2012年6月19日 星期二

表示陷入窘境的英文片語:up a tree、at the end of one's rope、hit a bad patch、in a pinch、in a jam、in a bind、in a pickle

up a tree是比喻陷入困難的處境

up a tree字面上是形容動物被攻擊時為逃避追趕而爬上樹,但他的敵人在樹下虎視眈眈地等待,因此這個動物已經無路可走。

例:They found the drugs in his suitcase, so he was up a tree. (他們在他的手提箱裡起出毒品,他因此百口莫辯。)

例:This whole business has me up a tree. (這整個事件讓我陷入困境。)

參考:
http://idioms.yourdictionary.com/up-a-tree
http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/up+a+tree


at the end of one's rope 山窮水盡,束手無策
VOA美國習慣用語


hit a bad patch 遇到困難,陷入困境

a bad patch 是指一段不好過的時間,習慣上前面加上 hit
也可以用 a rough patch、a rocky patch,意思一樣。

Their marriage has hit a bad patch.
他們的婚姻有問題了。

http://www.english.tw/space-11101-do-thread-id-1479.html


hit a snag 
= 遇到挑戰/困難; 出問題 
We hit a snag with our travel plans. 我們旅遊的計畫生變。 
Our plans for a relaxing night at home hit a snag when a pipe burst in the basement. 我們在家享受一個放鬆的夜晚的計畫並不順利,因為地下室的水管爆裂。
https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/hit+a+snag

in a pinch 在緊急或困難的時候
I was in a pinch because I had no money to pay for the meal. 
因為沒錢付飯錢,我那時真的很窘。


in a jam = in a difficult situation.
I'm in a jam. I'm going on holiday to Spain tomorrow but I can't find my passport anywhere. 我現在的狀況很不妙。我明天就要去西班牙渡假了,卻找不到我的護照。
I found myself in a jam when my car overheated on the highway. 當我的車在公路上過熱時,我發現情況不對勁了。
If at any time he's in a jam she'll be by his side. 只要他陷入困境,她就會在身邊陪伴他。

in a bind
Their refusal to sign the contract has put us in a bind.
他們拒絕在合同上簽字, 這使我們處於困境。


in a pickle 處境困難,沒有解決的辦法
I'm in a pickle between my employees and my boss. I won't be able to please both parties.
我夾在我的員工與老板之間,處境困難。我沒辦法讓兩邊都滿意。




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