Now, the VOA Special English program WORDS AND THEIR STORIES.
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Most people enjoy working for several reasons. Their job might be fun, or they like their employer and the other people at work. Most people I know, however, work for the money. I do not know anyone who is loaded, or extremely rich. Most of my friends work to earn enough money to live. They have to make ends meet. They have to earn enough money to pay for the things they need. Some even live from hand to mouth. They only have enough money for the most important things.
They struggle to earn enough money to bring home the bacon. It can be difficult to earn enough money for a family to survive. Sometimes, poor people even get caught short. They do not have enough money to pay for what they need.
Or they have to spend or lay out more money than they want for something. When this happens, poor people have to tighten their belts and live on less money than usual. I hate when I have to live on less money. It takes me longer to get back on my feet, or return to good financial health.
However, other people are on the gravy train. They get paid more money than their job is worth. These people make a bundle. They really rake in the cash. In fact, they make so much money that they can live high off the hog. They own the best of everything and live in great ease. Sometimes they pay an arm and a leg for something.
Because money is no object to wealthy people, they will pay high prices for whatever they want. Sometimes, they even pay through the nose. They pay too much for things.
I am not rich. I did not make a killing in the stock market when my stocks increased in value. Yet, I am not poor either. When I go out with friends, I do not want to shell out or pay a lot of money. Often, my friends and I will chip in or pay jointly for a fun night out. When we go to restaurants the meal is Dutch treat. Each person pays his or her own share.
Once, the owner of a restaurant gave us a dinner on the house. We did not have to pay for our meals. However, I admit that we had to grease someone's palm. We had to pay money to the employee who led us to our table. The money was for a special request. Yes, it was a buy off. The employee put us at the top of the list for a table instead of making us wait like everyone else. We had a great time that night and the meal did not set me back at all. I did not have to pay anything.
Because of that experience, I will always remember that nice things still happen in a world that is driven by money. But, that is just my two cents worth. It is just my opinion.
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WORDS AND THEIR STORIES, in VOA Special English, was written by Jill Moss. I'm Faith Lapidus.
现在是VOA特别英语词语典故节目。
许多人喜欢工作是出于几个原因。他们的工作可能比较有趣，或者他们喜欢自己的老板和同事。然而，我认识的大部分人工作都是为了赚钱。我不认识任何非常有钱的人(loaded)。我的大部分朋友都要赚取足够的钱来生活。他们必须量入为出(make ends meet)，也就是必须赚足够的钱来支付自己需要的东西。有些人甚至仅够糊口(from hand to mouth)，他们只够钱来购买最重要的物品。
他们努力赚钱来养家糊口(bring home the bacon)。要赚钱供一家人生存并不容易。有时候，一些贫困家庭甚至会非常拮据(get caught short)。他们没有足够的钱来支付需要的东西，或者他们必须支付比自己希望的更多的钱来购买某物。在这种情况下，穷人必须勒紧腰带(tighten their belts)，比平时花更少的钱。我非常讨厌必须少花钱的日子。这通常要花费很长时间才能恢复正常的财政状况(get back on my feet)。
然而，其他人则很容易赚大钱(gravy train)。他们赚的钱超出自己工作的价值。他们通常能大赚一笔(make a bundle)，收入大量钞票(rake in the cash)。实际上，他们赚了非常多的钱，可以过非常奢侈的生活(live high off the hog)。他们拥有最好的东西，过着舒适安逸的生活。有时候，他们会为购买某件东西付出昂贵的价格(pay an arm and a leg)。
因为钱对有钱人来说不是问题(no object to)，他们会为自己想要的任何东西付出高昂的价格。有时，他们甚至会被敲竹杠(pay through the nose)。他们为购买某件东西付的钱太多了。
我并不富有，在我的股票升值的时候，我没有赚大钱(make a killing)。然而，我也不算贫穷。我和朋友外出的时候，我不想付款(shell out)，通常都是我和朋友们下赌注来出去玩一下。我们去饭馆吃饭的时候是各付自己的帐。
有一次，一个饭馆老板给了我们一顿免费的晚餐(on the house)，我们不需要为这顿饭付钱。然而，我承认，我们必须给某人小费(grease someone's palm)，为引领我们到桌前的职员小费。小费是特殊要求。是的，是收买的行为(buy off)。这位职员把我们的名单列在最上面，这样我们就不用像其他客人一样等待那么久了。那天晚上，我们玩的很高兴，而且晚餐也没有让我们失望。我不需要支付任何钱。
由于那次经历，我通常会想起，在由金钱驱动的社会里，仍然会有美好的事情发生。但是，那仅仅是我自己的看法，是我的two cents worth。作者: 瑞雪兆丰年 时间: 2010-6-28 15:26
there are so many expression,it take time for me to remember them,indeed they are useful
