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And now, Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning English.
歡迎收聽VOA慢速英語《詞匯掌故》節目。
Today we talk about one of those English words that changes meaning depending on the words added to it.
今天，我們要討論的是一個會根據加在其后面的單詞而改變意思的英語單詞。
"Double" is just such a word.
“Double”就是這樣一個詞。
It is such a useful word that we should discuss it on the double!
它是一個很有用的詞，我們應該立即討論它！
That means quickly.
on the double的意思是迅速。
If I say, "Get here on the double," it means get here as soon as you can. Please.
如果我說“Get here on the double”，意思是請盡快趕到這里。
But that is just one of the many uses of this versatile word.
但這只是這個多功能詞的眾多用法之一。
"Double" means two of something.
“Double”的意思是雙份/兩倍。
So, if you double up on something, you increase the amount by two.
所以，如果你在某件事上加倍，意思是你增加了兩倍的量。
For example, if I plan to enter a swimming race, I might want to double up on my training.
例如，如果我計劃參加游泳比賽，我可能想要加倍訓練。
So, if I train one hour a day, I would increase my training to two hours a day.
所以，如果我每天訓練一個小時，我會把我的訓練時間增加到每天兩個小時。
Now, if you add “down” to "double" you get something completely different.
現在，如果你把“down”加在“double”后，你會得到完全不同的詞組。
If you double down, you stick to a position or undertaking even if it is not a good one.
如果你double down，意思是你堅持一個立場或一項事業，即使它不是好的。
You are not willing to change your position at all.
你根本不愿意改變你的立場。
For example, instead of apologizing for a poorly worded statement, the politician doubled down and said it again.
例如，政客沒有為措辭不當的聲明道歉，反而是變本加厲，重新說了一遍。
Here, we could also say he dug in his heels.
在這里，我們也可以說他堅持己見。
Now, if something does double duty is serves two purposes.
do double duty的意思是同時具有兩種功能。
For example, an exercise bike serves double duty if I can also dry my towels on it.
例如，如果我還可以在健身自行車上晾干毛巾，那它就具有雙重功能。
People can also do double duty.
人們也可以有雙重功能。
That means they do two jobs or the work of two people.
意思是他們做兩份工作或兩個人的工作。
Let's combine "double" with the word "back."
讓我們把“double”和“back”結合起來。
If you double back, you turn around and come back the same way that you came.
double back的意思是沿原路返回。
One time I took a hike and got a little lost.
有一次，我徒步旅行，迷路了。
So, instead of continuing, I just doubled back: I returned the way that I came.
所以，我沒有繼續前進，而是沿原路返回：我按照我來的路線返回了。
A delayed reaction to something that takes you by surprise is called a double take.
對讓你吃驚的事情的延遲反應被稱為double take（愣了一會兒才恍然大悟的反應）。
We usually say do a double take.
我們通常說do a double take（露出不能置信的表情）。
For example, I did a double take when I saw my co-worker after a year.
例如，當我在一年后看到我的同事時，我露出不能置信的表情。
She had a new haircut and a tattoo.
她換了個新發型，還紋了紋身。
I had to double-check if it was even her.
我不得不再次確認那是不是她。
When I looked again and made sure it was my friend, I told her how much I liked her tattoo.
當我再看一眼，確定那是我的朋友時，我告訴她我有多喜歡她的紋身。
Then she doubled over with laughter.
然后她笑彎了腰。
As it turns out, it was a temporary tattoo.
事實證明，這只是一個臨時紋身。
When we double over, we bend over and cannot stand up straight because of laughter or from pain.
double over指的是我們因為大笑或疼痛而彎腰，站不直。
For some reason, certain "double" words are not good.
出于某種原因，某些含“double”的詞語的含義并不好。
For example, double-crossing someone means to cheat them.
例如，double-crossing的意思是欺騙某人。
A double-cross is a betrayal.
double-cross指的是背叛。
We could also use the word double-dealing which has a similar meaning.
我們也可以使用double-dealing，它有類似的意思。
Double talk is language that appears to be meaningful but, in fact, is a mixture of sense and nonsense.
Double talk（含糊其詞的話）是一種看似有意義的語言，但實際上是有意義和無意義語言的混合體。
And doublespeak is language used to trick people by hiding some of the truth.
doublespeak是一種通過隱藏一些真相來欺騙人們的語言。
A double standard is a set of principles or rules that apply differently and usually more severely to one group of people than to another.
double standard（雙重標準）是一套規則，通常在實施這套規則時對一群人會比對另一群人更嚴厲。
For example, people are not surprised if an older man dates a much younger woman.
例如，如果一個年長的男人和一個年輕得多的女人約會，人們并不感到驚訝。
However, those same people may criticize a woman who dates a much younger man.
然而，這些人可能會批評一個和比其年輕得多的男人約會的女人。
That is a common double standard because the outcomes are so different.
這是一種常見的雙重標準，因為結果截然不同。
And that's the end of this Words and Their Stories.
以上就是本期《詞匯掌故》節目的全部內容。
I hope you enjoyed this exploration of the many word combinations using "double."
我希望你喜歡本期有關含有“double”的許多詞組的內容。
You may want to double up on your English lessons by practicing with the combinations of this very useful word.
你可能想通過練習含有這個非常有用的單詞的詞組來使你的英語課加倍。
Until next time … I'm Anna Matteo.
下次見……我是安娜·馬特奧。
譯文為可可英語翻譯，未經授權請勿轉載！
