And now Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning English.
现在是美国之音慢速英语《词汇掌故》节目。
The world is filled with buttons!
世界上到处都是按钮！
Some buttons we press -- such as the ones needed to operate a vehicle or machinery.
有些按钮会被我们按下——比如操作车辆或机器所需的按钮。
Some buttons fasten our clothes.
一些纽扣系住我们的衣服。
They keep are shirts closed and our pants from falling down.
它们让我们的衬衫系合，让我们的裤子不会掉下来。
In English, the word "button" is found in many useful and common expressions.
在英语中，“button”这个词出现在许多有用且常见的表达中。
Let's talk about the kinds of buttons you press or push.
让我们来谈谈你按下的“button”种类。
Young children like to push buttons – even if nothing happens.
小孩子喜欢按按钮——即使什么事也没发生。
There is something very satisfying about pushing a button.
按下按钮会让人有一种非常满足的感觉。
Well, did you know that people have buttons too?
你知道人也有“按钮”吗？
However, these buttons are not physical things.
然而，这些按钮并不是实体的东西。
Our buttons activate or trigger our feelings.
我们的“按钮”激活或触发了我们的感觉。
They are things to which we feel sensitive.
它们是我们敏感的东西。
So, some unkind people may find it satisfying to push people's buttons.
所以，一些不友善的人可能会觉得惹怒别人会有一种满足感。
If you push someone's buttons, you do something or talk about something that upsets them.
如果你惹怒某人，那你就是在做或谈论让他们不高兴的事。
Button-pushers like to upset people by bringing up sore subjects.
惹怒别人的人喜欢通过提起触人痛处的问题让人心烦。
For example, a woman I used to know always tried to push my buttons by bringing up an old boyfriend.
例如，我以前认识的一个女的总是试图通过提起我的前男友来刺激我。
But then finally, I told her I did not not care.
但最后，我告诉她我不在乎。
After that, she stopped trying to push the old boyfriend button.
从那以后，她就不再试图通过提起我的前男友来刺激我了。
However, pushing someone's buttons can also happen accidentally.
然而，惹怒某人也可能是意外发生的。
Sometimes we don't mean to, but we can bring up an issue that is touchy to someone else.
有时我们并非故意，但却会提出一个对别人来说很敏感的问题。
Now, let's talk about the kind of buttons on clothing.
现在，让我们谈谈衣服上的纽扣。
As you know already, buttons are fasteners on our clothes.
正如你已经知道的，纽扣是衣服上的扣件。
They keep them shut.
他们让衣服系合。
Well, imagine if our mouths had buttons.
想象一下如果我们的嘴有纽扣。
We could fasten them shut to keep silent.
我们可以把嘴系上，保持沉默。
And that gives us some impolite expressions.
那就给我们提供了一些不礼貌的表达。
They all mean to be quiet.
它们都指要保持安静。
If I tell someone to button their mouth, button their lip or to simply button it, I am telling them to shut up.
如果我告诉某人“用纽扣把嘴系上”，“用纽扣把嘴唇系上”，或者光说“系上它”，我就是在告诉他们闭嘴。
Like I said, the expressions are rude.
就像我说的，这些表达很不礼貌。
But there is another way we use "button" in our conversations.
但在对话中，关于“button”我们还有另一种用法。
For a button on our clothing to work, it needs a buttonhole.
要使衣服上的纽扣起作用，它需要一个扣眼。
Otherwise, you can't fasten them.
否则，你就无法系住它们。
A buttonhole traps the button.
钮扣孔会卡住钮扣。
So, if you buttonhole someone in a conversation, you trap them.
所以，如果你在对话中“卡住”某人，你就把他们困住了。
Like a button that has slipped into a buttonhole, they cannot escape.
就像纽扣进了扣眼，他们逃不掉。
Now, you can buttonhole someone with a fun topic.
现在，你可以用一个有趣的话题来困住别人。
But usually, we use this term when someone talks to you for a long time about something you don't want to hear.
但通常，当某人和你说了很长时间你不想听的事情时，我们会用到这个词。
If you are buttonholed over an unpleasant topic, you can also say that someone had you cornered.
如果你被强迫听一个不愉快的话题，你也可以说某人硬要与你说话。
Now, let's hear some of these terms used between two friends.
现在，让我们来听听两个朋友之间对这些词的使用。
Where have you been?
你去哪儿了？
I've been looking all over for you.
我一直在到处找你。
Have you tried the cake?
你尝过那个蛋糕吗？
It is SO good.
它太好吃了。
I haven't had anything to eat or drink yet!
我还没吃什么喝什么呢！
Jen had me buttonholed for an hour about her work project.
珍硬让我听她唠叨了一个小时她的工作项目。
Not cool.
一点也不酷。
A party is NOT the place to corner someone about work.
派对不是硬拉着别人谈工作的地方。
And she knows I wanted to work on that project.
她知道我想做那个项目。
Really not cool!
真的不酷！
She just wants to push your buttons.
她只是想惹怒你。
And you're too nice to tell her to button it.
你太好心了，不忍心让她闭嘴。
Are you still upset about the project?
你还在为那个项目烦恼吗？
No, I'm over it.
不，我已经走出来了。
And I told her.
我告诉她了。
I also told her that I don't want to talk about work anymore at a party.
我还告诉她，我不想在派对上再谈工作了。
Good.
不错。
Not caring is the best way to deal with a button-pusher.
对待惹怒别人的人的最好方法就是不在乎。
Uh-oh. Look over there.
哦。看那边。
Now she's got David buttonholed.
现在她硬拉着大卫说话。
Poor guy.
可怜的家伙。
But he can take care of himself.
但他能照顾好自己。
Now, where is that cake you were talking about?
你说的那个蛋糕在哪里？
And that brings us to the end of this Words and Their Stories.
那就把我们带到了本期《词汇掌故》节目的结尾。
Until next time … I'm Anna Matteo.
下期节目再见，安娜·马特奥为您播报。
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