VOA慢速英语2019--What Is a 'Feather in Your Cap?'

 

Now, the VOA Learning¹ English program Words and Their Stories.

Our world is home to thousands of different kinds of birds. No two bird species² are the same. Each one has its own unique qualities – like its feathers!

Feathers keep a bird warm and dry. Feathers also help it to fly. And they can be very colorful, making a woodpecker with its bright red feathers stand out in the woods on a cold, wintry day.

And people have been wearing bird feathers on hats for hundreds of years. But feathers were not just worn for decoration – to improve a person’s appearance. Hundreds of years ago it often meant something else. A feather could represent a person’s standing³, success or even, in some cases, a kill.

Feathers have made their way into many common English expression. Today we talk about one: “To have a feather in your cap.”

'Cause I don't wanna go on with you like that

Don't wanna be a feather in your cap

(I Don’t Want to Go on With You Like That by Elton John)

A feather in your cap is something you are really happy about. The feather gives you bragging⁴ rights – a chance to tell the world about your success.

A feather in your cap also gives you an upper hand, meaning it puts you in a better position. For example, on social media, having a million followers⁵ on Twitter can be considered a feather in your cap. Getting a pay raise or winning an award can both be feathers in your cap.

So it is something you can be proud of and something you can use in the future to get ahead.

The Etymology⁶ Online website notes that the act of placing a feather in a hat or on your head has meant success in many cultures, “apparently independently.”

As an example, the site uses the early English travel writer Richard Hansard and his 1599 Description of Hungary:

"It hath (has) been an antient (ancient) custom among them [Hungarians] that none should wear a fether (feather) but he who had killed a Turk …”

And some Native American tribes⁷ would give feathers to someone for a brave act.

The saying "a feather in your cap" is widely used in conversation and even in some songs. Many American children sing these words without even knowing what they mean.

Let’s listen to part of a well-known song called Yankee Doodle.

Yankee Doodle went to town riding on a pony⁸;

He stuck a feather in his cap and called it macaroni.

Yankee Doodle keep it up, Yankee Doodle dandy,

Mind the music and the step, And with the girls be handy⁹.

(Traditional American song)

This song dates back to the days of the American War of Independence. Some people say British soldiers sang it as a way of making fun of the opposing forces.

“Doodle” was an 18th century British term for a stupid person. And “macaroni” meant a well-dressed person, someone who likes the finer things in life. So, saying “stuck a feather in his cap and called it macaroni” meant that the colonists¹⁰ thought they could look good by simply placing feathers in their caps.

By the way, we still use both “doodle” and “macaroni” today, except the meanings have changed completely. A “doodle” is a quickly made and simple artwork. And “macaroni” is a small noodle.

One last note on this expression: The word “cap” can belong to anyone. In fact, you can use whatever descriptive words you need to explain who is wearing the cap. For example, winning an Oscar is surely a feather in the cap of any movie director. And getting accepted to a great university is a feather in the cap of any student.

Hopefully, speaking English is now a feather in your cap!

And that brings us to the end of another Words and Their Stories.

Until next time, I’m Anna Matteo.

Disappointment is a feather in your cap,

You want the truth so you can crush¹¹ it in your hand.

(Feather in Your Cap by Beck)

Words in This Story

unique – adj. being the only one

feather – n. any one of the light growths that make up the outer covering of the body of a bird

upper hand – n. advantage

proud – adj. having a feeling of pleasure or satisfaction especially with a person's own achievements or with someone else's achievements : very pleased

well-dressed – adj. wearing attractive or fashionable clothes

conversation – n. an informal talk involving two people or a small group of people : the act of talking in an informal way

1 learning   

n.学问，学识，学习；动词learn的现在分词

参考例句：

• When you are learning to ride a bicycle,you often fall off.初学骑自行车时，常会从车上掉下来。
• Learning languages isn't just a matter of remembering words.学习语言不仅仅是记些单词的事。

2 species   

n.物种，种群

参考例句：

• Are we the only thinking species in the whole of creation?我们是万物中惟一有思想的物种吗？
• This species of bird now exists only in Africa.这种鸟现在只存在于非洲。

3 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

4 bragging   

v.自夸，吹嘘( brag的现在分词 )；大话

参考例句：

• He's always bragging about his prowess as a cricketer. 他总是吹嘘自己板球水平高超。 来自辞典例句
• Now you're bragging, darling. You know you don't need to brag. 这就是夸口，亲爱的。你明知道你不必吹。 来自辞典例句

5 followers   

追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件

参考例句：

• the followers of Mahatma Gandhi 圣雄甘地的拥护者
• The reformer soon gathered a band of followers round him. 改革者很快就获得一群追随者支持他。

6 etymology   

n.语源；字源学

参考例句：

• The hippies' etymology is contentious.关于嬉皮士的语源是有争议的。
• The origin of OK became the Holy Grail of etymology.OK的出典成了词源学梦寐以求的圣杯。

7 tribes   

n.部落( tribe的名词复数 )；（动、植物的）族；（一）帮；大群

参考例句：

• tribes living in remote areas of the Amazonian rainforest 居住在亚马孙河雨林偏远地区的部落
• In Africa the snake is still sacred with many tribes. 非洲许多部落仍认为蛇是不可冒犯的。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 pony   

adj.小型的；n.小马

参考例句：

• His father gave him a pony as a Christmas present.他父亲给了他一匹小马驹作为圣诞礼物。
• They made him pony up the money he owed.他们逼他还债。

9 handy   

adj.方便的；手边的，近便的；手巧的

参考例句：

• A few more traveler's checks may come in handy on holiday.多带几张旅行支票，度假时会有用的。
• She is a handy girl who can turn her hand to anything.她是个心灵手巧的姑娘。

10 colonists   

n.殖民地开拓者，移民，殖民地居民( colonist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Colonists from Europe populated many parts of the Americas. 欧洲的殖民者移居到了美洲的许多地方。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Some of the early colonists were cruel to the native population. 有些早期移居殖民地的人对当地居民很残忍。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 crush   

v.压垮，压倒，压服，镇压；压碎，碾碎

参考例句：

• This machine is made to crush the rock into powder.这台机器是用来把石头压成碎末的。
• You can't crush so many people into the classroom.不能让这么多人挤进教室。