Stories behind the words we use
詞彙濫觴 一些尋常字詞背後的源起故事
Technology changes over time. But sometimes expressions that go along with old technology stay long after the change. Let's look at some examples!
"Roll up/ down the window"
In modern cars, we open or close the windows by pushing a button. But we used to open and close car windows with a manual crank. The crank needed to be turned or "rolled" a few times before the window fully opened or closed. We might use a different expression in the future. But for now, we still roll car windows up or down.
"Hang up the phone"
In today's digital world, we end our phone calls by touching a screen. However, phones used to have two parts: a base and a receiver. To talk on the phone, people would pick up the receiver and speak into it. To end the call, they would hang the receiver back onto the base. In many homes, there would be only one phone. If someone needed the phone while it was being used, they would say, "Hang up the phone!"
Info Cloud
used to
Hello, everyone, and welcome to Info Cloud. Hey, Rex. Do you ever wear a watch?
I used to, but now I'm used to just using my phone. So I really never wear a watch anymore.
You know, we should probably talk about the different ways we use the phrase, used to. It means different things depending on how it's used.
When we say we used to and then follow it with a verb, that means that we did something in the past but we no longer do it.
Before I became a mom, I used to stay up late almost every night. But now I consider myself lucky if I can get to sleep before 11.
If we say that someone is or was used to doing something, that means that it is something that they do all the time or as a habit.
I'm used to having my coffee with sugar. I really don't like drinking it any other way.
So Anne Marie always has sugar in her coffee. She doesn't mean that she doesn't drink coffee with sugar anymore.
Actually, I used to drink coffee all the time. But now that I live in a place with delicious tea, I often drink tea instead of coffee.
如果你跟外國人交談，可能會很常聽到 used to 這個用語，像是 I’m used to having my phone with me. 意思就是我現在習慣手機不離身。
used to 在這裡代表你已經習慣一件事情。
used to 還有另外一個意思，如果你在used to 後面加上現在式的動詞，那就表示最近很頻繁或是有習慣地做這一件事，像是 I used to stay up late almost every night. 我曾經每個晚上都很晚睡。
在這裡要特別說明一下，used to 當作動詞使用，像是 I used to 那就是曾經有習慣地做這一件事情；如果當作一種形容詞，像是 I am used to 那就是我現在已經習慣做一件事情，不曉得這樣子有沒有比較清楚。
Language Lab
expression n. 詞語
/ɪkˈsprɛʃən/
a word or phrase
- Nobody really liked Harrow’s speech because he used a lot of old expressions.
沒有人欣賞Harrow的演講，因為他用了很多老舊的詞語。
expression n. 表情
the way someone's face looks that shows emotions and feelings
- Evit didn’t say anything about her food, but we could tell by the expression on her face that she didn’t like it.
Evit 雖然對他的食物沒有評語，但是光看她的表情就知道她不滿意。
expression n. 表達
the act of making your thoughts, feelings, etc., known by speech, writing, or some other method : the act of expressing something
- Janice’s outfit might look strange, but it is just her artistic expression.
Janice的衣著也許很奇怪，但是那是她在藝術方面的一種表達。
- You might disagree with some of the ideas in this meeting, but we do want to respect everyone’s freedom of expression.
你也許對會議裡的某些想法不完全認同，但是我們要尊種每個人表達意見看法的自由。
manual adj. 手動的; 手工的; 靠體力的
of or relating to using the hands;
operated or controlled with the hands or by a person;
operated only with the hands and without electric power;
doing or involving hard physical work;
- Katherine wanted to get a manual dishwasher because it saves more energy in water, than an automatic dishwasher.
Katherine 想要一台手操作的洗碗機，因為會比自動洗碗機還要省能源跟水。
- This type of sewing used to be a delicate manual job, but we now have a machines that can do the work quickly.
這種縫紉技巧以前算是一種細膩的手工技術，但是現在已經可以靠機器快速完成。 Strawberries might be a popular fruit, but picking them is a difficult manual job.
草莓也許是一種人人愛的水果，但是採草莓可是一個必須靠手工收採的苦工。
manual n. 手冊
a small book that gives useful information about something : handbook
- Laurie didn’t know how to use the new machine, but she was too lazy to read the manual herself. Laurie 不知道機器如何操作，但是她又懶得看使用說明的手冊。
digital adj.
digit n. 數字
a written symbol for any of the numbers 0 to 9
- I have a four-digit code, but the computer is asking for six-digit code.
我有一個四位數的密碼，但是電腦要的是一個六位數的密碼。
digital adj. 跟數位有關的
of or relating to information that is stored in the form of the numbers 0 and 1
- The secretary made a copy of all the digital data in the computer.
秘書有把電腦裡所有的數位資料做了備份。
digital adj. 與數位信號、跟電腦科技技術相關的
using or characterized by computer technology
- Sandy can use her phone to view the digital recordings of her home security camera.
Sandy 可以透過手機來看她家裡安裝的監視器的數位記錄。
digital adj. 用電子影像顯示的
showing the time with numbers instead of with hour and minute hands
- Paul prefers to use a digital clock because it is easier for him to see the time.
Paul 比較喜歡用數位顯示時鐘，而他覺得要看時間比較方便。
receiver n. 電話的聽筒
the part of a telephone that you pick up and hold near your face when you are making or receiving a phone call
- The telephone kept ringing, but Thomas couldn’t pick up the receiver because his hands were dirty.
電話一直響，但是Thomas 無法拿起聽筒，因為他兩隻手都很髒。
receiver n. 無線電或是電視的接收器
radio or television equipment that changes signals into sound and pictures
- We couldn’t see anything on the TV screen because there was something wrong with the receiver.
我們電視螢幕上什麼都看不到，因為接收器有問題。
- The old man liked to carry an old radio receiver to listen to music.
老先生喜歡拿無線收音機來聽音樂。
crank n.
a machine part with a handle that can be turned in a circular motion to move something
- To open the car window, turn the crank on the door.
