Now, the VOA Special English program WORDS AND THEIR STORIES.
现在是美国之音慢速英语词汇掌故节目。
 
Cold weather has a great effect on how our minds and our bodies work. Maybe that is why there are so many expressions that use the word cold.
寒冷天气会对我们的头脑和身体产生很大影响。可能这就是许多短语使用cold这个单词的原因。
 
For centuries, the body’s blood has been linked closely with the emotions. People who show no human emotions or feelings, for example, are said to be cold-blooded. Cold-blooded people act in cruel ways. They may do brutal things to others, and not by accident.
数百年来人体血液都和情感紧密相连。例如，没有任何人类情感或感受的人被称作冷血（cold-blooded)。冷血的人行事残酷，他们可能对其他人做出非常残暴的事情，而且并非出自偶然。
 
For example, a newspaper says the police are searching for a cold-blooded killer. The killer murdered someone, not in self-defense, or because he was reacting to anger or fear. He seemed to kill for no reason, and with no emotion, as if taking someone’s life meant nothing.
例如报纸上说，警察正在搜捕一位冷血杀手。这名杀手谋杀了某个人，不是出自自卫，也不是因为他对愤怒或恐惧做出的反应。他杀人貌似没有任何理由，没有任何感情，似乎夺走别人生命对他来说不意味着任何东西。
 
Cold can affect other parts of the body. The feet, for example. Heavy socks can warm your feet, if your feet are really cold. But there is an expression -- to get cold feet -- that has nothing to do with cold or your feet.
寒冷也会影响到身体其他部位。例如，脚。如果你双脚冰冷，厚袜子可以温暖它。但to get cold feet这个短语和寒冷以及你的双脚没有任何关系。

The expression means being afraid to do something you had decided to do. For example, you agree to be president of an organization. But then you learn that all the other officers have resigned. All the work of the organization will be your responsibility. You are likely to get cold feet about being president when you understand the situation.
这个短语的意思是临阵退缩。例如，你同意担任某个组织的总裁。但随后你获悉其他所有人员都已经辞职。该组织所有工作都落到你身上。当你了解到这一形势后，你可能会在做总裁这事上临阵退缩。