VOA慢速英语，作为国际英语学习者的重要资源，通过清晰缓慢的发音与简洁的词汇，为初学者及中等水平学习者搭建了通往流利英语的桥梁。它不仅帮助提升听力理解能力，还丰富了词汇量，增强了语感，是学习地道英语表达不可或缺的工具，对全球英语学习者的语言提升至关重要。让我们一起进入今天的VOA慢速英语听力训练：词汇故事fence。

英文原文

Today we look at the word "fence". One definition of fence is an outdoor structure that encloses an area. Fences mark property; they are barriers. A fence is different from a wall because it does not have a solid foundation along its whole length. Fences are used to keep things in, like animals, or keep things out, like criminals. Speaking of criminals, when they deal in stolen goods, they are "fencing" and could be called "offence" (but note that "offence" usually refers to a violation or wrongdoing, so this is a playful use of language). And if the criminals are fencing stolen goods while having a sword fight, you could say they are "fencing fences" (again, this is a humorous or imaginative use of the word).

今天我们来看看“fence”（栅栏）这个词。fence的一种定义是围起一个区域的户外结构。栅栏标记财产；它们是屏障。栅栏与墙不同，因为栅栏的整个长度没有坚实的地基。栅栏被用来把动物等东西圈在里面，或者把罪犯等东西挡在外面。说到罪犯，当他们进行赃物交易时，他们就是在“fence”（此处为俚语，意为销赃），也可以戏称为“offence”（但请注意，“offence”通常指冒犯或违法行为，所以这里是对语言的戏谑使用）。如果罪犯在持剑打斗的同时销赃，你可以说他们是在“fence fences”（同样，这是对词语的幽默或想象性使用）。

But let's get back to "fence" meaning an outdoor structure. As we said, fences mark a property line; they give you privacy. People can't see onto your property and vice versa. To many people, this is a good way to keep peace in a neighborhood; everybody just minds their own business. Sometimes if a neighbor knows too much of your business, it could lead to problems. That is where this proverb comes from: "Fences make good neighbors." This proverb appears several times in Robert Frost's poem "Mending Wall," published in 1914.

让我们回到“fence”作为户外结构的含义。正如我们所说，栅栏标记财产线；它们给你提供隐私。人们无法看到你的财产，反之亦然。对许多人来说，这是保持邻里和平的好方法；每个人都只管自己的事。有时，如果邻居对你的事情了解得太多，可能会引发问题。这就是谚语“篱笆筑成好邻居”的由来。这句谚语在罗伯特·弗罗斯特1914年出版的诗《修墙》中出现了几次。

Our next expression is "to be on the fence". If you are sitting on the fence about something, you are undecided. Fence divides property into sides, so if you are on the fence about something, you have not taken sides. 

我们的下一个表达是“to be on the fence”（犹豫不决）。如果你对某事持观望态度，那就意味着你还没有做出决定。栅栏将财产分隔成两边，所以如果你对某事持观望态度，那就意味着你还没有表态。

For example, let's say your child's school just raised $20,000. School officials want to spend that money on either new science equipment or a new outdoor play area. They ask the parents to give their opinion, but you don't know which is more important for the students. So you sit on the fence for a while; you don't feel strongly about either choice. If you did, you would certainly pick a side and not stay on the fence. 

例如，假设你孩子的学校刚刚筹集了2万美元。学校官员想用这笔钱购买新的科学设备或新建一个户外游乐区。他们要求家长们给出意见，但你不知道哪个对学生更重要。所以你暂时持观望态度。你对两个选择都没有强烈的偏好。如果你有的话，你肯定会选择一边，而不会持观望态度。

Sometimes we turn this saying into a noun: a "fence sitter" is someone who always stays neutral. They never take sides in an argument; they do not seem to have an opinion of their own, and they never take a stance for anything. This could show a lack of courage, so calling someone a fence sitter is usually an insult. Now, that is not the case if you are simply undecided about an issue, or if you need more time to make a decision, or if you just don't care. For example, let's say there is an election coming and I have not decided who I am voting for. I can say, "I don't know, I'm on the fence between two candidates." This doesn't mean I'm unwilling or unable to pick a candidate; I just haven't yet. However, let's say I never vote because I can't make a decision, and I have a long history of being indecisive. Someone could rightfully call me a fence sitter, and that would rightfully be an insult.

有时我们把这个说法变成名词：“fence sitter”（墙头草）是指那些总是保持中立的人。他们在争论中从不表态。他们似乎没有自己的意见，也从不为任何事情表明立场。这可能表明缺乏勇气。所以称某人为“fence sitter”通常是一种侮辱。不过，如果你只是对一个问题拿不定主意，或者你需要更多时间来做出决定，或者你只是不在乎，那就另当别论了。例如，假设即将举行选举，我还没有决定要投谁的票。我可以说：“我不知道，我在两个候选人之间犹豫不决。”这并不意味着我不愿意或不能选择候选人；我只是还没有决定。然而，假设我因为无法做出决定而从不投票，而且我一直都有犹豫不决的历史。那么别人就有理由称我为“fence sitter”，而这确实是一种侮辱。

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