VOA:Words and Their Stories: Bird Words

Today we explain some expressions about birds. For example, if something is for the birds, it is worthless or not very interesting. Someone who eats like a bird eats very little. And a birds-eye view is a general look at an area from above.
今天，我們講述一些關於禽類的詞匯。例如，如果說某事某物for the birds，指的是它毫無價值或不是很有趣。說某人eats like a bird（俗語：吃鳥食）指他吃得很少。birds-eye view（即鳥瞰）是指從高處觀察一個區域。

Did you know that if you tell a young person about the birds and the bees you are explaining about sex and birth?? Have you ever observed that birds of a feather flock together? In other words, people who are similar become friends or do things together. Here is some good advice: a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. This means you should not risk losing something you have by trying to get more of something you do not have.
你知道嗎，如果你和年輕人談及the birds and the bees，意思是談論性和繁殖。你是否注意到birds of a feather flock together（物以類聚，人以群分）？換句話說，換句話說，性格相似的人總是會成為朋友或者在一起工作。以下是一些好建議：a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush（兩鳥在林，不如一鳥在手）這句話的意思是不要冒險拿你已經有的東西去換取那些看上去多一些但你未必能得到的東西。

Sometimes I can do two things by performing only one action. This is called killing two birds with one stone. But I would never really kill any birds. I love all kinds of animals. This is a real feather in my cap. It is something to be proud of.
有時，我可以一舉兩得，也就是所謂的一石二鳥。但我絕不會真的殺害任何鳥類，我愛所有動物。這是a real feather in my cap，也就是說這是值得自豪的。

Most of the people I work with are early birds. They believe that the early bird catches the worm. They think that a person who gets up early in the morning for work has the best chance of success. Everyone in my office works hard, but some people have had their wings clipped. Their jobs have been limited. This is because the office is organized by pecking order. People with more years and experience are given more responsibility.
和我一起工作的許多人都喜歡早起。他們相信the early bird catches the worm（早起的鳥兒有蟲吃）。也就是說，他們認為，一大早起床開始工作，會獲得更好的成功機會。我辦公室的每個人工作都很努力。但有些人被束縛手腳，就是說他們的工作受到限製。這是因為辦公室論資排輩，工作時間長經驗更豐富的人被賦予更多責任。

Some bird expressions are about crows, chickens and ducks. For example, when I am driving, I always travel as the crow flies. I go the most direct way. Anyone who eats crow has to admit a mistake or defeat.
還有些關於烏鴉、雞、鴨的禽類詞匯。例如，當我開車時，我總是“像烏鴉飛”一樣行駛，這指的是我總是走直線。如果說某人“吃烏鴉”，意思是他不得不承認他犯了個錯誤或者做某事失敗了。

Now let's talk about my sister. She is not very young. She is no spring chicken. She will work any job for chicken feed -- a small amount of money. She is easily frightened. For example, she is too chicken-livered to walk down a dark street alone at night. Often she will chicken out – she will not go out alone at night.
現在讓我們來談談我的妹妹。她不是很年輕，也就是她不是spring chicken。為了一點小錢（chicken feed），她什麽工作都做。她很容易受驚。例如，她膽小（chicken-livered）到夜裏不敢在漆黑的街上走。她經常會退縮（chicken out）--在夜裏不會單獨出去。

My sister was an ugly duckling. She looked strange when she was a child, but she grew up to be a beautiful woman. Sometimes she thinks too much about having something in the future before she really has it. She counts her chickens before they are hatched. Sometimes her chickens come home to roost. That means her actions or words cause trouble for her. However, my sister does not worry about what people say about her. Criticism falls off her like water off a duck's back.
我的妹妹是一隻醜小鴨---她小時候看起來很奇怪，但長大後她成了一個美女。有時候她對那些未來的事情想得太多，她總是在小雞孵出來之前就開始數她有幾隻小雞。而有的時候她又自食惡果，意思是她的言行給她引來了麻煩。不過我妹妹不關心其他人對她的評論，批評對於她而言就像水流到了鴨子的背上，一滑而落。

Politicians are sometimes considered lame ducks after losing an election. They have little time left in office and not much power. Congress holds a lame duck session after an election. Important laws are not passed during this period.
當搞政治的人沒有贏得競選而要下台時，他們就被認為是沒有用的家夥（跛腳鴨），他們在政界的時間和權力也就不多了。在競選後，國會會有一段“瘸鴨時期”，這一時期內國會不舉行重要會議，因此重要的法律法規也是不能被通過的.