Do You Color Inside or Outside the Lines?
2024-01-07
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1And now, Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning English.
2Today, let's talk about a common art activity - coloring.
3Coloring books are common objects of play and learning for children around the world.
4In recent years, coloring books for adults have grown popular too.
5Children usually color with wax sticks called crayons.
6But, you can also use color markers, pens, and pencils.
7Adding color to black and white images is fun and often calming.
8You just choose a color and fill in the space created by the lines.
9In fact, children are often taught to stay inside the lines when they color.
10Apparently, this idea does not come naturally.
11Child development experts say very young children begin by scribbling on a coloring page.
12They do not pay attention to the lines of the picture.
13The result is a colorful but often messy looking picture.
14Then between the ages of two and five they start coloring inside the lines.
15This progression shows an improvement in many skills:
16fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, space and object awareness, and more.
17Many children are taught to color inside the lines.
18As a result, many adults do the same.
19This makes this finished artwork look more organized and proper because you followed the images' guide lines.
20That is why the expression coloring inside the lines means to think or act within generally accepted guidelines.
21If you color inside the lines, you follow the rules.
22You stay in the lines or you play by the book (not the coloring book ... but the rule book).
23We can also say you stick to the script.
24A script contains the spoken words performers must say out-loud in a play, movie, or show.
25Sticking to the script means you do not change the lines you are given.
26Such people can also be said to toe the line.
27That expression comes from foot racing.
28On the other hand, people who color outside the lines do not follow rules.
29They are rebels.
30Rebels reject rules.
31They color outside the lines and think outside the box.
32Instead of sticking to the script they go off script.
33They improvise.
34Just as with rule-followers, we have just as many word phrases and expressions for rule-breakers.
35They break new ground.
36They are ground-breakers.
37They buck traditions.
38Used as a verb this way, "buck" means to oppose or resist.
39Next time you want describe these two kinds of people you will have plenty of expressions to choose from!
40And that's the end of this Words and Their Stories.
41Until next time ... I'm Anna Matteo!
1And now, Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning English. 2Today, let's talk about a common art activity - coloring. 3Coloring books are common objects of play and learning for children around the world. In recent years, coloring books for adults have grown popular too. 4Children usually color with wax sticks called crayons. But, you can also use color markers, pens, and pencils. 5Adding color to black and white images is fun and often calming. You just choose a color and fill in the space created by the lines. In fact, children are often taught to stay inside the lines when they color. 6Apparently, this idea does not come naturally. Child development experts say very young children begin by scribbling on a coloring page. They do not pay attention to the lines of the picture. The result is a colorful but often messy looking picture. 7Then between the ages of two and five they start coloring inside the lines. This progression shows an improvement in many skills: fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, space and object awareness, and more. 8Many children are taught to color inside the lines. As a result, many adults do the same. This makes this finished artwork look more organized and proper because you followed the images' guide lines. 9That is why the expression coloring inside the lines means to think or act within generally accepted guidelines. If you color inside the lines, you follow the rules. You stay in the lines or you play by the book (not the coloring book ... but the rule book). 10We can also say you stick to the script. A script contains the spoken words performers must say out-loud in a play, movie, or show. Sticking to the script means you do not change the lines you are given. 11Such people can also be said to toe the line. That expression comes from foot racing. 12On the other hand, people who color outside the lines do not follow rules. They are rebels. Rebels reject rules. They color outside the lines and think outside the box. Instead of sticking to the script they go off script. They improvise. 13Just as with rule-followers, we have just as many word phrases and expressions for rule-breakers. They break new ground. They are ground-breakers. They buck traditions. Used as a verb this way, "buck" means to oppose or resist. 14Next time you want describe these two kinds of people you will have plenty of expressions to choose from! 15And that's the end of this Words and Their Stories. Until next time ... I'm Anna Matteo! 16Anna Matteo wrote this lesson for VOA Learning English. 17_______________________________________________ 18Words in This Story 19scribbling - n. a piece of writing or a drawing that is done quickly or carelessly 20messy - adj. lacking neatness or precision 21coordination - n. the harmonious functioning of parts for effective results 22awareness - n. knowledge and understanding that something is happening or exists 23improvise - v. 24buck - v. oppose, resist : bucking the system 25mold - n. the frame on, around, or in which something is constructed or shaped 26We want to hear from you. Do you have a similar expressions in your language? Our comment policy is here.