOA Special English）

[Notes]

1.pin [p?n]n.大头针，别针针.钉住;用针别

2.attach[?'t?t?]v.使依附;贴上

3.expectation[?ekspek'te??n]n.期待;预期

4.tuition [tj?????n]n.学费

5.scholarship[?sk?l???p]n.奖学金

6.distant[?d?st?nt] adj.遥远的;远隔的

7.a silver lining 一线光明，一线希望

8.insignia [?n?s?ɡn??] n.记号，标志;徽章

9. lottery[?l?t?r?] n彩票

10. financial[fa?'n?n?（?）l; f?-]adj.金融的;财政的