因为疫情影响,不仅学校推迟开学,很多企业也延迟了开工时间,不少年轻人表示自己最近手头有点紧,用英文该怎么表达呢?今天就介绍几个地道的说法。
1、I'm on a budget 节省开支,预算有限
budget 本身就有预算、开支的意思,例句:
This looks lovely, but I'm on a tight budget this month. I can't afford it.
看起来是不错,但我这个月的预算很紧张,我不能有这项支出。
We should control our budget more carefully. 我们应该更小心地控制我们的预算。
2、I'm tight on money. 我手头很紧
手头有点紧就是“钱不够”,英文中tight表示拮据的;时间、金钱紧的,money is very tight就表示手头很紧。例句:
Don't call me for activities above 2 yuan.I'm tight on money. 2块钱以上的活动别叫我,我手头有点紧。
We've got to tighten our belt. 我们得勒紧裤带了(我们得省吃俭用)。
3.We have to pinch and scrape. 我们必须要省吃俭用。
pinch作动词,有“捏”的意思,比如口语“I'm pinching pennies.”表示:捏一分钱,意思是连一分钱也要非常吝啬的精打细算,所以feel the pinch表示:手头紧,感到拮据。Scrape做名词时可以表示“困境”,scrape by 则意指“勉强度日”,钱不够花。所以,pinch and scrape就表示省吃俭用
4. Make ends meet “收支相抵”、“量入为出”,“收入微薄,勉强过活”,例如:
They've got to watch every penny to make ends meet. 他们得精打细算才能维持下去。
5.strapped for cash 缺钱
strap本意是指用绳子系,捆住的意思;strapped for cash指手头没有足够的钱,也就是我们常说的手头紧,暂时的资金短缺。也可以说:I'm a little strapped. 例如:
I'm strapped for cash recently since I'm investing most of my money into the stock market.我最近手头有点紧,因为我把大部分钱投到股市上去了。
6. Live from hand to mouth
手里的食物仅能勉强满足眼前的需要,勉强糊口。例如:
We always lived from hand to mouth in those days. 那时候,我们总是过着朝不保夕的生活。
7. As poor as a church mouse像教堂里的老鼠一样穷,“一贫如洗”,例如:
Although very rich in his youth, he is now as poor as a church mouse. 虽然年轻时很有钱, 他现在却穷得一贫如洗。
8. Keep body and soul together 挣钱糊口
例:I hate my job, but I have to keep body and soul together somehow.
我讨厌我的工作,但不管怎么样我得挣钱糊口。
9.make every penny count 每一分钱都要花在刀刃上
如: We should make every penny count. 我们每一分钱都要花在刀口上。
10.live more economically 生活节省
如:We should try to live more economically. 我们应该试着更节俭一点。
11. cut frills 减少开销
如:We've agreed to cut the frills, remember?我们说好要减少不必要的花费,记得吗?