【情景對話】
A:I don't know what I can do now. I'm down and out.
我現(xiàn)在不知道怎么辦。我窮困潦倒。
B:You are not the gray train, I guess. But bite the bullet and you'll soon be in the chips again.
我想你現(xiàn)在有很大的掙錢的機會,要緊牙關挺住,會有錢的。
A:I hope so. But I'm always caught short.
我希望是如此,但是我總是搞得緊巴巴的。
B:But the darkest hour is the nearest dawn. I bet you'll soon turn the table.
但是黑暗的時刻就是光明的來臨,我肯定局面會扭轉過來的。
【學習筆記】
1.down and out:窮困潦倒的
e.g.Her father has been down and out ever since the factory closed.
自從工廠關閉后,她的父親一直貧困潦倒,灰心喪氣。
e.g.Although that writer has been down and out, he still keeps on writing.
那個作家雖然已經(jīng)窮困潦倒了,但他還是繼續(xù)寫作。
2.bite the bullet:咬緊牙關(忍受痛苦)
e.g.We have to bite the bullet when we face this difficult situation.
我們必須勇敢地面對這種困難情況。
e.g.The president called the people to bite the bullet and make personal sacrifices.
總統(tǒng)號召人民忍受痛苦,作出個人犧牲。
3.in the chips:有錢,富裕,富有
e.g.Within a short time I will be in the chips again.
用不了多久我又會有一大筆錢的。
e.g.He is in the chips——so much money so that he can buy anything he wants.
他有錢——如此有錢。所以他可以買任何他要的東西。
4.turn the table:轉變局勢,扭轉局勢,轉敗為勝
e.g.On such occasions, small gestures can turn the table.
這種時候,小小的一個手勢能大大地扭轉局面。
e.g.He never knew when everything was lost, and if it was, he would turn the table.
對他來說,毫無指望的情況是沒有的,即使遇到那種情況,他也要扭轉局面。
5.be caught/taken short:短缺,缺乏
e.g.Joe was caught short of clothes when he had to go in a trip.
喬要去旅行時,衣服不夠穿了。
e.g.Will it be all right if I pay you next week? I'm rather caught short.
我下星期付錢給你行嗎? 我手頭缺錢。