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Now, the VOA Special English program |
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WORDS AND THEIR STORIES. |
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Cold weather has a great effect |
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on how our minds and our bodies work. |
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Maybe that is why there are |
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so many expressions |
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that use the word cold. |
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For centuries, |
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the body's blood has been linked |
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closely with the emotions. |
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People who show no human emotions |
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or feelings, for example, |
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are said to be cold-blooded. |
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Cold-blooded people act |
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in cruel ways. |
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They may do brutal things to others, |
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and not by accident. |
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For example, a newspaper says |
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the police are searching |
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for a cold-blooded killer. |
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The killer murdered someone, |
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not in self-defense, |
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or because he was reacting |
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to anger or fear. |
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He seemed to kill for no reason, |
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and with no emotion, |
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as if taking someone's life |
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meant nothing. |
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Cold can affect other parts of the body. |
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The feet, for example. |
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Heavy socks can warm your feet, |
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if your feet are really cold. |
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But there is an expression |
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-- to get cold feet |
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-- that has nothing to do |
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with cold or your feet. |
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The expression means being afraid |
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to do something you had decided to do. |
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For example, you agree |
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to be president of an organization. |
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But then you learn that |
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all the other officers have resigned. |
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All the work of the organization |
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will be your responsibility. |
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You are likely to get cold feet |
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about being president |
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when you understand the situation. |
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Cold can also affect your shoulder. |
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You give someone the cold shoulder |
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when you refuse to speak to them. |
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You treat them in a distant, cold way. |
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The expression probably comes |
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from the physical act of |
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turning your back toward someone, |
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instead of speaking |
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to him face-to-face. |
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You may give a cold shoulder |
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to a friend who has not |
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kept a promise he made to you. |
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Or, to someone who has lied |
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about you to others. |
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A cold fish is not a fish. |
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It is a person. |
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But it is a person |
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who is unfriendly, |
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unemotional and shows |
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no love or warmth. |
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A cold fish does not offer |
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much of himself to anyone. |
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Someone who is a cold fish |
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could be cold-hearted. |
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Now a cold-hearted person |
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is someone who has no sympathy. |
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Several popular songs |
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in recent years were |
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about cold-hearted men |
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or cold-hearted women, |
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who without feeling, |
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broke the hearts of their lovers. |
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Out in the cold |
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is an expression often heard. |
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It means not getting something |
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that everybody else got. |
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A person might say that everybody |
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but him got a pay raise, |
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that he was left out in the cold. |
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And it is not a pleasant place to be. |
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(MUSIC) |
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This VOA Special English program, |
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WORDS AND THEIR STORIES, |
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was written by Marilyn Rice Christiano. |
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Maurice Joyce was the narrator. |
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I'm Shirley Griffith. |
