第2066期:Do You Color Inside or Outside the Lines?

Coloring books are common objects of play and learning for children around the world. In recent years, coloring books for adults have grown popular too. 涂色书是世界各地儿童玩耍和学习的常见对象。 近年来，成人涂色书也越来越流行。 Children usually color with wax sticks called crayons. But, you can also use color markers, pens, and pencils. 孩子们通常使用称为蜡笔的蜡棒来着色。 但是，您也可以使用彩色记号笔、钢笔和铅笔。 Adding color to black and white images is fun and often calming. You just choose a color and fill in the space created by the lines. In fact, children are often taught to stay inside the lines when they color. 为黑白图像添加颜色很有趣，而且常常令人平静。 您只需选择一种颜色并填充线条创建的空间即可。 事实上，孩子们经常被教导在涂色时要留在线条内。 Apparently, this idea does not come naturally. Child development experts say very young children begin by scribbling on a coloring page. They do not pay attention to the lines of the picture. The result is a colorful but often messy looking picture. 显然，这个想法并不是自然产生的。 儿童发展专家表示，年幼的孩子首先会在彩页上乱涂乱画。 他们不注意画面的线条。 结果是一幅色彩缤纷但通常看起来很混乱的图片。 Then between the ages of two and five they start coloring inside the lines. This progression shows an improvement in many skills: fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, space and object awareness, and more. 然后在两岁到五岁之间，他们开始在线条内着色。 这一进展表明许多技能都得到了提高：精细运动技能、手眼协调能力、空间和物体意识等等。 Many children are taught to color inside the lines. As a result, many adults do the same. This makes this finished artwork look more organized and proper because you followed the images’ guide lines. 许多孩子被教导在线条内着色。 结果，许多成年人也这样做。 这使得这件完成的艺术品看起来更有条理、更合适，因为你遵循了图像的指导线。 That is why the expression coloring inside the lines means to think or act within generally accepted guidelines. If you color inside the lines, you follow the rules. You stay in the lines or you play by the book (not the coloring book … but the rule book). 这就是为什么线条内的表达颜色意味着在普遍接受的指导方针内思考或行动。 如果你在线条内着色，你就遵守了规则。 你要么排队，要么按书本行事（不是着色书……而是规则书）。 We can also say you stick to the script. A script contains the spoken words performers must say out-loud in a play, movie, or show. Sticking to the script means you do not change the lines you are given. 我们也可以说你坚持剧本。 剧本包含表演者在戏剧、电影或表演中必须大声说出的台词。 坚持剧本意味着你不会改变给你的台词。 Such people can also be said to toe the line. That expression comes from foot racing. 这样的人也可以说是听话的。 这个表达方式来自于赛跑。On the other hand, people who color outside the lines do not follow rules. They are rebels. Rebels reject rules. They color outside the lines and think outside the box. Instead of sticking to the script they go off script. They improvise. 另一方面，那些越界着色的人则不遵守规则。 他们是叛逆者。 叛乱分子拒绝规则。 他们跳出界限，跳出框框思考。 他们没有坚持剧本，而是脱离了剧本。 他们即兴发挥。  Just as with rule-followers, we have just as many word phrases and expressions for rule-breakers. They break new ground. They are ground-breakers. They buck traditions. Used as a verb this way, “buck” means to oppose or resist. 就像遵守规则的人一样，我们也有同样多的针对规则破坏者的短语和表达方式。 他们开辟了新天地。 他们是开拓者。 他们打破传统。 作为动词，“buck”的意思是反对或抵抗。 Next time you want describe these two kinds of people you will have plenty of expressions to choose from! 下次你要描述这两种人时，你会有很多表达方式可供选择！