VOA词汇掌故2022--'Sugarcoat' Pills and Bad News

'Sugarcoat' Pills and Bad News

And now Words and Their Stories from VOA Learning English.

Bad news can be hard to hear. It can be even harder to share with someone. So, we may tell someone bad news in a way that is easier for them to hear. In other words, we may try to sugarcoat it.

And that is our expression for today -- "sugarcoat."

When you sugarcoat something you try to make it more pleasant or acceptable¹ than it really is. You try to make an event or situation seem not so bad. So, you don't share all the upsetting or otherwise bad details.

It might surprise you to learn that a United States president was criticized for using the term "sugarcoat" in an official message. I will tell you which one later in the program.

But first, let's talk about the word "coat."

A coat can be a layer, such as a coat of paint. As a verb, "coat" also means to cover something with a substance. So, you could say the walls were coated with a layer of paint.

Sugar, as you know, is a sweet substance. It makes so many things taste good – things like cakes, cookies, pies, and candy. But sugar can also make things like medicine taste better too and therefore easier to take.

So, medicine makers² began adding sweet flavorings to their products to help people, especially children, take the medicine.

Now, pills can taste bitter too. So, pill makers started doing the same. They began coating pills with a hard sugar coating. This made them easier to swallow.

These days we use the term sugarcoat for actual sugar coatings and when we share news and information.

Here is a quick example. Let's listen to these co-workers talk about their business.

A: Okay, give it to me straight. How much money did we lose last year?

B: Let me start by saying ... we'll make up our losses this year.

A: Stop sugarcoating it! I want numbers. How much did we lose?

B: All of it. We lost all of our profits from last year.

A: Wow. That IS bad. You could have broken the news to me a bit easier.

A: You said not to sugarcoat anything!

Now, back to our earlier question. Which U.S. president was criticized for using this informal term in an official address?

In a message to Congress on July 4, 1861, President Abraham Lincoln wrote:

"With rebellion³ thus sugar-coated they have been drugging the public mind of their section for more than thirty years, and until at length they have brought many good men to a willingness to take up arms against the government..."

Often on this show we talk about whether a term or expression is formal or informal. Formal language is well suited for professional and official situations, such as a presidential address. Informal is the type of language we use with those close to us.

Well, reportedly, some government officials at the time did not like President Lincoln's use of the informal term "sugar-coat" in an official message.

Experts at the website History.com explain that the official government printer objected to Lincoln using "sugar-coat," saying the word was beneath the dignity of the office of the president.

Also, reportedly, Lincoln didn't care.

History.com experts claim Lincoln said, "The time will never come in this country when the people won't know exactly what sugar-coated means."

And he was right. Sugarcoat in all its forms remains⁴ commonly used and clear in meaning. Feel free to use it in any situation, even if it is formal. You will be in good company.

Words in This Story

layer – n. an amount of something that is spread over an area : a covering piece of material or a part that lies over or under another

delightful⁵ – adj. highly pleasing

flavoring – n. a substance that is added to a food or drink to give it a desired taste

bitter – adj. having a strong and often unpleasant flavor that is the opposite of sweet

give it to me straight – phrase to tell someone the truth

profit – n. money that is made in a business, through investing, etc., after all the costs and expenses are paid : a financial gain

rebellion – n. an effort by many people to change the government or leader of a country by the use of protest or violence : open opposition⁶ toward a person or group in authority

formal – adj. suitable for a proper occasion

informal – adj. marked by the absence of formality or ceremony

dignity – n. the quality or state of being worthy of honor and respect

1 acceptable   

adj.可接受的，合意的，受欢迎的

参考例句：

• The terms of the contract are acceptable to us.我们认为这个合同的条件可以接受。
• Air pollution in the city had reached four times the acceptable levels.这座城市的空气污染程度曾高达可接受标准的四倍。

2 makers   

n.制造者，制造商（maker的复数形式）

参考例句：

• The makers of the product assured us that there had been no sacrifice of quality. 这一产品的制造商向我们保证说他们没有牺牲质量。
• The makers are about to launch out a new product. 制造商们马上要生产一种新产品。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 rebellion   

n.造反，叛乱，反抗

参考例句：

• The next year they rose up in rebellion.第二年他们就揭竿起义了。
• The new government quickly suppressed the rebellion.新政府迅速把叛乱镇压下去。

4 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

5 delightful   

adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的

参考例句：

• We had a delightful time by the seashore last Sunday.上星期天我们在海滨玩得真痛快。
• Peter played a delightful melody on his flute.彼得用笛子吹奏了一支欢快的曲子。

6 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。