VOA慢速：笨手笨脚
All Thumbs
刘立军 供稿
TRANSCRIPT
And now, Words and Their Stories from VOA Learning English.
On this show we explore words and expressions a little more deeply. We give you synonyms ― words that mean close to the same thing. And we use the expressions in a conversation.
Today we talk about our hands ― more specifically our thumbs.
Most of us have one thumb and four fingers on each hand. Our thumbs let us perform certain tasks. But what if all our fingers were replaced with thumbs? Those tasks we normally perform with ease would become much more difficult.
In fact, we would lose the ability to do many things with our hands. Our movements would become careless and clumsy. We would drop things all the time.
And that is what the saying “to be all thumbs” means. If I am all thumbs, I lack grace with my hands. I am klutzy. So, people might call me a klutz.
They might also call me butterfingers. Imagine your fingers are coated in butter. They would be very slippery. And it would hard to pick things up.
Now, let’s hear the expression “to be all thumbs” in a conversation between two friends.
A: Hey, I’m planning a surprise party for Nicholas. I’m bringing the food and ice. And Cassidy is bringing the drinks ― about 50 bottles of wine and lemonade. Can you bring the cake?
B: I have a better idea. I’ll pick up the drinks. Why don’t you ask Cassidy to bring the cake?
A: Why?
B: Cassidy is all thumbs. She’ll end up dropping everything and then we won’t have drinks at the party.
A: Good call. She is pretty clumsy. Actually, at the last party she dropped the cake. On second thought. I’ll have her bring the ice. If she drops the bags of ice, it’ll only help break it up.
B: Very smart.
And that’s all the time we have for this Words and Their Stories. Until next time. I’m Anna Matteo.
VOCABULARY
1. clumsy adj. (of people and animals) moving or doing things in a very awkward way 笨拙的；不灵巧的。例如：I spilt your coffee. Sorry ― that was clumsy of me. 我洒了你的咖啡。对不起，我真是笨手笨脚的。
2. klutzy adj. (informal) of a person who often drops things, who is not good at sport(s), etc. 木头般的；不灵巧的；笨手笨脚的
3. klutz n. (informal) a person who often drops things, is not good at sport(s), etc. 木头人；不灵巧的人；笨手笨脚的人
4. butterfingers n. (informal) a person who often drops things 常掉落东西的人
QUESTIONS
Listen to the news and choose the best answer to each question you hear.
1. What does the expression “to be all thumbs” mean?
A) Having clumsy fingers.
B) Holding a surprise party.
C) Dropping bottles of wine.
D) Breaking bags of ice.
2. Why does B suggest asking Cassidy to bring the cake?
A) Because Cassidy is all thumbs.
B) Because B doesn’t want to pick up the cake.
C) Because Cassidy dropped the cake at the last party.
D) Because Cassidy prefers bringing drinks.
3. What would happen if all our fingers were replaced with thumbs?
A) Our movements would become careless and clumsy.
B) We would become more skilled with our hands.
C) We would perform tasks with ease.
D) We would lose the ability to speak.
4. What does the term “butterfingers” refer to?
A) Slippery fingers coated in butter.
B) Someone who drops things easily.
C) A type of dessert served at parties.
D) People with graceful hand movements.
KEY
1. What does the expression “to be all thumbs” mean?
A) Having clumsy fingers.
B) Holding a surprise party.
C) Dropping bottles of wine.
D) Breaking bags of ice.
【答案】A
【解析】细节题。文章中解释了表达“to be all thumbs”的含义，即手脚笨拙。
2. Why does B suggest asking Cassidy to bring the cake?
A) Because Cassidy is all thumbs.
B) Because B doesn’t want her to pick up the drinks.
C) Because Cassidy dropped the cake at the last party.
D) Because Cassidy prefers bringing drinks.
【答案】B
【解析】细节题。在对话中，B不想让Cassidy带饮料，所以建议让Cassidy带蛋糕。
3. What would happen if all our fingers were replaced with thumbs?
A) Our movements would become careless and clumsy.
B) We would become more skilled with our hands.
C) We would perform tasks with ease.
D) We would lose the ability to speak.
【答案】A
【解析】细节题。在文章中，如果我们所有的手指都被拇指替代，我们将变得粗心和笨拙。
4. What does the term “butterfingers” refer to?
A) Slippery fingers coated in butter.
B) Someone who drops things easily.
C) A type of dessert served at parties.
D) People with graceful hand movements.
【答案】B
【解析】细节题。在文章中，“butterfingers”表示容易掉东西的人。
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