And now Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning English.
现在是来自美国之音慢速英语的 Words and Their Stories 。
 
Today we go out to the ballpark … the baseball park!
今天我们去棒球场……棒球场！
 
We talk about an expression from the sport of baseball but now means so much more.
我们谈论的是棒球运动中的一种表达方式，但现在意味着更多。
 
Inside baseball is something that is known or understood only by a small group of people. Sometimes inside baseball describes a subject that has too many uninteresting details. So, most people do not understand it or even want to understand it.
内部棒球是只有一小部分人知道或理解的东西。有时inside baseball描述了一个有太多无趣细节的主题。所以，大多数人不理解，甚至不想理解。
 
We commonly use this expression with subjects like politics, science, or finance.
我们通常将此表达用于政治、科学或金融等主题。
 
For example, some urban voters are not interested in the inside baseball of constitutional reform. But, they still might support reforms promising good schools, safe neighborhoods, and jobs.
例如，一些城市选民对宪法改革的内部棒球不感兴趣。但是，他们仍然可能支持承诺提供优质学校、安全社区和就业机会的改革。
 
Here is another example. Many people would consider the yearly earnings reports of major companies as inside baseball information. The reports would not be of interest to them. But to investors such reports are important. These insiders need the information.
这是另一个例子。许多人会将大公司的年度收益报告视为棒球内部信息。他们不会对这些报告感兴趣。但对投资者而言，此类报告很重要。这些内部人士需要这些信息。
 
On its website, Merriam Webster online dictionary explains how this phrase began back in the 1890s.
Merriam Webster 在线词典在其网站上解释了这个短语是如何在 1890 年代开始出现的。
 
To score in baseball, a player needs to land on first, second, and third bases before reaching home plate. That is where the player scores. One way to do this is to hit a home run. The player hits the ball so far that the other team cannot get it. Then, the batter and anyone else on a base moves forward all the way to home. That big hit will always please the crowd!
要在棒球比赛中得分，球员需要在到达本垒前先落在一垒、二垒和三垒上。那是球员得分的地方。一种方法是打出本垒打。球员将球击到另一队无法接球的距离。然后，击球手和垒上的任何其他人一直向前移动到本垒。那个大热门总是会取悦人群！
 
But most hits are not home runs. Most batters hit balls inside the field and move around the bases as other batters take their turns hitting.
但大多数安打都不是本垒打。大多数击球手在场内击球并在其他击球手轮流击球时绕垒移动。
 
This can include also very short hits called bunts, where the bat touches the ball lightly to keep it infield. There are also stolen bases -- when runners take a next base usually as the other team is pitching to a batter.
这也可以包括称为短打的非常短的击球，球棒轻轻接触球以将球保持在场内。也有被盗垒的情况——通常是当另一支球队正在向击球手投球时，跑垒员占据了下一个垒。
 
These are part of a long list of skills, tools, and possible plays used to play competitive baseball. This kind of play is called inside baseball. It is not an obvious type of scoring, especially when compared the dramatic homerun.
这些是用于打竞技棒球的一长串技能、工具和可能的比赛的一部分。这种打法叫做inside baseball。这不是一种明显的得分类型，尤其是与戏剧性的本垒打相比。
 
"Inside" is also featured in other popular terms in American English.
“Inside”也出现在美式英语的其他流行术语中。
 
An inside joke, for example, is a joke that only a few people understand. With inside jokes, we often say this to those who don't understand: "You had to be there."
例如，内部笑话是只有少数人能理解的笑话。在内部笑话中，我们经常对那些不明白的人说：“你必须在那里。”
 
Insider knowledge is also things understood by a special few. Let's say you want to work at a company and you have insider knowledge about it. Maybe you know people who work there or their product line. This insider knowledge may give you an advantage over others.
内幕消息也是少数人知道的事情。假设您想在一家公司工作，并且您了解这家公司的内幕消息。也许您认识在那里工作的人或他们的产品线。这种内幕知识可能会让您比其他人更有优势。
 
An inside track is a good position in a situation. It comes from racers on a circular track. The runners on the inside may have an advantage. Here's how to use it: She seems to have an inside track at the university. She knows everyone!
在某种情况下，内线是一个很好的位置。它来自圆形赛道上的赛车手。内侧的跑者可能有优势。下面是如何使用它：她似乎在大学里有内线。她认识所有人！
 
And finally, an inside job is something done with the help of someone inside an organization. The term, however, is usually used in connection with a crime. If police think a bank robbery was an inside job, for example, they would probably question all who work at the bank.
最后，内部工作是在组织内部人员的帮助下完成的事情。但是，该术语通常与犯罪有关。例如，如果警察认为抢劫银行是内部工作，他们可能会询问所有在银行工作的人。