昔日文章

We have bidden farewell to 2021 and are looking forward to a wonderful New Year of 2022. At the beginning of every year, people around the world make resolutions. However, an online survey found that less than half of people are still successful in keeping them after six months. Psychologists said that they are successful because they "get their act together" and set specific, achievable goals.  The colloquial phrase "get one's act together" means get organised or make a plan so that you do things in an effective way. For example,  If Tom could get his act together, he could be a marvellous footballer.  This modern expression came into use in the 1970s, and probably originated in the theatre or film industry. The word "act" refers to the performance for a show. When actors were feeling nervous or forgetful, the director may have told them to "get their act together" so that they were ready for a performance.  May the New Year bring faith, hope and love in your life. We wish you a year full of joy, peace and light.  我們告別了2021年，現正期盼美好的2022新年。每年伊始，世界各地的人們都會定下新年計劃。可是，一個網上調查發現，只有不到一半的人在六個月後依然成功堅守這些計劃。心理學家說，他們之所以成功，是因為他們get their act together，並確立具體且可達到的目標。 Get one's act together這個口語說法的意思是，你要安排妥善或制定計劃，方能有效地做事。例如：  如果湯姆可以有條有理地處事（get his act together），他有可能成為了不起的足球員。 這個現代用語在20世紀70年代開始被使用，有可能源自劇院或電影業。「Act」一字指的是演出。當演員感到緊張不安或沒記性的時候，導演告訴他們要集中心思、處事有條理（get their act together），方能為表演做好準備。 謹此祝願新一年為你們的生活帶來信望愛；並順祝你們這一年充滿喜樂、平安和光明。    捐款支持公教報  http://kkp.org.hk/donation  

You may have learned that scientists use the pH scale to measure the acidity or alkalinity of a solution. Why is the pH value of a substance important in everyday life? For example, acidic food and drinks can erode the enamel which protects our teeth.  However, the origin of the idiom " acid test " has nothing to do with our diet. This chemical test was used during the 18th century to check the purity of gold. Goldsmiths used nitric acid to distinguish gold from base metals, since they believed that gold was resistant to corrosion, oxidation or acid. If they wanted to find out whether a gold-coloured item was made of real gold or not, they would rub it on a black stone, which would leave a visible mark. If the nitric acid dissolved the mark, then the item was not gold.  Its figurative meaning (i.e. a crucial or definitive test) was first found in an American newspaper in 1845:  Twenty-four years of service demonstrates his ability to stand the acid test, ….   你也許曾經學過，科學家用酸鹼度來測量溶液的酸度或鹼度。為甚麼物質的酸鹼值在日常生活中很重要？舉個例子來說，酸性的食物和飲料能夠侵蝕保護我們牙齒的琺瑯質。 不過，習語acid test的根源與我們的飲食沒有關係。這個化學測試在18世紀期間被用來檢查金的純度。金飾工用硝酸來辨別出金和卑金屬， 因為他們認為金能抵抗腐蝕、氧化或酸。如果他們想找出一件金色物件是否由真金製造，他們會把它放在黑色石頭上磨擦出一道清晰可見的擦痕。如果硝酸把擦痕溶解，這個物件就不是金。 這個名詞的比喻意義（即關鍵或決定性的考驗）最早於1845年在一份美國報章出現：  24年的服務顯示他具有經得起嚴峻考驗（acid test ） 的能力， … …。    捐款支持公教報  http://kkp.org.hk/donation

A lot of us, especially children, find magic shows very entertaining. We are fascinated by the surprises and illusions created by the magicians on the stage. Which was the first magic trick that you watched? Knotting and then untying a handkerchief, making a woman float in the air, or linking some metal rings together?  Pulling a rabbit from a hat is one of the classics in the history of magic. It is believed that Louis Comte, a Parisian performer, was the first magician who brought out a live white rabbit out of an empty top hat in 1814.  The written record of this trick was first found in " Humorous Magician Unmasked " by A. B. Engstrom published in the USA in 1836.  " To produce a live rabbit and a number of other articles from a gentleman's hat. "  Its figurative meaning became well-known in the 20th century. It describes an action which is unexpected, or which is surprisingly solving a problem. Tom pulled a rabbit out of a hat to win the debate by presenting strong arguments during the last minute. Not only are rabbits used in performing magic, they also symbolise new life at Easter.  我們中許多人，特別是小孩子，都覺得魔術表演非常富娛樂性。我們深深被舞台上魔術師所創作的驚喜和幻術所迷住。你看過的第一個魔術戲法是甚麼？給手帕打結後再一剎那間把結解開、把一個女子漂浮在空氣中，或是把一些金屬環扣在一起？  把一隻兔子從帽子裡拉出來，是魔術史中的經典之一。人們相信，巴黎表演家路易斯．孔德是首個魔術師於1814年，從一頂空空的禮帽中拿出一隻活生生的白兔。 這個戲法的文字記錄最初記載在1836年於美國出版、由阿．比．恩斯特倫所編寫的《幽默魔術師揭密》：  To produce a live rabbit and a number of other articles from a gentleman's hat.  它的比喻意義在20世紀漸見著名。它形容意料之外的行動，或者出人意外地解決問題的行動：  湯姆出其不意（pulled a rabbit out of a hat），在最後一分鐘提出有力的論點，因而在辯論中獲勝。  兔子不僅用來表演魔術，在復活節象更徵新的生命。      捐款支持公教報  http://kkp.org.hk/donation

In cold weather, we need hot water to make a warm bath or shower. However, we must be very careful with hot water to avoid scalds. Therefore, when someone is " in hot water ", it means that he or she is in trouble. For example, Tom found himself in hot water because he bullied his classmates. The idiom appeared as early as 1537 in the collection of correspondence between a British noble family and their friends and relatives. This figurative meaning may be related to an ancient custom. People poured a kettle of boiling water on trouble-making visitors in order to keep them away. Of course nowadays no one should do this anymore because this will cause serious injuries to people.  Today this idiom can be used to describe troubling situations in which people from all walks of life could be. For example, A chief adviser to the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom was in hot water for breaking the lockdown measures.  在寒冷的天氣裡，我們需要熱水來洗澡或淋浴。可是，我們必須非常小心熱水，避免燙傷。因此當我們說某人is " in hot water "，即是他或她有麻煩。例如： 湯姆遇到麻煩（in hot water），因為他欺負同學。　 這個習語早於1537年，出現在一個英國貴族家庭與親戚朋友之間往來的書信集。 這個比喻可能與一個古老習俗有關。人們把一鍋沸騰的開水倒向鬧事的訪客，從而趕走他們。當然今天再也沒有人應當這樣做，因為這會導致人們遭受嚴重傷害。 如今這個習語可以用來形容來自社會各界的人所處於的麻煩境況。例如： 英國首相的一名首席顧問因違反了防疫封鎖措施而有了麻煩（in hot water）。      捐款支持公教報  http://kkp.org.hk/donation