[ti:What Are Your ‘True Colors’?]
[by:www.21voa.com]
[00:00.00]更多听力请访问21VOA.COM
[00:00.04]And now, Words and Their Stories,
[00:11.68]from VOA Learning English.
[00:15.20]On today's show, we talk about colors.
[00:22.92]Sometimes we talk about our feelings
[00:26.32]with words describing colors.
[00:29.80]For example, if I am feeling down or a bit sad,
[00:34.92]I can say I am "blue."
[00:38.36]If I'm angry, I might say that I see "red."
[00:43.44]If I'm out of sorts or really unhappy,
[00:46.96]I can say I'm in a "black" mood.
[00:49.84]If I want something that someone else has,
[00:53.96]I can say I'm "green" with envy.
[00:58.24]All these different feelings
[01:00.28]can be represented with colors.
[01:04.00]But what about your "true colors?"
[01:07.48]What does it mean to show your true colors?
[01:11.48]If we show our "true colors,"
[01:14.52]we are true to ourselves.
[01:16.76]We show what we are really like.
[01:19.88]We reveal our true nature,  character, or personality.
[01:27.04]For example, I have a friend who loves the sun and sea.
[01:32.80]When she is at the beach, she shows her "true colors."
[01:37.76]She's very active -- swimming in the sea,
[01:41.60]walking along the beach,
[01:43.56]and enjoying other outdoor activities.
[01:47.56]When she is away from the beach,
[01:50.04]she doesn't seem herself.
[01:52.40]She is often inside and not very active.
[01:57.88]However, showing one's true colors
[02:00.52]does not always mean something good.
[02:03.92]Some people may present themselves
[02:06.60]in a way other than how they really are.
[02:11.16]They might seem to have positive characteristics.
[02:15.00]They act kind, pleasant, generous, or helpful.
[02:20.36]But in fact, they are really the opposite.
[02:24.92]They are not showing their "true colors."
[02:28.08]They keep their "true nature" hidden.
[02:32.08]Let's listen to this example:
[02:35.36]A: You know, I thought Mack was easygoing.
[02:39.12]But then I worked with him on a big project.
[02:44.28]B: I know exactly what you mean.
[02:46.80]He's easygoing and fun to work with
[02:50.24]when he gets his way.
[02:52.08]But if you question any of his ideas,
[02:55.88]he shows his true colors.
[02:59.32]A: That is exactly what happened!
[03:02.12]I suggested an alternative to his idea,
[03:05.48]and he became really rude ... and mean.
[03:10.84]Some word experts say the expression "true colors"
[03:15.12]dates back to the 1700s
[03:17.96]and comes from the world of sailing ships.
[03:22.44]Colored flags were, and still are,
[03:25.80]used to show what country a ship was registered to
[03:30.76]and to communicate with other ships at a distance.
[03:36.00]The ship's colors were its flags.
[03:39.32]Pirates' ships would sail under "false colors,"
[03:43.72]meaning under a friendly flag.
[03:47.04]They would do this to get close to other ships
[03:50.52]without raising concern.
[03:53.08]Then, when the pirates were close enough
[03:56.68]and ready to attack,
[03:58.40]they would raise their "true colors."
[04:02.68]Another expression with a similar meaning
[04:05.52]is to show your stripes.
[04:08.48]Stripes can be your true nature
[04:11.04]and something you cannot hide or remove.
[04:15.48]However, this expression is less common.
[04:19.28]Here is an example:
[04:22.76]Marisa showed her true stripes
[04:24.56]when her back was against the wall.
[04:26.36]When she had no way out of the problems
[04:28.36]that she had created,
[04:29.80]she blamed everyone ...
[04:31.64]everyone but herself, that is.
[04:36.32]And that's this week's Words and Their Stories.
[04:39.20]Until next time...
[04:40.60]I'm Anna Matteo. 更多听力请访问21VOA.COM