纽约英语口语网新版
美语词汇掌故
第 36 课:Hit: If a Student's Grades Hit Bottom,
It Is Time to Hit the Books-1

Hit is a small word but it has a lot of power. Baseball players hit the ball. Missiles hit an airplane. A car hits a tree.

Hit also joins with other words to create many colorful expressions.

One is hit the road . It means to travel or to leave a place, as suggested in this song, "Hit the Road."

Another common expression is hit the spot . At first it meant hitting a spot at the center of a target with an arrow.

Someone who did so was satisfied with his shooting. Now, hitting the spot usually means that a food or drink is especially satisfying.

Many years ago, Pepsi Cola sold its drink with a song that began, "Pepsi Cola hits the spot, twelve full ounces, that's a lot…"

Another expression involving hit is hit bottom . Something that has hit bottom can go no lower.

If the price of shares of a stock hits bottom that might be the time to buy it. Its value can only go up.

A student who tells you his grades have hit bottom is saying he has not done well in school.

When a student's grades hit bottom it is time to hit the books . Hit the books is another way to saying it is time to study.