Gossip 流言蜚语

Over the years I have learned what harm can come from gossip（闲谈，流言） or just talking about other people.

In my work place, gossip is a big problem, which is heightened by a couple of women who actually feel the need to stretch and twist certain bits of information, simply for the sake of（为了） turning staff against each other.

Having been on the receiving end of their back stabbing, I have become very aware of what I say and to whom. I have prayed to God for help in being straightforward with people, and not say anything that might get back to someone who could be hurt by my words.

One night, I was on the phone with my sister-in-law, Dawn. I had called her to let her know our husbands would have to work very late that Saturday night due to some machinery problems. She was carrying on about not getting anything done that day since they were due to move out of their apartment by that next Friday. I mentioned that sixteen hours at time-and-a-half pay would certainly make up for it. She was OK with that, but said it would not make much difference when they had to pay the whole next month's rent if they were not out by the end of the week. I acknowledged her point, but figured either way; they wouldn't really be out any expected money.

The next day, while my husband, Arlo, was helping his brother move, my dad called hoping to also enlist（支持，从军） Arlo's help.

I have 3-way calling on our phone, so I clicked over and called my brother-in-law's house, leaving a message on the answering machine for Arlo to call my dad when he could.

I clicked back over to my Dad and began telling him about the long day Arlo and his brother had put in. We inadvertently（非故意地） got on the subject of Dawn, who was not so thrilled about the time they had lost for moving. Dad agreed that for the money they made, it was worth it. Then I mentioned that she should have "gotten off her butt（屁股，烟头） and did something herself."

Monday evening came along and Arlo walked in the house, looked at me, and began laughing as he headed into the next room. He did a sort of double take and said, "Brenda, next time you are talking bad about someone, make sure the three-way calling is disconnected."

Almost immediately I knew what he was talking about, but I wasn't exactly sure what all I had said.

Dawn's answering machine had picked up the entire conversation between Dad and me!

Arlo and his brother thought the situation was hysterical（歇斯底里的） . Of course, men tend not to let things like that get to them. However, I know Dawn well enough to know she would be pretty upset, especially after both of our husbands spent the afternoon laughing at her and making cracks（裂纹） about her lazy butt.

Wondering how I was going to fix this one, I stopped by to apologize a couple of times, but Dawn wasn't around. After a couple of weeks, I finally spoke to her. When she picked up the phone I tried to make a joke of it, but she did not see the humor in it.

After this incident, I got to think. Lately, I have become very comfortable with some people and have found myself slipping back（逆流，倒退） into the gossip mode I had worked so hard to get myself out of. I sort of wonder if this was God's way of washing my mouth out with soap. I certainly didn't forget the taste when I was a kid.

I won't forget it now.

相关单词：gossip

gossip解释：n.流言蜚语，爱说长道短的人；vi.传播流言

gossip例句：

She broadcast the gossip all over the town.她将这个流言传遍全镇。

They spread a lot of tacky gossip about his love life.关于他的爱情生活，他们散播了许多不堪的闲言闲语。

相关单词：heightened

heightened解释：（使）变高， （使）增大( heighten的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）提高； （使）加强[重]

heightened例句：

Tension has heightened after the recent bomb attack. 最近的炸弹袭击之后，情势更加紧张。

The lively dance heightened the joyous atmosphere of the scene. 轻快的舞蹈给这场戏渲染了欢乐气氛。

相关单词：straightforward

straightforward解释：adj.正直的，坦率的；易懂的，简单的

straightforward例句：

A straightforward talk is better than a flowery speech.巧言不如直说。

I must insist on your giving me a straightforward answer.我一定要你给我一个直截了当的回答。

相关单词：machinery

machinery解释：n.(总称)机械，机器；机构

machinery例句：

Has the machinery been put up ready for the broadcast?广播器材安装完毕了吗？

Machinery ought to be well maintained all the time.机器应该随时注意维护。

相关单词：acknowledged

acknowledged解释：adj.公认的v.承认( acknowledge的过去式和过去分词 )；鸣谢；对…打招呼；告知已收到

acknowledged例句：

He acknowledged publicly that he might have made a mistake. 他当众承认自己可能犯了个错误。 来自《简明英汉词典》

The police acknowledged that three police vehicles were damaged. 警方承认有三辆警车被毁。 来自《简明英汉词典》

相关单词：helping

helping解释：n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

helping例句：

The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。

By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

相关单词：enlist

enlist解释：vt.谋取(支持等)，赢得；征募；vi.入伍

enlist例句：

They come here to enlist men for the army.他们来这儿是为了召兵。

The conference will make further efforts to enlist the support of the international community for their just struggle. 会议必将进一步动员国际社会，支持他们的正义斗争。

相关单词：butt

butt解释：n.笑柄；烟蒂；枪托；臀部；v.用头撞或顶

butt例句：

The water butt catches the overflow from this pipe.大水桶盛接管子里流出的东西。

He was the butt of their jokes.他是他们的笑柄。

相关单词：hysterical

hysterical解释：adj.情绪异常激动的，歇斯底里般的

hysterical例句：

He is hysterical at the sight of the photo.他一看到那张照片就异常激动。

His hysterical laughter made everybody stunned.他那歇斯底里的笑声使所有的人不知所措。

相关单词：spoke

spoke解释：n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

spoke例句：

They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。

The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。