Expressions That 'Stop You Cold'
2024-12-22
LRC
TXT
大字
小字
滚动
全页
1And now, Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning English.
2In many parts of the world, temperatures are dropping for the winter season.
3But even for those in warm weather, our show on the word "cold" will help your English.
4"Cold" is not just an adjective describing temperature.
5It can also describe stopping something suddenly and surprisingly.
6It also means starting or doing something without preparation.
7These definitions give us several expressions and idioms.
8When someone or something stops cold, it stops completely, suddenly, and perhaps with surprise.
9For example, I was surprised when my car stopped cold on a recent trip.
10I had just had it fixed! With this expression, we often say the thing or person being stopped.
11So, in that example, I could say engine trouble stopped my car cold.
12When we stop (someone) cold, we completely stop them from doing something suddenly or immediately. Here's an example.
13The sunset was so beautiful; it stopped me cold.
14Sometimes, we add "in my tracks" to this expression, such as:
15The sunset was so beautiful; it stopped me cold in my tracks.
16Other variations of this expression include to stop (someone) dead in their tracks and to stop (someone) on a dime.
17They all mean the same thing - something or someone has come to a standstill. And we can use them the same way.
18Now, let's talk about how we use cold in the business world.
19Sometimes, we need to call someone who does not know us, and we do not know them. These are cold calls.
20A cold call can also be a visit to a person or business. And usually we want to sell something.
21For example, a salesperson may have a cold call list to get new business.
22Cold calls, whether on the phone or in-person, are unsolicited.
23This means that no one asked or requested contact.
24In business and also in life, if you come to something cold or come into something cold, you are not prepared. Here is an example:
25Last week, I came into the meeting cold. I hadn't read any of the materials.
26However, if you come in from the cold, you are in luck.
27It means you rejoin a group or a normal society again after being outside.
28We often use this expression to describe someone like a spy who was able to come in from the cold and enjoy a normal life.
29Come in from the cold can also be used when someone or something becomes popular, accepted, or active again after being unpopular, unaccepted, and inactive for a time.
30And that's all the time we have for this Words and Their Stories.
31Until next time ... I'm Anna Matteo.
1And now, Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning English. 2In many parts of the world, temperatures are dropping for the winter season. But even for those in warm weather, our show on the word "cold" will help your English. 3"Cold" is not just an adjective describing temperature. It can also describe stopping something suddenly and surprisingly. It also means starting or doing something without preparation. 4These definitions give us several expressions and idioms. 5When someone or something stops cold, it stops completely, suddenly, and perhaps with surprise. For example, I was surprised when my car stopped cold on a recent trip. I had just had it fixed! With this expression, we often say the thing or person being stopped. So, in that example, I could say engine trouble stopped my car cold. 6When we stop (someone) cold, we completely stop them from doing something suddenly or immediately. Here's an example. 7The sunset was so beautiful; it stopped me cold. 8Sometimes, we add "in my tracks" to this expression, such as: 9The sunset was so beautiful; it stopped me cold in my tracks. 10Other variations of this expression include to stop (someone) dead in their tracks and to stop (someone) on a dime. They all mean the same thing - something or someone has come to a standstill. And we can use them the same way. 11Now, let's talk about how we use cold in the business world. 12Sometimes, we need to call someone who does not know us, and we do not know them. These are cold calls. 13A cold call can also be a visit to a person or business. And usually we want to sell something. For example, a salesperson may have a cold call list to get new business. 14Cold calls, whether on the phone or in-person, are unsolicited. This means that no one asked or requested contact. 15In business and also in life, if you come to something cold or come into something cold, you are not prepared. Here is an example: 16Last week, I came into the meeting cold. I hadn't read any of the materials. 17However, if you come in from the cold, you are in luck. It means you rejoin a group or a normal society again after being outside. We often use this expression to describe someone like a spy who was able to come in from the cold and enjoy a normal life. 18Come in from the cold can also be used when someone or something becomes popular, accepted, or active again after being unpopular, unaccepted, and inactive for a time. 19And that's all the time we have for this Words and Their Stories. 20Until next time ... I'm Anna Matteo. 21Anna Matteo wrote this lesson for VOA Learning English. 22_____________________________________________ 23Words in This Story 24track - n. a mark left by something that has gone by 25variation - n. a change in form, position, or condition 26dime - n. a coin of the U.S. worth ¹/₁₀ dollar 27unsolicited - adj. not asked for or requested
后一篇：没有了