Now, the VOA Special English program, WORDS AND THEIR STORIES.
这是 voa 慢速英语栏目——词语典故
Every week at this time, we tell about popular American words and expressions. Some of these are very old. Some are new. Together, they form the living speech of the American people.
每周的这一时间，我们谈论美国的词语典故。一些是古老的，一些是新兴的。它们一起构成了美国人的日常用语。
Today we tell about the expression "down to earth." Down to earth means being open and honest. It is easy to deal with someone who is down to earth.
今天我们讲短语“ down to earth ”（坦诚低调）。 down to earth 意思是坦白诚实。和坦诚低调的人交往很容易。
A person who is down to earth is a pleasure to find. He or she accepts other people as equals. A down to earth person is the opposite of someone who acts important or proud.
人们喜欢结交坦诚低调的人。他平等待人。坦诚的人与自以为是，骄傲自大的人相反。
Down to earth people could be important members of society. But they do not consider themselves to be better than others who are less important. They do not let their importance "go to their heads." Someone who lets something go to his head feels he is better than others. He has a "big head."
坦诚的人是社会的重要成员。但他们不认为自己高人一等。他们不会让他们的重要性冲昏大脑。让那些东西进入大脑的人自我感觉良好。他有个 ” 大脑袋“。
A person who is filled with his own importance and pride is said to have "his nose in the air." Often the person who has a big head and his nose in the air has no reason to feel better than others. He surely is the opposite of someone who is down to earth.
一个高傲自大的人被描述为“ his nose in the air” 。通常一个自以为是的人毫无理由的感觉高人一等。他与坦诚低调的人正好相反。
Americans use another expression that is similar in some ways to down to earth. The expression is "both feet on the ground." Some one with both feet on the ground is a person with a good understanding of reality. She has what is called "common sense." She may have dreams. But she does not allow them to block her understanding of what is real.
美国人使还用另一个短语，它在一定程度上类似坦诚低调。它是“ both feet on the ground “( 脚踏实地 ) 。一个脚踏实地的人了解现状。他有所说的“常识”。他也许会做梦，但他不会让它们（梦）妨碍了他对现实的认识。
The opposite kind of person is one who has his "head in the clouds." Someone with his head in the clouds is a person whose mind is not on what is happening in real life. Such a person may be called a "daydreamer."
与此类人相反的是那种不切实际的人。脑袋在云里的人是指想法不合乎现实。
这种人被称为做白日梦的人。
Sometimes a person with his head in the clouds can be brought back to reality. Sharp words from a teacher, for example, can usually get a daydreaming student to put both feet on the ground.
有时脑袋跑到九霄云外的人可以被拉回到现实中。像老师严厉的话语，可以让做白日梦的学生变得脚踏实地。
The person who is down to earth usually has both feet on the ground. But the opposite is not always true. Someone with both feet on the ground may not be as open and easy to deal with as someone who is down to earth.
坦诚低调的人通常是脚踏实地的。然而反之不一定成立。一些脚踏实地的人或许不像坦诚低调的人那样坦白和易于交往。
When we have both our feet firmly on the ground, and when we are down to earth we do not have our noses in the air. We act honestly and openly to others. Our lives are like the ground below us – solid and strong.
当我们脚踏实地之时，当我们坦诚低调之时，我们就不会骄傲自大。我们对人就会诚实坦白。我们的生活就像我们脚下的土地——坚实牢固。
This Special English program was written by David Jarmul. I'm Warren Scheer. Listen again next week at this time for another WORDS AND THEIR STORIES program on the Voice of America.
