可靠的品格小故事（词汇故事-抛硬币做决定）

And now, Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning English. On this program we talk about words and expressions from the English language.

现在是美国之音慢速英语《词汇掌故》节目。在这个节目中，我们将讨论英语中的单词和短语。

We also give examples on how to use them. Today, we are going to talk about coins!

我们还举例说明了如何使用它们。今天，我们要讨论"coins"（硬币）！

Coins are small, flat and usually round pieces of metal issued by a government as money. In the United States we have coins for dollars, half dollars,

硬币是小的，扁平的，通常是圆形的金属，由政府作为货币发行。在美国，我们的硬币有1美元、50美分、

quarters, dimes, five cents or nickels, and one cent or a penny. There are two sides to a coin.

25美分、10美分、5美分和1美分。硬币有两面。

For example, the U. S. quarter has an image of George Washington on one side and an eagle on the other side. So, naturally, we call the Washington side head and the other side tail.

例如，美国25美分硬币的一面是乔治·华盛顿的形象，另一面是一只鹰。所以，很自然地，我们把华盛顿这边叫做正面，另一边叫做反面。

And that brings us to our first expression: Two sides of the same coin.

这就引出了我们的第一个短语：Two sides of the same coin（一枚硬币的两面）。

If two things are two sides of the same coin, they are closely related even though they seem different. For example:

如果两件事情是一枚硬币的两面，那它们是密切相关的，即使它们看起来不同。例如：

Experts often consider mental health issues and homelessness to be two sides of the same coin. In other words, there is often a connection or relationship between the two.

专家通常认为心理健康问题和无家可归是同一枚硬币的两面。换句话说，两者之间往往有联系或关系。

Now, we use coins to buy things. We also use coins to decide between two choices.

现在，我们用硬币买东西。我们也用硬币在两个选择中做决定。

We flip or toss a coin and call heads or tails. "Heads you win". or "Tails I win".

我们抛硬币，看是正面还是反面。"正面你赢。"或"反面我赢。"

Whosever call matches the side of the coin showing is the winner. This is what we mean by winning a decision by a flip of a coin or a coin toss.

谁跟硬币的结果符合，谁就是赢家。这就是我们所说的通过抛硬币来做决定的意思。

In many sports, deciding who gets the ball first or takes the field first is sometimes done by a coin toss. There is a certain amount of luck involved in a flip of a coin.

在许多运动中，有时用抛硬币的方式来决定谁先发球或谁先上场。抛硬币有一定的运气。

You have a 50/50 chance of winning. For some things, those odds may not be good enough.

你有50%的胜算。对于某些事情来说，这些几率可能还不够。

When the stakes are very high, meaning when you could lose a lot, you might not want to flip a coin. For example, it would not be a good idea to bet double or nothing of your entire life's savings by flipping a coin.

当赌注很高时，意味着你可能会输很多，你可能不想抛硬币。例如，如果拿一生的积蓄做赌注，要么得到双倍，要么失去全部，抛硬币可不是个好主意。

There is a 50/50 chance of your losing everything. If the two choices are both good and nearly equal, a coin toss might be the perfect way to come to a decision.

你有50%的机会失去一切。如果这两个选择都很好且几率几乎相等，那么掷硬币可能是做出决定的最佳方式。

Let's say you and your best friend want to go out for dinner. She wants Italian.

假设你和你最好的朋友想出去吃晚餐。她想要吃意大利餐。

You want Korean. You both like the two restaurants.

你想要吃韩餐。你们都喜欢这两家餐厅。

So, a coin toss is a perfect way to decide. We also use this expression to describe a situation where two outcomes, usually opposites, are likely to happen.

所以，掷硬币是一个完美的决定方式。我们也用这个表达来描述两种结果(通常是相反的)可能发生的情况。

And they will be decided by chance, not by reason or scientific research. To some degree, the results are out of your hands.

它们将由偶然决定，而不是由理性或科学研究决定。在某种程度上，结果不是你能控制的。

Here's an example: It's out of your hands whether the rain will come today.

下面是一个例子：今天是否下雨不是你能决定的。

I could also say … It's a coin toss whether the rain will come today.

我也可以说…今天会不会下雨是由抛硬币决定的。

And that's all the time we have for this Words and Their Stories. Whether or not we will be back next week will not be decided by a flip of the coin.

以上就是本期《词汇掌故》的全部内容。我们下周是否回来将不是由抛硬币决定的。

We will definitely have a new program for you. On that you can bet your bottom dollar!

我们肯定会有新的节目呈现给大家。你可以孤注一掷！（百分百确定）

Until next time … I'm Anna Matteo.

我们下期见……我是安娜·马特奥。

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