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And now, Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning English.
欢迎收听VOA慢速英语《词汇掌故》节目。
On this program we explore English words and expressions.
在本节目中，我们探讨英语中的单词和短语。
We give you examples and notes on usage.
我们给出释义，例子并对用法进行解释说明。
Today we talk about a delicious dessert made from flour, butter, sugar, and flavorings such as vanilla, chocolate, or my favorite, coconut.
今天，我们谈论一种美味的甜点，它是由面粉、黄油、糖和香草、巧克力或我最喜欢的椰子等调味品制成的。
We are talking about cake!
我们要谈论的是蛋糕！
Cake is a commonly served sweet treat at celebrations.
蛋糕是庆祝活动中常见的甜食。
And the word also appears in several English idioms.
这个词也出现在一些英语习语中。
Back in 2022, we taught the idiom to have your cake and eat it too.
早在2022年，我们就教过短语“have your cake and eat it too”。
This means to have the best of both worlds.
意思是两者兼得。
You do not have to choose between two good things.
你不必在两个好事物之间做出选择。
Another expression is a piece of cake.
另一个短语是a piece of cake（小菜一碟）。
This describes something that is very easy to do or finish.
这个短语指的是很容易做或完成的事情。
Because of all the sugar and butter, we probably should not eat too much cake.
因为糖和黄油，我们可能不应该吃太多的蛋糕。
But it is so good! And sometimes having a lot of something good is better.
但是蛋糕太好吃了！有时候，拥有很多好东西会更好。
That is the message of today's show.
这就是今天节目要传达的信息。
Most cakes are made up of two parts: the part made from flour and the sweet topping, or icing.
大多数蛋糕由两部分组成：由面粉制成的部分和糖霜。
Now, a cake without the sweet icing on top is already great.
一块上面没有糖霜的蛋糕就已经很美味了。
After all, it's made with lots of butter and sugar.
毕竟，它是用很多黄油和糖做的。
It's sweet and satisfying.
它是甜的和令人满意的。
So, the icing is not really necessary.
因此，糖霜并不是必需的。
But it makes the cake extra special.
但这让蛋糕变得格外特别。
And that is the meaning of the idiom icing on the cake.
这就是短语“icing on the cake（锦上添花）”的意思。
Something already good is made better by the addition of something else.
本来就很好的东西会因为添加了其他东西而变得更好。
If you describe something as icing on the cake or the icing on the cake, you mean that it makes a good thing even better, or sweeter!
如果你用icing on the cake（锦上添花）或the icing on the cake（锦上添花之物）来形容某事（物），你的意思是它让一件好事（物）变得更好或者更甜蜜！
Let's hear an example.
我们来听一个例子。
She loves her new job and her new co-workers.
她喜欢她的新工作和新同事。
So, getting her own parking spot was the icing on the cake!
所以，有了自己的停车位就是锦上添花！
She hates looking for parking.
她讨厌找停车位。
The idiom icing on the cake has another meaning.
短语icing on the cake还有另一层意思。
It can be someone's greatest accomplishment or victory.
它可以指某人最大的成就或胜利。
Here is an example of that usage.
下面是该用法的一个示例。
He had achieved the highest level of success in the company.
他在公司里取得了最大的成功。
So, his fancy new title was simply icing on the cake.
因此，他的新职称不过是锦上添花。
We have another dessert saying that means about the same thing.
我们还有另一个甜点谚语，意思是一样的。
Some cakes or ice cream dishes have a special topping: a sweetened cherry.
有些蛋糕或冰淇淋有一种特殊的配料：甜樱桃。
So, if something is the cherry on top, it is an addition that turns something good into something great!
因此，如果某事物是the cherry on top，意思就是它把好的东西变成了很棒的东西！
The Taylors bought the house without even knowing it had a large garden in the back.
泰勒夫妇在不知道房子后面有一个大花园的情况下买下了这栋房子。
That was the cherry on top since they both love to garden.
那就是锦上添花之物，因为他们都喜欢园艺。
Sometimes we use the 'cherry on top' when making an appeal for assistance.
有时，我们在请求援助时会用到“the cherry on top”。
Let's say, I really need a friend's help.
比方说，我真的需要一个朋友的帮助。
I might say, "Please help me! Pretty please with a cherry on top."
我可能会说，“请帮帮我！求求你了。”
This specially worded appeal often does the trick and the help comes!
这种特殊措辞的请求常常会奏效，然后获得帮助！
But, just know that it can also make you sound a little desperate!
但是，要知道这也会让你听起来有点绝望！
And that's all the time we have for this Words and Their Stories. Until next time … I'm Anna Matteo!
以上就是本期《词汇掌故》节目的全部内容。下次见……我是安娜·马特奥。
译文为可可英语翻译，未经授权请勿转载！
