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There are many expressions about American railroads. So today， let’s talk about American railroads. Train and railway expressions worked their way into American English over a century ago. Many of those expressions are still being used today.
Railroads were important to the development of the United States. The first U.S. railroads were built in eastern states. Trains later connected the East Coast with the West Coast. Railroads changed the look of the United States. They cut through mountains， crossed through wide open lands and joined together in cities. The railroads made goods transporting easier. They also gave many Americans the chance to move around the country.
Sometimes railroad tracks would not join up in a town but divide it into two. One side of the tracks might be good， while the other side was “not-so-good.” If you say someone is from the wrong side of the tracks1， it means they are from the bad side of town.
For the train running down the track there is no right or wrong side. The track is simply the metal structure on which the train runs. To go off track2 means to move away from one’s intended purpose or goal.
For example， you could say your career went way off track if you wanted to be a lawyer but became an actor instead. But if you go to law school and complete your studies， your career is back on track3. Let’s say you finished law school very quickly because you took double the course load. You then could say you fast-tracked4 your way to becoming a lawyer. In the world of business， it is common to say a project has been fast-tracked or is on a fast track5.
To stay on track6 means to pay attention to your goal or purpose. But getting sidetracked7 is just the opposite. A train that is sidetracked gets sent to a different station or down a different line.
Talking about train tracks， a rail is a single piece of steel that is part of the larger railway. Some rails are dangerous to touch. In some cities， a third rail8 provides power to a subway train， usually operating underground; electricity passes through the rail. The third rail also is an issue which can cause a heated debate. At a party， religion or politics could be third rail topics. Talking about them could kill your social life！
Many Americans say things get derailed9 when they go off track or away from a goal—or when they simply go wrong. For example， they might say something like this， “My travel plans got derailed by the bad weather.” It usually is bad news when something gets derailed. When something goes off the rails10， it is always a bad thing. To go off the rails means a person’s project or life is a wreck， or a train wreck11.
When a train reaches its final stop， we say it has reached the end of the line12. If you reach the end of the line you have come to the end of something. Often in old films， this is what the bad guy says just before he kills someone. “It’s the end of the line for your buddy boy.”
And we have reached the end of the line for the stories of American railroads. Now， it’s your turn to guess the meanings of the expressions about American railroads！
英語中有很多表达与美国铁路相关。今天我们就从美国铁路说起吧。一个多世纪前，列车和铁路短语进入了美式英语，其中许多表达方式沿用至今。
铁路对于美国的发展非常重要。美国最初的铁路修建在东部各州。随后，列车连接了美国东、西海岸。铁路改变了美国的面貌。它们越过群山，穿过开阔的大地，把城市连接在一起。铁路使得货物运输更为容易，也给了很多美国人在全国各地迁徙的机会。
有时候铁轨会把一个城镇一分为二。铁轨的一边发展得很好，而另一边发展得“没那么好”。如果你说一个人是“来自铁轨错误的一边”，意思就是说他来自于城镇的贫困地区。
对铁轨上运行的列车来说，铁轨两边没有好坏之分。铁轨就是列车运行其上的金属结构。“偏离轨道”的意思是脱离了某人的预期目标。
例如，如果你是想成为律师但却做了演员，你就可以说，你的职业生涯偏离了正轨。但如果你去读法学院并完成学业，你的职业生涯就重回正轨。假如你很快读完法学院，因为你承担了双倍的课业负担，你就可以你快速实现了你的律师之路。在商业界，人们经常会说某个项目已经快速跟进或者步入了快车道。
“停留在轨道上”意思是要关注你的目标或目的。但是“转入支线”正好相反。被转入支线的列车会被送到一个不同的车站或进入一条不同的线路。
说起铁轨，轨道是单节的钢材，它是大型铁路的一部分。触摸一些轨道会很危险。在一些城市，第三道铁轨给通常在地下运行的地铁列车提供能源，电力会通过这道铁轨传输。第三道铁轨还指的是会引发激烈争论的某个问题。在聚会上，宗教或政治问题可能就是雷区话题。讨论这些话题会毁掉你的社交生活。
许多美国人在偏离目标或出错时会说事情偏离轨道。例如，他们可能会这么说，“我的旅行计划由于天气恶劣未能实现。”
事情偏离轨道通常是坏消息。而当某些事情脱离正轨，这始终是件坏事情。越轨意思是某人的项目或人生就像是火车出轨一样的灾难。
当列车到达其最后一站，我们称其到达了终点。到达终点是说到了某件事的最后结局。通常在老电影中，坏蛋在杀死某人前常会说：“老兄，你完蛋了。”
而本期关于美国铁路的故事也结束了。下面，你来猜一猜文中与美国铁路有关的表达方式的意思吧！
1. be from the wrong side of the tracks 来自城镇的贫困地区;住在（城镇等中的）社会地位低的人住的地区
2. to go off track 事情偏离轨道
3. be back on track 回到正轨;改过自新;重归于好
4. fast-track 快速实现;快速跟进;提前;提拔
5. be on a fast track 步入快车道;飞速发展的;平步青云;飞黄腾达
6. to stay on track 坚持;保持;关注你的目标或目的
7. be/ get sidetracked 转向的;转变话题的
8. a/ the third rail 第三道铁轨;供电轨，也指会引发激烈争论的某个问题;雷区
9. get/be derailed 列车出轨;事情偏离轨道;脱离正常进程;受阻
10. go off the rails 行为越轨;行为古怪;出差错
11. a train wreck 火车出轨;火车失事
12. the end of the line 终点;尽头;极限
Railroads were important to the development of the United States. The first U.S. railroads were built in eastern states. Trains later connected the East Coast with the West Coast. Railroads changed the look of the United States. They cut through mountains， crossed through wide open lands and joined together in cities. The railroads made goods transporting easier. They also gave many Americans the chance to move around the country.
