第1017期：里根总统说 It takes two to tango 一个巴掌拍不响
里根总统当然不会说标题里这么俗的话，但 1982 年美国总统里根真的说过下面这样一句话：
“For ten years détente was based on words by them [the Russians] and
not any words to back them up. And we need some action that they — it
takes two to tango — that they want to tango also.”
上面这句话里有两处值得一讲。
-
détente – a French word meaning release from tension. 发音是： /deɪˈtɒnt/.
这个词的意思是国际关系中两国紧张关系的缓和，但在英语媒体中这个词一般特指美苏两国在1970-80年代的关系缓和局面。 -
It takes two to tango. – 字面是“探戈舞得俩人一起才能跳”。
这是一句英语成语，意思基本等于中文的“一个巴掌拍不响”，指双方都有责任。
这句话的意思是： both people involved in a difficult situation must accept the blame, or that an activity needs two people who are willing to take part for it to happen.
也可以简单地说 It takes two.
例句：
Divorce is never the fault of one partner; it takes two (to tango).
据说这个说法最早来自美国1950年代的一首流行歌曲 “Takes Two to Tango” .后来经里根总统使用后才正式在美国的英语媒体上流行起来。
那首歌里唱道：
You can sail in a ship by yourself,
Take a nap or a nip by yourself.
You can get into debt on your own.
There are lots of things that you can do alone.(But it)
Takes two to tango (repeat)
美国黑人歌手 Louis Armstrong 也唱过一首歌名相似的歌，不知你听过没有？
这首很美，不如你慢下你的眼睛来慢慢欣赏一下这首歌词吧。
It Take Two to Tango (lyrics)
Why? ’cause it takes two to do this dance! Takes two to tango, two to tango,
Two to really get the feeling of romance.
Lets do the tango, do the tango,
Do the dance of love.
Take a nap or a nip by yourself.
You can get into debt on your own,
Ther’s a lot of things that you can do alone!
Two to really get the feeling of romance.
Lets do the tango, do the tango,
Do the dance of love.
Take a laugh like a loon by yourself,
Spend a lot, go to pot on your own,
There’s a lot of things that you can do alone!
Two to really get the feeling of romance.
Lets do the tango, do the tango,
Do the dance of love.
有条件的读者可以在这里欣赏：https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4iMNrwGBbQ
小结今天的内容：
If you say it takes two or it takes two to tango, you mean that a situation or argument involves two people and they are both therefore responsible for it.
意思就是一个巴掌拍不响，一个坏结果参与的各方都有责任。
