'Rolling Stones Gather No Moss'

词汇掌故-滚石不生苔

And now, Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning English.
现在是美国之音慢速英语词汇掌故节目时间。

On today's program, we will talk about the expression: A rolling stone gathers no moss.
在今天的节目中，我们将讨论这句表达：滚石不生苔。

Most of you probably know that a stone is the same thing as a rock. But what about moss?
你们中的大部分人可能都知道，stone跟rock是一个东西。但是苔藓是什么呢？

Well, moss is a very soft, green plant. It has very small leaves and does not flower. It loves shade and water. So, moss grows well on wet ground, trees and rocks. In fact, rocks and stones that line shady creeks and rivers are often mossy.
嗯，苔藓是一种非常柔软的绿色植物。它的叶子很小，不开花。它喜欢阴凉和水分。所以，苔藓在潮湿的地面、树木和岩石上长得很好。实际上，在小溪及河流的背阴处罗列的石头上经常长满了苔藓。

Moss grows slowly and is a rootless plant. It spreads well over non-moving surfaces. In fact, to prevent moss from growing on stones in your garden, you can just move the rocks around, turning them over now and then.
苔藓生长缓慢，是一种无根植物。它完美地散布在固定的表面上。实际上，为了防止苔藓在你花园里的石头上生长，你只需要不时将石头移动一下，翻动一下。

Why? Because "A rolling stone gathers no moss."
为什么呢？因为滚石不生苔。

Now, years ago this expression was covered in another Words and Their Stories. That story explained the expression's connection to rock-and-roll. Writer Shelley Gollust explained that "a rolling stone gathers no moss" can be understood in a couple of ways.
几年前在另一篇词汇掌故的文章中提到了这个短语。那篇文章解释了这句短语跟摇滚乐的联系。作者雪莱·古卢斯特解释说，a rolling stone gathers no moss 有两种解释。

It can mean that a person who never settles down in one place will not gather wealth or long-lasting relationships. The moss that slowly spreads across the rock represents the money and friends we make over time.
它可以指不安定下来的人无法聚集财富，也无法建立长久的关系。在岩石上缓慢蔓延的苔藓代表我们随着时间流逝赢得的金钱和朋友。

How does it feel? To be on your own, With no direction home, A complete unknown, Like a rolling stone.
这是什么感觉？独自一人无依无靠，找不到回家的方向，完全没有人知道你，就像一颗滚动的石头。

But there is another way we use this expression.
但是这句话我们还有一种解释。

Think about a rolling stone. It leads a carefree existence, on the move with no moss to worry about. People who are "rolling stones" live without the restrictions that come with responsibilities. They go where they choose when they choose. And, they don't stay anywhere long enough to form attachments. Or moss.
想想一块滚动的石头。它通向一种无忧无虑的存在，在旅途中也无需担心长出苔藓。那些四处漂泊的人们不受责任的拘束。他们去自己想去的地方。而且，他们不会在任何地方停留很长时间，不会形成依附关系。“不会长出苔藓。”

A free spirit is also a term we use to describe such a person. They are not tied down with lots of traditional responsibilities.
自由灵魂也是我们用来形容这类人的一个术语。他们不会承担太多的传统责任。

A rolling stone could also be described as "nomadic," often moving. Experts at the Merriam-Webster online dictionary define a nomad as a "member of a group of people who move from place to place." Often nomads move around to find food.
Rolling stone也可以描述为游牧式的、经常迁徙的。韦氏在线词典的专家将游牧民定义为“四处迁徙的人群中的一员。”游牧民通常四处寻找食物。

However, these days we can use the word "nomadic" to describe anyone who moves around a lot.
但是我们现在可以使用nomadic这个词来形容经常四处流浪的人。

Now, the rolling stone lifestyle has been explored in many songs including work by Muddy Waters and Bob Dylan.
在包括马迪·沃特和鲍勃·迪伦等人的很多歌曲中也解释了这种流浪的生活方式。

One of the best came from The Temptations in 1972. "Papa Was a Rolling Stone" is about a man who leaves his family. In the song the mother tries to explain the father her son never knew.
其中最好的作品来自于1972年的诱惑乐团。《爸爸是浪子》写了一位离开家人的男子。在这首歌中，母亲试图给儿子解释他所不了解的父亲。

Papa was a rolling stone (my son, yeah) Wherever he laid his hat was his home ...
爸爸是位浪子，（我的儿子呀，是的），他把帽子放在哪，哪里就是他的家。

And that's the end of this Words and Their Stories. Until next time ... I'm Anna Matteo.
以上就是本期词汇掌故节目的全部内容。我们下次节目见。我是安娜·马特奥。

Words in This Story

shady – adj. sheltered from the sun's light

creek – n. a stream of water usually larger than a brook and smaller than a river

gather – v. something brought together

carefree – adj. having no worries or troubles

free spirit – n. a person who thinks and acts in an uninhibited way without worrying about normal social rules

nomadic adj. roaming about from place to place : characteristic of or being a nomad or group of nomads

*内容来源51VOA.COM原创翻译，侵删~

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