Cotton-picking is an American way of making a feeling stronger when you are annoyed or surprised, as in “Wait a cotton-picking minute!” It is informal, a bit old, and sounds like a parent or an old film, not a school essay.

Cotton-picking「Cotton-picking」 is an American way of making a feeling stronger是美式用來加強語氣的說法 when you are annoyed or surprised當你不耐煩或驚訝時, as in就像 "Wait a cotton-picking minute!"「Wait a cotton-picking minute!」等一下！It它 is informal是非正式的, a bit old有點老派, and而 sounds like a parent or an old film聽起來像父母或老電影, not a school essay不是學校作文的用語。

Though actually, the picture behind it is not gentle: for a long time in the American South, picking cotton was hard work done by enslaved Black people, and later by very poor workers.

Though actually但其實, the picture behind it它背後的畫面 is not gentle並不溫和: for a long time在很長一段時間裡 in the American South在美國南方, picking cotton採棉花 was hard work是苦工 done by enslaved Black people是由被奴役的黑人做的, and而 later後來 by very poor workers由非常窮困的工人做。

Because of that, some people find the phrase ugly or racist, and some writing guides tell you not to use it. Other Americans still say it as a mild, almost jokey intensifier and do not mean harm.

Because of that因為這樣, some people有些人 find the phrase ugly or racist覺得這個說法難聽或帶有種族歧視, and而 some writing guides有些寫作指南 tell you not to use it告訴你不要用。Other Americans其他美國人 still say it仍然這樣說 as a mild, almost jokey intensifier當作一種溫和、近乎玩笑的加強語氣詞 and而 do not mean harm不是有意冒犯。

You should know both the everyday use and why it can sting.

You你 should know應該知道 both the everyday use日常用法 and和 why it can sting為什麼它可能刺痛人。