1
A Budget Crunch 預算吃緊
曲目 01
Mitch: My girlfriend is looking for a job. Howard: What type of work can she do? Mitch: She was a graphic designer, but due to a budget crunch, she was laid off. Howard: That's too bad. Mitch: Is there anything around here she could do? Howard: Not really. We've had to tighten our belts a bit, too. Mitch: Well, can you keep her in mind if anything comes up? Howard: No problem. 2
畫說俚語 • 真 EASY
米契：我女朋友在找工作。 霍華德：哪一類的工作她做得來？ 米契：她原本是平面設計師，不過因為預算吃緊，所以被裁員了。 霍華德：真遺憾。 米契：這裡有什麼她做得來的嗎？ 霍華德：沒有。我們也在勒緊褲帶苦撐。 米契：嗯，如果有空缺的話，你能考慮用她嗎？ 霍華德：沒問題。
俚語精解 budget [ `bVdjIt ] 表『預算』，而 crunch [ krVntS ] 表指因金錢或時間不足 所導致的『艱難局面』。本俚語顧名思義，就是指『預算吃緊』。本俚語 還有另一個說法，就是
on a tight budget。
We have no bonus this year because we are in a budget crunch. = We have no bonus this year because we are on a tight budget. （因為預算吃緊，我們今年沒有獎金。）
英文中有許多關於『錢』的有趣片語，bet
your bottom dollar 就是
其中一例。bet 一字表『打賭』，bottom 是『底部』，dollar 則表『一元 硬幣』。本俚語是用來形容一個人對某件事很篤定，就算把口袋底僅剩的 最後一塊錢拿下去做賭注也不怕。 阿雄愛上阿花，決定娶她為妻。可是阿雄的朋友阿輝卻覺得阿花只是垂涎 阿雄的祖產。於是阿輝就苦口婆心地勸阿雄：
I bet my bottom dollar that she just wants your money. （我敢打包票她只想要你的錢。）
cost an arm and a leg 字面上是『花費了一條手臂和一條腿』，引 申為『所費不貲』或『付出慘痛代價』之意。
Unit 1
3
阿雄不聽阿輝的勸阻，還是娶了阿花。婚後，阿花果然露出真面目，每天 刷卡揮霍無度。阿輝見了這個情形，很感嘆地說：
Marrying her sure cost him an arm and a leg. （娶她果然讓他付出了慘痛代價。）
諺語
"The love of money is the root of all evil." 的意思是『貪
財是萬惡之源。』 ＊ root [ rut ] n. 根源 evil [ `ivL ] n. 罪惡 阿花失去了一切，於是出家當尼姑。經過了數十年的修鍊，她終於醒悟。
She finally realized that the love of money is the root of all evil. （她終於明白貪財是萬惡之源的道理。）
好康同在 1. graphic [ `grAfIk ] a. 圖像的 a graphic designer 平面設計師 2. lay off 裁員（常用被動語態） 例: Over half of the employees were laid off this quarter. （這一季有超過一半的員工被裁員。）
3. tighten one's belt 勒緊褲帶 tighten [ `tZItJn ] vt. 拉緊 例: I just bought a car, so I have to tighten my belt this month. （我才剛買車，所以這個月我必須勒緊褲帶過活。）
4. keep sb in mind 將某人記在腦裡 例: If there is a job opening, please keep me in mind. （如果有職缺，請不要忘了我。）
4
畫說俚語 • 真 EASY
Unit 1
5