On this program we explore the origin and usage of common expressions in American English. We always give examples or dialogues using the expressions. Sometimes we even use the words in a short story. All of these can, hopefully, teach you how to best use the expressions.
There is one natural event that many people want to experience during their lifetime -- an eclipse!
有一种自然现象，许多人都想在生平能够亲眼目睹一次——那就是日月食（eclipse）！
Whether solar or lunar, partial or total, these astronomical events bring the movement of our solar system a little more to life.
不论是日食还是月食，部分或是全蚀，这些天文现象会使我们的太阳系活动稍加活跃。
Solar, as we know, means "relating to the sun." So a solar eclipse happens when the moon passes between the sun and Earth. A dark circle either completely or partly covers the sun as a result.
Some ancient cultures considered an eclipse a sign that the world was ending. Other cultures viewed it as a battle between different animals in the sky as they try to eat up the moon or sun. Another cultural belief was that an eclipse was a time for deep thought and thinking about the past.
The word eclipse comes from a Greek word meaning "to leave," "to abandon," "to forsake a usual place" or "fail to appear". Ancient Greeks thought of an eclipse as a time when the sun abandoned the earth.
In simple terms, an eclipse happens when a planet or satellite blocks the light of the sun. So, it is not surprising that we also use "eclipse" in the same way when talking about other things besides the sun, the moon and the earth.
In conversation, when one thing eclipses another it makes it less important or popular. For example, television eclipsed radio in the 1950s as the most popular form of home entertainment. When one person eclipses another, they do something better. For example, a younger child might hate it when her older sister's school and sports success eclipses her own. The older sister outshines the younger one.
在交际中，当我们说“one thing eclipses another”时，意思就是“一种事物使另一种事物变得不那么重要或者不那么受欢迎”。例如，电视机压倒收音机成为20世纪50年代最受欢迎的家庭娱乐形式。当说“one person eclipses another"时，意思就是“一个人在某件事情上比另一个人做得更好”。例如，如果姐姐在学业和体育上的成就都超过了（eclipses）妹妹，那么妹妹可能就会讨厌发生这种情况，因为姐姐的光芒会盖过妹妹。
This usage of eclipse is not only used when talking about people. Things can also eclipse other things, as in this sentence: The popularity of the company's new product quickly eclipsed all its earlier products.
“eclipse”的用法不仅可以在谈论人的时候用，事物之间也可以一物盖过另一物，比如这个句子里：The popularity of the company's new product quickly eclipsed all its earlier products（这个公司的新产品的受欢迎度很快盖过了它之前的所有产品）。
Many synonyms of eclipse deal with light and casting shadows, like in the example of the older sister outshining the younger. If a person or a thing outshines another, the light they give off is so bright that no one notices anything else. You could also say the older daughter cast a shadow on her younger sister. Or you could say the younger sister was living in the shadow of her older sister.
“eclipse”的许多同义词都和光线和投影有关，例如在那个“姐姐的光芒盖过妹妹”的例子里。如果一个人或者某个东西的光芒盖过了另外一个，就是说他们释放的光芒太强了以致于除了他们，别的东西都不会被注意到。也可以说大女儿使她的妹妹黯然失色（cast a shadow on）。或者也可以说，妹妹活在姐姐的光环之下。
Now, let's hear how we use eclipse this way in everyday conversation. Let's listen as two people talk as they wait in line to audition for a Broadway musical.
As ready as I'll ever be. The song I'm singing is my favorite and I know it really well.
我时刻都在准备着，我要唱的歌是我最喜欢的那首，我对它特别熟。
I'm sure you'll do great. By the way, I'm Corrine. Corrine Mayfield.
我相信你一定会唱得很好。顺便说下，我叫科琳，科琳·梅菲尔德。
I'm Steve Stravinski.
我叫史蒂夫·斯特拉文斯基。
Stravinski? Wait. Are you any relation to Doug Stravinski?!
斯特拉文斯基？等等，你和道格·斯特拉文斯基有什么关系吗？
Yeah. He's my older brother.
是的，他是我哥哥。
Get out! His performance in Les Miserables was so beautiful. Critics are still talking about it! Wow! Doug Stravinski. What is he working on these days?
That is just awesome! It will probably be another number one seller! So, what's it like being his brother?
太棒了！那很可能又是一张销量第一的专辑！当他的弟弟感觉如何呢？
Great. Just great.
挺好的，就还好吧。
It must be tough living in the shadow of Doug Stravinski!
活在道格·斯特拉文斯基的光环之下肯定不容易吧！
I don't think about it ... you know, until someone brings it up.
你知道，我没想过这些……除非有人提及。
Oh, I'm so sorry. But it's just that ... well, he's so amazing and famous. He casts a really big shadow!
哦，对不起。但事已至此……嗯，他太了不起、太出名了，他把你的光芒都挡住了！
Yes. Look, do you mind if we don't talk? I really need to prepare for my audition.
嗯，你觉得，我们可以不聊这个吗？我真的必须准备我的试唱了。
Of course. Of course. It's so typical, isn't it -- an older brother or sister eclipsing a younger one. They do everything first, do it longer. And, they're usually better -- usually the shining star in the family!
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