VOA慢速英語(yǔ):詞匯掌故：細(xì)節(jié)決定成敗

Now, the VOA Special English program WORDS AND THEIR STORIES.

這里是美國(guó)之音慢速英語(yǔ)詞匯掌故。

Every machine is held together by its nuts and bolts. Without them, the machine would fall apart. That is also true of an organization. Its nuts and bolts are its basic, necessary elements. They are the parts that make the organization work.

每臺(tái)機(jī)器都是由螺母和螺栓連接到一起。如果沒(méi)有它們，機(jī)器就會(huì)散架。對(duì)一個(gè)組織來(lái)說(shuō)也是這樣。一個(gè)組織的nuts and bolts是指其基本的、必要的組成部分，它們是組織得以正常運(yùn)轉(zhuǎn)的一部分。

In government, industry, diplomacy -- in most anything -- those who understand the nuts and bolts are the most important. Success depends more on them than on almost anyone else.

在政府、行業(yè)與外交，乃至幾乎所有事情中，最重要的是那些了解具體細(xì)節(jié)(nuts and bolts)的人。與其他人相比，成功與否更取決于這些了解細(xì)節(jié)的人。

In government, the president or prime minister may plan and shape programs and policies. But, it takes much more work to get them approved and to make them successful.

在政府中，總統(tǒng)或首相可能會(huì)計(jì)劃或制定方案和政策。但是，需要付出更多努力才能使其得以通過(guò)并取得成功。

There is a mass of detailed work to be done. The nuts and bolts. This is often put into the hands of specialists. The top leaders are always well-known, but not those who work with the nuts and bolts.

有大量細(xì)致的工作要做，也就是nuts and bolts(細(xì)節(jié)工作)。這些工作往往交給專家來(lái)完成。通常被大家熟知的是最高領(lǐng)導(dǎo)人，而不是那些做具體工作的人。

This is equally true in the day-to-day operation of Congress. The majority leader of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, together with the chairmen of committees, keep the business of Congress moving.

國(guó)會(huì)的日常運(yùn)轉(zhuǎn)中也是如此。參議院多數(shù)黨領(lǐng)袖和眾議院議長(zhǎng)，連同委員會(huì)主席共同維持國(guó)會(huì)業(yè)務(wù)正常進(jìn)行。

Behind every Senator and Congressman, however, are assistants. These people do all the detailed work to prepare congressmen to vote wisely on each issue.

然而每位參議員或眾議員的背后都有助理人員。這些人進(jìn)行所有細(xì)致工作，以使國(guó)會(huì)議員在每個(gè)問(wèn)題上做出明智的選擇。

In diplomacy, the chief ministers are unquestionably important in negotiations. But there are lesser officials who do the basic work and preparations on the different issues to be negotiated.

在外交上，首席部長(zhǎng)在談判中的重要性無(wú)可厚非。但還是有一些較低級(jí)別的官員會(huì)針對(duì)要談判的不同問(wèn)題來(lái)做基本的準(zhǔn)備工作。

A recent book tells of a British prime minister who decided to send an ambassador to Washington to learn if details could be worked out for joint action on an issue. The talks in Washington, the minister said, would be "of nut and bolts." He meant, of course, the talks would concern all the necessary elements to make joint action successful.

最近一本書(shū)講述了英國(guó)首相決定特使到華盛頓去了解在一次有關(guān)問(wèn)題的聯(lián)合行動(dòng)中是否已經(jīng)萬(wàn)事具備。首相稱，華盛頓的會(huì)談就是nut and bolts。他的意思當(dāng)然是說(shuō)，這次會(huì)談牽涉了聯(lián)合行動(dòng)是否能夠取得成功的所有必要因素。

In a military operation, strategy decisions are important. But much more time is spent on the nuts and bolts -- generally called logistics -- of how to transport and supply an army. It has been said that Napoleon was successful because he knew the field position of every one of his guns. He gave careful attention to the nuts and bolts of his operations.

在軍事行動(dòng)中，戰(zhàn)略決策非常重要。但更多時(shí)間花費(fèi)在細(xì)節(jié)上---通常被稱為后勤，即如何給軍隊(duì)提供運(yùn)輸和補(bǔ)給。據(jù)說(shuō)拿破侖之所以成功是因?yàn)樗烂恐尩膶?shí)際位置。他非常關(guān)注行動(dòng)的細(xì)節(jié)問(wèn)題。

The extreme importance of nuts and bolts was expressed by the Elizabethan poet, George Herbert. He wrote:

伊麗莎白女王時(shí)代的詩(shī)人喬治·赫伯特描寫(xiě)了細(xì)節(jié)的極端重要性。他寫(xiě)道：

For want of a nail, the shoe is lost 一只馬蹄釘斷了 失去了馬蹄鞋

For want of a shoe, the horse is lost 馬蹄鞋沒(méi)了 絆倒了戰(zhàn)馬

For want of a horse, the rider is lost. 戰(zhàn)馬絆倒了 摔傷了將軍

Benjamin Franklin carried these lines even further. He wrote:

富蘭克林將此表達(dá)地更為深刻，他寫(xiě)道：

For want of a rider, the battle was lost 將軍摔傷了 輸?shù)袅藨?zhàn)爭(zhēng)

For want of a battle, the kingdom was lost 戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)輸?shù)袅?最后亡了國(guó)家

And all for the want of a horseshoe nail. 這一切的一切 都是由于一顆小小的馬蹄釘

By Marilyn Christiano

18 January, 2014

Now, the VOA Special English program Words and Their Stories.

Every machine is held together by its nuts and bolts. Without them, the machine would fall apart. That is also true of an organization. Its nuts and bolts are its basic, necessary elements. They are the parts that make the organization work.

In government, industry, diplomacy -- in most anything -- those who understand the nuts and bolts are the most important. Success depends more on them than on almost anyone else.

In government, the president or prime minister may plan and shape programs and policies. But, it takes much more work to get them approved and to make them successful.

There is a mass of detailed work to be done -- the nuts and bolts. This is often put into the hands of specialists. The top leaders are always well-known, but not those who work with the nuts and bolts.

This is equally true in the day-to-day operation of Congress. The majority leader of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives -- together with the chairmen of committees -- keep the business of Congress moving.

Behind every Senator and Congressman, however, are assistants. These people do all the detailed work to prepare congressmen to vote wisely on each issue.

In diplomacy, the chief ministers are unquestionably important in negotiations. But there are lesser officials who do the basic work and preparations on the different issues to be negotiated.

A recent book tells of a British prime minister who decided to send an ambassador to Washington to learn if details could be worked out for joint action on an issue. The talks in Washington, the minister said, would be "of nut and bolts." He meant, of course, the talks would concern all the necessary elements to make joint action successful.

In a military operation, strategy decisions are important. But much more time is spent on the nuts and bolts -- generally called logistics -- of how to transport and supply an army. It has been said that Napoleon was successful because he knew the field position of every one of his guns. He gave careful attention to the nuts and bolts of his operations.

The extreme importance of nuts and bolts was expressed by the Elizabethan poet, George Herbert. He wrote:

For want of a nail, the shoe is lost.

For want of a shoe, the horse is lost.

For want of a horse, the rider is lost.

Benjamin Franklin carried these lines even further. He wrote:

For want of a rider, the battle was lost.

For want of a battle, the kingdom was lost.

And all for the want of a horseshoe nail.

This VOA Special English program Words and Their Stories was written by Marilyn Christiano.

The narrator was Maurice Joyce.

I'm Warren Scheer.