When the sun shines brightly, it provides a great chance to get outdoor things done. Like making hay! At least, that is what farmers from the past would say.
阳光明媚时是完成户外作业的绝好机会。例如晒干草。至少，这是过去的农民会说的话。
"Make hay while the sun shines."
“晒草要趁太阳好。”
This idiom is very old, dating back to Medieval times. Rain would often ruin the process of making hay. So, farmers had no choice but to make hay when the sun was shining.
这句习语非常古老，可以追溯到中世纪。雨水经常会破坏晒干草的过程。所以，农民们别无选择，只能在阳光好的时候晒干草。
Today, we all use this expression, not just farmers. When conditions are perfect to get something done, we can say, "It's a good idea to make hay while the sun shines."
如今我们大家都这么说，而不仅仅是农民。当条件适合完成某项工作时，我们就可以说：“最好是抓住时机。”
In other words, you are taking advantage of a good situation or of good conditions. You are making the most of your opportunities. These all mean "making hay while the sun shines."
换句话来说，你要利用良好的现状或条件。你要充分利用机会。这些的意思都是“趁着有太阳晒草。”
Now listen while I use this expression with my friend Bryan.
现在来听一听我跟我的朋友布莱恩运用这句表达。
Say, when is your husband coming home?
我说，你老公什么时候回家啊？
Not for another two weeks.
再过两周吧。
That's a long time! How are you spending your time alone?
还有好久啊！你这段时间一个人咋过的啊？
I am finally getting some home improvement projects done. You know, moving some furniture, painting some rooms, cleaning closets ...
我终于完成了一些家庭装修项目。你知道，像搬动一些家具，给房间刷漆，打扫壁橱等。
That's a lot of work for one person. Why don't you wait for your husband to come home?
这对一个人来说工作量很大啊。你为什么不等你老公回家一起干啊？
No way! It's easier to do it by myself. I'm getting everything done that I can't do with other people around.
没办法！我自己干更简单。我趁着身边没人时把事情都干完了。
Good idea. ‘Make hay while the sun shines.'
好主意。“把握良机。”
Exactly!
就是！
And sometimes we use this expression to mean we beat someone to the punch, or we got ahead of someone else.
有时候我们用这句表达来表示我们先发制人，或者我们领先于某人。
And other times you make hay while the sun shines to make good use of the chance to do something while it lasts. You are being opportunistic – taking advantage of a good opportunity.
还有时候，晒草要趁太阳好意味着充分利用时机做某事。你要做机会主义者，把握住好机会！
For example, my friend Ozzy was sick for a week and could not go to work. So, his co-worker Sarah -- who doesn't like him -- took advantage of his illness and stole his project! Talk about making hay while the sun shines.
例如，我的朋友奥兹病了一周没法上班。所以，他的同事萨拉，一个不喜欢他的人，利用他这次生病的机会抢走了他的项目。这就是抓住时机。
Sometimes when you make hay while the sun shines you are staying ahead of a problem – like in this example:
有时候当你抓住机会时，你就会躲过麻烦，例如以下示例：
Hey, do you want to go hiking with me and my friends this weekend? The weather is going to be beautiful!
嘿，这个周末你想跟我和我的朋友一起去远足吗？天气会不错！
I wish I could. But I have to finish my taxes. It's the last weekend before they're due.
我也希望我能去。但是我得完成报税。这是报税截至日前的最后一个周末了。
Oh, that's too bad.
哦，那太糟糕了。
Wait. What about your taxes?
等等，你报完税了？
My taxes are done. I was off from work a couple of weeks ago and made hay while the sun shined. I got all of it done!
我报完税了。我几周前休假了，便趁机都弄完了。
I wish I would have taken advantage of my time off last week. All I did was lay around the house.
我多希望我也利用了上周的休假时间。我所做的就是躺在家里。
You should know that sometimes we only use parts of this expression. You might hear someone simply say they were "making a little hay." The meaning is still there, even if all the words aren't.
你要知道，有时候我们只使用这句表达的一部分。你可能会听到有人光说他们在“晒些干草。”即使整句话不完整，表达的也是这个意思。
And that's all the time we have for this Words and Their Stories. But join us again next week. You can listen while you're making dinner or riding to work.
以上就是本期词汇掌故节目的全部内容。欢迎下周继续收听我们的节目。你可以在晚餐或骑车上班时听节目。
Yeah, make hay while the sun shines. Learn more English expressions with VOA Learning English!
是的，抓住时机。你可以通过慢速英语学习节目了解更多英语表达。
Until next time ... I'm Anna Matteo.
我们下期节目再见。我是安娜·马特奥。