Reader question:
Please explain this: “Stuff happens. Time to move on.”
My comments:
“Stuff happens” is a popular American slang expression. Here it looks like a piece of advice to someone who’s just had something undesirable happen to them, such as having their wallet stolen on the bus.
“Stuff” here stands for “strange stuff” – a freak accident or some other unforeseeable problem and things of that nature. To say “Stuff happens” is to say: Things like that happen a lot. Don’t take it too hard on yourself. Move on. Tomorrow, you’ll forget it.
Except that things of that nature don’t happen a lot, which is what lends validity to the phrase. And that’s the thing to remember. “Stuff happens” is to be used preferably in situations where certain undesirable things happen unexpectedly.
A common variation of the phrase is: “It happens” or “That happens.” For example, you forget to bring your homework to class and the teacher, knowing you’re not lying, might console you with: “It happens. Bring it in tomorrow.” You see, he understands that it is human nature to be forgetful sometimes.
Another variation of this phrase is, of course, “Shit happens” – you’ll Americans say this, I am sure, if you haven’t heard it already – and the four-letter word suggests that it is used in extremely frustrating situations where you cannot stop yourself from swearing.
Well, that kind of stuff happens but do police yourself please - and use polite words only.
Anyways, by saying “stuff happens”, we acknowledge that bad things happen to us, sometimes for no particular reason.
Do not over use this phrase, though, for it would very soon sound like you’re trying to make excuses. There are really no places for excuses in life. Good excuses are often worse.
That’s just something for you to ponder as you move along. For now, let’s read two examples:
1. Declaring that freedom is “untidy,” Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said Friday the looting in Iraq was a result of "pent-up feelings" of oppression and that it would subside as Iraqis adjusted to life without Saddam Hussein.
He also asserted the looting was not as bad as some television and newspaper reports have indicated and said there was no major crisis in Baghdad, the capital city, which lacks a central governing authority. The looting, he suggested, was “part of the price” for what the United States and Britain have called the liberation of Iraq.
“Freedom’s untidy, and free people are free to make mistakes and commit crimes and do bad things,” Rumsfeld said. “They’re also free to live their lives and do wonderful things. And that’s what’s going to happen here.”
Looting, he added, was not uncommon for countries that experience significant social upheaval. “Stuff happens,” Rumsfeld said.
- Rumsfeld on looting in Iraq: ‘Stuff happens’, CNN.com, April 11, 2003.
2. It wasn’t a great look, but it was good enough. Carmelo Anthony had a chance to give the Knicks an emotional win at the regulation buzzer Sunday, but his jumper from the right side was just off.
“It had a chance to go in,” he said. “I had a chance to make it. I missed it. It happens.”
Anthony had scored 11 points in the fourth quarter to help the Knicks get to overtime. But he went 0-for-4 in the extra session as the Celtics won, 115-111.
“There’s always frustration when you leave the building without a win,” said Anthony, who finished with 25 points and one big regret: the third foul he picked up with nine-tenths of a second left in the first half. That, when added to another one he got midway through the third quarter, led to too much pine time when the Knicks could have used their leading scorer.
“That was a big play,” Anthony said of the last-second foul called against him that allowed Rajon Rondo to hit two free throws. “I thought he ran into me. But he did a good job. That was a good, smart play by Rondo running into me . . . That was just a bonehead play on my part.”
- Carmelo Anthony’s game goes afoul, NewsDay.com, March 4, 2017.
About the author:
Zhang Xin is Trainer at chinadaily.com.cn. He has been with China Daily since 1988, when he graduated from Beijing Foreign Studies University. Write him at: zhangxin@chinadaily.com.cn, or raise a question for potential use in a future column.
雅思口语模板参考:travel
雅思口语话题卡:A Teenager You Know
雅思口语模板参考:Natural scenery
雅思口语话题卡:A Garden
雅思口语天天练:你介意我坐这里吗?
雅思口语模板参考:Married people
雅思口语天天练:三个字的个性口头禅
雅思口语天天练:英语吵架可以说什么?
雅思口语素材:名人名言-马丁路德金
雅思口语素材:名人名言-罗伯特.布朗宁
雅思口语素材:名人名言-塞缪尔.贝克特
雅思口语话题卡:A Friend You Havent Seen For Long
雅思口语素材:名人名言-托马斯.爱迪生
雅思口语素材:名人名言-马克吐温
雅思口语模板参考:Restaurant
雅思口语话题卡:A Good Parent
雅思口语话题卡:A Famous Person
雅思口语天天练:我们分手了
雅思口语话题卡:Your Favorite Room
雅思口语模板参考:Employee
雅思口语天天练:英语绕口令
雅思口语素材:好句推荐-走出胆怯的生活
雅思口语话题卡:A Piece of Electronic Equipment
雅思口语模板参考:Handcraft
雅思口语模板参考:building
雅思口语话题卡:A Crowded Place
雅思口语天天练:“我绝不嫁给你”怎么说?
雅思口语模板参考:Learn
雅思口语模板参考:A teacher
雅思口语话题卡:A Traditional Event
不限 |
英语教案 |
英语课件 |
英语试题 |
不限 |
不限 |
上册 |
下册 |
不限 |