Sometimes railroad tracks would not join up in a town but divide it into two. One side of the tracks might be good， while the other side was “not-so-good.” If you say someone is from the wrong side of the tracks1， it means they are from the bad side of town.
For the train running down the track there is no right or wrong side. The track is simply the metal structure on which the train runs. To go off track2 means to move away from one’s intended purpose or goal.
For example， you could say your career went way off track if you wanted to be a lawyer but became an actor instead. But if you go to law school and complete your studies， your career is back on track3. Let’s say you finished law school very quickly because you took double the course load. You then could say you fast-tracked4 your way to becoming a lawyer. In the world of business， it is common to say a project has been fast-tracked or is on a fast track5.
To stay on track6 means to pay attention to your goal or purpose. But getting sidetracked7 is just the opposite. A train that is sidetracked gets sent to a different station or down a different line.
Talking about train tracks， a rail is a single piece of steel that is part of the larger railway. Some rails are dangerous to touch. In some cities， a third rail8 provides power to a subway train， usually operating underground; electricity passes through the rail. The third rail also is an issue which can cause a heated debate. At a party， religion or politics could be third rail topics. Talking about them could kill your social life！
Many Americans say things get derailed9 when they go off track or away from a goal—or when they simply go wrong. For example， they might say something like this， “My travel plans got derailed by the bad weather.” It usually is bad news when something gets derailed. When something goes off the rails10， it is always a bad thing. To go off the rails means a person’s project or life is a wreck， or a train wreck11.
When a train reaches its final stop， we say it has reached the end of the line12. If you reach the end of the line you have come to the end of something. Often in old films， this is what the bad guy says just before he kills someone. “It’s the end of the line for your buddy boy.”
And we have reached the end of the line for the stories of American railroads. Now， it’s your turn to guess the meanings of the expressions about American railroads！
英語中有很多表达与美国铁路相关。今天我们就从美国铁路说起吧。一个多世纪前，列车和铁路短语进入了美式英语，其中许多表达方式沿用至今。
铁路对于美国的发展非常重要。美国最初的铁路修建在东部各州。随后，列车连接了美国东、西海岸。铁路改变了美国的面貌。它们越过群山，穿过开阔的大地，把城市连接在一起。铁路使得货物运输更为容易，也给了很多美国人在全国各地迁徙的机会。
有时候铁轨会把一个城镇一分为二。铁轨的一边发展得很好，而另一边发展得“没那么好”。如果你说一个人是“来自铁轨错误的一边”，意思就是说他来自于城镇的贫困地区。
对铁轨上运行的列车来说，铁轨两边没有好坏之分。铁轨就是列车运行其上的金属结构。“偏离轨道”的意思是脱离了某人的预期目标。
例如，如果你是想成为律师但却做了演员，你就可以说，你的职业生涯偏离了正轨。但如果你去读法学院并完成学业，你的职业生涯就重回正轨。假如你很快读完法学院，因为你承担了双倍的课业负担，你就可以你快速实现了你的律师之路。在商业界，人们经常会说某个项目已经快速跟进或者步入了快车道。
“停留在轨道上”意思是要关注你的目标或目的。但是“转入支线”正好相反。被转入支线的列车会被送到一个不同的车站或进入一条不同的线路。
说起铁轨，轨道是单节的钢材，它是大型铁路的一部分。触摸一些轨道会很危险。在一些城市，第三道铁轨给通常在地下运行的地铁列车提供能源，电力会通过这道铁轨传输。第三道铁轨还指的是会引发激烈争论的某个问题。在聚会上，宗教或政治问题可能就是雷区话题。讨论这些话题会毁掉你的社交生活。
许多美国人在偏离目标或出错时会说事情偏离轨道。例如，他们可能会这么说，“我的旅行计划由于天气恶劣未能实现。”
事情偏离轨道通常是坏消息。而当某些事情脱离正轨，这始终是件坏事情。越轨意思是某人的项目或人生就像是火车出轨一样的灾难。
当列车到达其最后一站，我们称其到达了终点。到达终点是说到了某件事的最后结局。通常在老电影中，坏蛋在杀死某人前常会说：“老兄，你完蛋了。”
而本期关于美国铁路的故事也结束了。下面，你来猜一猜文中与美国铁路有关的表达方式的意思吧！
1. be from the wrong side of the tracks 来自城镇的贫困地区;住在（城镇等中的）社会地位低的人住的地区
2. to go off track 事情偏离轨道
3. be back on track 回到正轨;改过自新;重归于好
4. fast-track 快速实现;快速跟进;提前;提拔
5. be on a fast track 步入快车道;飞速发展的;平步青云;飞黄腾达
6. to stay on track 坚持;保持;关注你的目标或目的
7. be/ get sidetracked 转向的;转变话题的
8. a/ the third rail 第三道铁轨;供电轨，也指会引发激烈争论的某个问题;雷区
9. get/be derailed 列车出轨;事情偏离轨道;脱离正常进程;受阻
10. go off the rails 行为越轨;行为古怪;出差错
11. a train wreck 火车出轨;火车失事
12. the end of the line 终点;尽头;极限