English 中文網(wǎng) 漫畫網(wǎng) 愛新聞iNews 翻譯論壇
    中國網(wǎng)站品牌欄目(頻道)
    當(dāng)前位置: Language Tips > Special Speed News VOA慢速

    Words and their stories: mayday

    [ 2012-05-16 17:31]     字號 [] [] []  
    免費訂閱30天China Daily雙語新聞手機報:移動用戶編輯短信CD至106580009009

    Now, the VOA Special English program WORDS AND THEIR STORIES.

    A listener from Venezuela sent us a question about the meaning of the expression mayday. He wrote that he often hears this expression in movies.

    Mayday is an emergency code word. It is used around the world in voice communications. You might see a war movie in which an airplane has been hit by rocket fire. The pilot gets on his radio and calls "mayday, mayday, mayday" to tell that his plane is in danger of crashing to the ground.

    Mayday has nothing to do with the month of May. It comes from the French expressions "venez m'aider," or "m'aidez," which mean "help me."

    Frederick Stanley Mockford created the mayday call signal in the 1920s. Mockford was a radio officer at Croydon Airport in London. He was asked to think of a word that could be used in an emergency. The word had to be easily understood by all pilots and airport workers. Much of the air traffic at that time was between Croydon Airport and Le Bourget Airport near Paris, France. So he proposed the word mayday.

    Today, many groups use the word to mean a life-threatening emergency. The call is always given three times to prevent mistaking it for some similar sounding words.

    Many other French words are commonly used in English. One of these words is even in the Special English Word Book. It is sabotage. It means to damage or destroy as an act of subversion against an organization or nation.

    You may have heard the term laissez-faire to describe a kind of economic or political policy. It means to leave alone and not interfere. It was first used in France in the 18th century.

    In the business world, entrepreneur is another French word. It means a person who starts and operates a new business and has responsibility for any risks involved.

    Many French words are used in the arts. For example, a film noir is a movie about murder and other crimes. These films were popular in the 1940s and 1950s. Anything in art, music or literature which is very modern or ahead of its time is called avant-garde.

    If you are looking for a job, you must prepare your résumé. This document lists all of your education, skills and experience. Something that is one of a kind and like no other thing is called unique.

    The French are famous for their food. All cooks need to know how to sauté. This is frying something quickly in a small amount of oil or butter. When you are eating at a restaurant, the server may tell you bon appétit, which means good appetite, or enjoy your meal. And if you go away, someone may wish you bon voyage or have a good trip.

    This program was written by Shelley Gollust. I'm Faith Lapidus. You can find more WORDS AND THEIR STORIES at our website, voaspecialenglish.com.

    mayday: an international radiotelephone signal word used by aircraft and ships in distress 求救信號

    sabotage: destruction of property or obstruction of normal operations, as by civilians or enemy agents in time of war 破壞

    laissez-faire: 放任政策和不干涉主義

    film noir: 具有悲觀色彩的影片

    avant-garde: of, relating to, or being part of an innovative group, especially one in the arts 前衛(wèi)的

    sauté: 用少量(奶)油煎

    bon appétit: 用餐愉快

    bon voyage: 一路平安

    Related stories:

    In America, even states get nicknames

    How to help an endangered language

    OK, here's the story of 'America's greatest word'

    Where did the English language come from?

    (來源:VOA 編輯:旭燕)

     
    中國日報網(wǎng)英語點津版權(quán)說明:凡注明來源為“中國日報網(wǎng)英語點津:XXX(署名)”的原創(chuàng)作品,除與中國日報網(wǎng)簽署英語點津內(nèi)容授權(quán)協(xié)議的網(wǎng)站外,其他任何網(wǎng)站或單位未經(jīng)允許不得非法盜鏈、轉(zhuǎn)載和使用,違者必究。如需使用,請與010-84883631聯(lián)系;凡本網(wǎng)注明“來源:XXX(非英語點津)”的作品,均轉(zhuǎn)載自其它媒體,目的在于傳播更多信息,其他媒體如需轉(zhuǎn)載,請與稿件來源方聯(lián)系,如產(chǎn)生任何問題與本網(wǎng)無關(guān);本網(wǎng)所發(fā)布的歌曲、電影片段,版權(quán)歸原作者所有,僅供學(xué)習(xí)與研究,如果侵權(quán),請?zhí)峁┌鏅?quán)證明,以便盡快刪除。
     

    關(guān)注和訂閱

    人氣排行

    翻譯服務(wù)

    中國日報網(wǎng)翻譯工作室

    我們提供:媒體、文化、財經(jīng)法律等專業(yè)領(lǐng)域的中英互譯服務(wù)
    電話:010-84883468
    郵件:translate@chinadaily.com.cn
     
     
    中文字幕丰满伦子无码| 久久精品aⅴ无码中文字字幕不卡| 亚洲日韩乱码中文无码蜜桃臀网站 | 中文字幕丰满乱子伦无码专区| 中文字幕丰满伦子无码| 伊人久久无码中文字幕| 成人午夜福利免费专区无码| 亚洲桃色AV无码| 亚洲视频无码高清在线| 伊人热人久久中文字幕| 天堂无码在线观看| 国产精品无码永久免费888 | 精品无码AV无码免费专区| 成在人线av无码免费高潮喷水| 人妻中文字幕无码专区| 中文字字幕在线一本通| 亚洲爆乳无码精品AAA片蜜桃| 久久青青草原亚洲av无码app| 亚洲精品无码国产| 无码八A片人妻少妇久久| 中文字幕九七精品乱码 | 日韩精品中文字幕第2页| 亚洲中文久久精品无码| 久久人妻AV中文字幕| 亚洲一级特黄大片无码毛片| 国产精品无码无卡无需播放器| 大学生无码视频在线观看| 潮喷无码正在播放| 精品欧洲AV无码一区二区男男| 无码国产69精品久久久久网站| 亚洲国产精品无码久久| 亚洲国产精品无码久久久蜜芽| 亚洲欧洲日产国码无码久久99| 永久免费av无码网站yy| 无码专区天天躁天天躁在线 | 少妇无码太爽了不卡视频在线看| 国模吧无码一区二区三区| 无码专区一va亚洲v专区在线| 精品久久久无码中文字幕天天| 亚洲精品无码av天堂| 在线天堂中文WWW官网|