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。

On today's program, we talk about an animal idiom.

在今天的节目中，我们要谈论一个动物习语。

What do you think it means to be a one-trick pony?

你觉得“to be a one-trick pony”是什么意思?

Let's start with a pony.

让我们从pony开始。

That is a small horse.

那是匹小马。

And one definition of a "trick" is a special act or skill.

" trick "的一个定义是一种特殊的行为或技能。

So, pony tricks can be fun to see.

所以，小马的把戏看起来很有趣。

But who would want to watch a pony that does the same trick over and over?

但谁会想看一匹小马一遍又一遍地耍同样的把戏呢?

A one-trick pony is a person that has only one skill.

one-trick pony是指只有一项技能的人。

So, the term is an insult.

所以，这个词是一种侮辱。

A one-trick pony is of low value.

只有一招的小马价值不大。

A one-trick pony can also describe a person who has had success only once.

one-trick pony也可以形容一个人只成功过一次。

So, for example, let's say you know a champion weightlifter.

例如，假设你认识一个举重冠军。

He is big and strong and successful in the sport.

他又高大又强壮，在这项运动中很成功。

But it is the only thing he does:

但他只会做一件事：

He eats, drinks, and sleeps weightlifting.

吃、喝、睡、举重。

You could truthfully tell him he is a one-trick pony.

你可以如实告诉他，他只会一招。

But, be prepared to run away as soon as the words leave your mouth.

但是，当话一出口就要准备逃跑。

He probably won't be very happy.

他可能不会很高兴。

Some word experts say the idiom "one-trick pony" comes from the circus.

一些词汇专家说，one-trick pony这个习语来自马戏团。

A circus pony that can only do one trick is not going to entertain a crowd for very long.

一匹马戏团的小马只能表演一种戏法，不能长久地取悦观众。

The term "one-trick pony" appeared around the turn of the twentieth century.

“one-trick pony”这个词出现在20世纪初。

Within about fifty years, the term had become an idiom.

在大约50年的时间里，这个术语变成了一个成语。

Note that one-trick is usually hyphenated.

注意，one-trick通常是用连字符连接的。

And if you have more than one, you have one-trick ponies.

如果你有不止一个，那就用pony的复数“ponies”。

Now, a one-trick pony usually describes a person.

one-trick pony

通常用来描述一个人。

But sometimes it can describe other things, such as a company.

但有时它也可以描述其他事物，比如公司。

If a company only does one thing such as make ice cream cones, it might be called a one-trick pony.

如果一家公司只做一件事，比如制作冰淇淋甜筒，它可能被称为“one-trick pony”。

However, that usage is less common.

然而，这种用法并不常见。

Now, let's hear two friends use the expression in a conversation.

现在我们来听两个朋友在对话中使用这个表达。

A: Guess who will perform at my outdoor party next week?

A：猜猜下周谁要来我的户外派对表演？

Sam the Entertainer!

是艺人山姆！

B: Please, not Sam the Entertainer!

B：拜托，别叫艺人山姆！

He's anything BUT entertaining.

他一点趣也没有。

A: What do you mean?

答：你是什么意思？

He has such energy!

他还是有点本事的！

B: He may be "energetic," but he's a one-trick pony.

B：他也许“有本事”，但他只会一招。

A: Sam is the best bagpipe player around.

A：山姆是这里最好的风笛演奏者。

B: But that's ALL he does.

B：但他只会做这些。

I hope your guests like loud bagpipe music.

我希望你的客人喜欢响亮的风笛音乐。

A: I'm sure they'll love it!

A：我肯定他们会喜欢的！

I've invited all my Ren-Fest friends!

我邀请了我所有的Ren-Fest朋友！

Now, keep in mind that people who specialize in a certain area of their work are not called one-trick ponies.

现在，请记住，专攻某一领域的人并不是one-trick ponies。

They are specialists.

他们是专家。

For example, I would never call a doctor specializing in children's illnesses a one-trick pony.

例如，我永远不会把一个专攻儿童疾病的医生称为“one-trick pony”。

She is a specialist and has many skills to do her job.

她是一个专家，她的工作需要很多技能。

And we here at VOA Learning English specialize in using stories to teach English.

我们美国之音英语学习专门用故事来教授英语。

But I hope you don't consider us one-trick ponies.

但我希望你不要认为我们只有一招。

And that's all the time we have for this Words and Their Stories.

以上就是本期《词汇掌故》的全部内容。

Until next time... I'm Anna Matteo.

下次见，我是安娜·马特奥。

本文来自公众微信号：爱语吧英语