Words and Their Stories: Fireworks
Now the VOA Special English program WORDS AND THEIR STORIES. I'm Rich Kleinfeldt. Today we tell about the word fireworks.
The expression fireworks gets its meaning from the fireworks that people shoot into the sky when they are celebrating a great event. Rockets explode to fill the dark, night sky with bright reds and blues, with yellows and greens and whites.
The expression also means a great show of noisy anger, or something exciting. For example, a defense lawyer in a court trial may become very emotional in arguing with the government lawyer about evidence affecting the accused. The judge finally stops the loud argument and calls the two lawyers forward. He tells them, "I want no more of these fireworks in my courtroom."
Another kind of fireworks can be any event or activity that is especially exciting. One such event is falling in love. If anything can produce fireworks, it is a sweetheart's kiss or the touch of a lover's hand. Often movie or television cartoons show fireworks to represent the excitement of a kiss.
People use the expression fireworks throughout the year. But if you live in the United States and want to see real fireworks, the best time of the year is about now. The Fourth of July is Independence Day in the United States. Americans traditionally celebrate their nation's freedom with giant public parties and fireworks at night.
In Washington, for example, large crowds gather near the Washington Monument to listen to music and watch a huge fireworks show. In other cities and smaller towns, local people listen to band concerts and watch fireworks explode in a dark sky.
Many other countries around the world also enjoy the tradition of exploding fireworks on special days. In Australia, the city of Sydney begins each new year with a fireworks show at midnight. China is the birthplace of fireworks. Large fireworks shows were held often during earlier times in China. Now, people use small fireworks to help celebrate weddings and birthdays.
France also has a great fireworks tradition. A large fireworks show always takes place on Bastille day which celebrates the beginning of the French Revolution. The French city of Cannes holds an international fireworks competition each year in July and August.
In India, people have been using fireworks for more than five hundred years. A great Indian fireworks show takes place during the religious celebration of Diwali, every autumn.
Fireworks shows are popular around the world. But if I do not end this program right now, there will be fireworks from my producer.
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This VOA Special English program, WORDS AND THEIR STORIES, was written by David Jarmul. I'm Rich Kleinfeldt.
Now the VOA Special English program WORDS AND THEIR STORIES. I'm Rich Kleinfeldt. Today we tell about the word fireworks.
这是美国之音词汇掌故节目。我是Rich Kleinfeldt。今天我们讲一下关于fireworks（烟花）的用法。
The expression fireworks gets its meaning from the fireworks that people shoot into the sky when they are celebrating a great event. Rockets explode to fill the dark, night sky with bright reds and blues, with yellows and greens and whites.
这个表达意思是当人们庆祝大事的时候会放烟花爆竹（fireworks）。烟火爆炸时会充满黑色的夜空，并发出红色、蓝色、黄色、绿色和白色的火光。
The expression also means a great show of noisy anger, or something exciting. For example, a defense lawyer in a court trial may become very emotional in arguing with the government lawyer about evidence affecting the accused. The judge finally stops the loud argument and calls the two lawyers forward. He tells them, "I want no more of these fireworks in my courtroom."
这个词也可以在你愤怒或遇到激动人心的事时表达。例如，一位辩护律师与政府律师就证据问题争论地很激动。法官最后命令他们停止大声争辩。法官对他们说:“我希望在法庭上不要再出现这种争论！”
Another kind of fireworks can be any event or activity that is especially exciting. One such event is falling in love. If anything can produce fireworks, it is a sweetheart's kiss or the touch of a lover's hand. Often movie or television cartoons show fireworks to represent the excitement of a kiss.
另一种fireworks的表达是用在特别激动人心的事出现时。比如坠入爱河。情人的吻或抚摸会让你情绪爆发（fireworks）。电影或电视动画片经常放出烟花来代表兴奋的一吻。
People use the expression fireworks throughout the year. But if you live in the
人们全年都在使用fireworks这个表达。但是如果你住在美国，想看真正的烟花，一年中最好的时间就是现在。七月四日是美国的独立日。美国人通过举行盛大的聚会和夜晚放烟花来庆祝他们民族的自由。
In
比如，在华盛顿，许多人聚集在华盛顿纪念碑附近边听音乐边看盛大的烟火秀。在其他城市和较小的城镇,当地的人们边看音乐会边观看焰火。
Many other countries around the world also enjoy the tradition of exploding fireworks on special days. In
许多其他国家也会在特殊的日子里享受传统的焰火爆竹。澳大利亚悉尼在每个新年开始的午夜都会放烟花。中国是烟火的诞生地。在中国，大型烟火表演是在更早的时候举行。现在,人们用小烟火庆祝婚礼或生日。
法国也有放烟花的传统。每到国庆日，即法国革命的开始，都会通过大型的烟花表演来庆祝。法国城市戛纳每年7月和8月举办国际烟花比赛。
In
在印度，焰火已经有超过五百年的历史了。每年秋季的排灯节，印度都会举行大型的烟火表演。
Fireworks shows are popular around the world. But if I do not end this program right now, there will be fireworks from my producer.
烟火表演很受来自世界各地的朋友的欢迎。但如果我现在还不结束这个节目，我的制片人会有意见了。
重点讲解：
1、fall in love 坠入爱河；爱上某人
例句：Some people fall in love.
有些人陷入了爱情
2、celebrate ['selibreit] vt. 庆祝；举行；赞美；祝贺
例句：When do you celebrate Christmas?
什么时候庆祝圣诞节？
3、giant ['dʒaiənt] adj. 巨大的；巨人般的
例句：One small step for man. One giant leap for mankind!
人类的一小步。人类的一个巨大的跳跃！
4、explode [ik'spləud] vi. 爆炸，爆发；激增vt. 使爆炸；爆炸；推翻
例句：The bomb and other explosive exploded.
炸弹和其他爆炸物爆炸了。
5、take place 发生；举行
例句：It is too early to say whether such an arms race would take place.
这样的军备竞赛是否会发生现在下结论还为时尚早。