'Once in a Blue Moon'
2020-11-01
LRC
TXT
大字
小字
滚动
全页
1And now, Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning English.
2On this program we take an English word or expression and explore it a little deeper.
3Today we are talking about a lunar phenomenon - a moon event.
4It's called a blue moon.
5Blue moon you saw me standing alone
6Without a dream in my heart
7Without a love of my own
8Blue moon...
9Experts at the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) explain this lunar event.
10They say a blue moon is the "extra" moon in a season with four full moons.
11The NASA website says that "since the 1940s, the term 'blue moon' has also been used for the second full moon in a calendar month."
12This usually happens only every two-and-a-half years.
13The NASA experts explain that a blue moon is not actually blue in color.
14In fact, it looks the same as a regular monthly full moon.
15What makes a blue moon different is that it does not appear in the sky that often.
16And this is how we use it as an English expression.
17A "blue moon" is a long or seemingly long period of time.
18If I say something happens "once in a blue moon," it is uncommon, infrequent, rare.
19It happens very seldom.
20These words all describe something that happens once in a blue moon.
21For example, I usually keep busy.
22So when I'm not working, I like to take sing songs, write stories or read books.
23But sometimes, I just like to do nothing.
24So, once in a blue moon, you'll find me on the couch, watching movies and eating popcorn.
25Here's another example.
26Let's say you have a friend who you do not see very much anymore.
27You can say you see him once in a blue moon.
28It feels like an eternity since you have talked.
29It's like he has dropped off the face of the Earth!
30You can also say it has been forever since you have seen him.
31Forever is a long time.
32So, forever and a day is even longer!
33And it has been forever and a day since you have seen your friend.
34You miss him! You should call.
35And finally, here is our last example.
36If you have been busy, you may not have had time to practice your English.
37But just remember, if you only practice once in a blue moon, your English may not improve very quickly.
38So, join us again next week for another Words and Their Stories! Until next time ... I'm Anna Matteo.
39Blue moon of Kentucky, keep on a-shining
40Shine on the one that's gone and left me blue,
41Blue moon of Kentucky, keep on a-shining,
42shine on the one that's gone and left me blue ...
1And now, Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning English. 2On this program we take an English word or expression and explore it a little deeper. Today we are talking about a lunar phenomenon - a moon event. It's called a blue moon. 3Blue moon you saw me standing alone 4Without a dream in my heart 5Without a love of my own 6Blue moon 7Experts at the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) explain this lunar event. They say a blue moon is the "extra" moon in a season with four full moons. 8The NASA website says that "since the 1940s, the term 'blue moon' has also been used for the second full moon in a calendar month." This usually happens only every two-and-a-half years. 9The NASA experts explain that a blue moon is not actually blue in color. In fact, it looks the same as a regular monthly full moon. 10What makes a blue moon different is that it does not appear in the sky that often. And this is how we use it as an English expression. 11A "blue moon" is a long or seemingly long period of time. 12If I say something happens "once in a blue moon," it is uncommon, infrequent, rare. It happens very seldom. These words all describe something that happens once in a blue moon. 13For example, I usually keep busy. So when I'm not working, I like to take sing songs, write stories or read books. But sometimes, I just like to do nothing. So, once in a blue moon, you'll find me on the couch, watching movies and eating popcorn. 14Here's another example. 15Let's say you have a friend who you do not see very much anymore. You can say you see him once in a blue moon. It feels like an eternity since you have talked. It's like he has dropped off the face of the Earth! You can also say it has been forever since you have seen him. 16Forever is a long time. So, forever and a day is even longer! And it has been forever and a day since you have seen your friend. You miss him! You should call. 17And finally, here is our last example. If you have been busy, you may not have had time to practice your English. But just remember, if you only practice once in a blue moon, your English may not improve very quickly. 18So, join us again next week for another Words and Their Stories! Until next time ... I'm Anna Matteo. 19Blue moon of Kentucky, keep on a-shining 20Shine on the one thats gone and left me blue, 21Blue moon of Kentucky, keep on a-shining, 22shine on the one thats gone and left me blue 23Anna Matteo wrote this story for VOA Learning English. Bryan Lynn was the editor. The song at the beginning of the program is Billie Holliday singing "Blue Moon." The song at the end is Patsy Cline singing "Blue Moon." 24_________________________________________________ 25Words in This Story 26lunar - adj. of or relating to the moon 27phenomenon - n. something (such as an interesting fact or event) that can be observed and studied and that typically is unusual or difficult to understand or explain fully 28infrequent - adj. not happening often : not frequent 29rare - adj. very uncommon 30seldom - adj. not often : almost never 31eternity - n. time that seems to be without an end