第一种,硬是要哭穷!
poor mouth (v.) 哭穷
poor (a.) 贫穷的,不停抱怨、发牢骚 (complain and whine) 说自己有多穷,但实际上并不缺钱、甚至还不停撒钱,这样的举动我们说 He/ She cries poor mouth.,或者我们可以直接把它变成名词的 poor-mouth。
A: I just bought a Coach purse, so I don’t have a penny now. What should I do?
B: Oh! Stop crying poor mouth!
A:我刚买了一个 Coach包包,所以我现在身上没半毛钱。该怎么办才好呢?
B:噢!拜托别再哭穷了好吗?
第二种,荷包真的失血啦!
除了可以说 spend a lot of money 之外,我们也可以用更生动的俚语 (slang) 来表达唷!
commit wallet homicide 荷包大失血
跟中文的用法很像,一样有荷包失血的感觉,不过在英文的俚语中更强烈了一点,homicide (v.) 杀人,commit homicide 犯杀人案,为了某人、某原因你情愿亲手让荷包大失血,我们就会说 commit wallet homicide for sth/ sb. 。
He committed wallet homicide for his girlfriend to celebrate their first anniversary.
他为了女友荷包大失血,来庆祝他们的第一个纪念日。
第三种,穷到吃土啦!
在英文中除了 run out of money/ short of money 这种正式的用法外,也有像「吃土」这样夸张、有趣的比喻,来形容穷到谷底。
as poor as a church mouse 一贫如洗、穷到吃土
和只能寄居在教堂的老鼠一样穷,as…as 的用法表示和~一样,比喻时我们常用这样的片语。
He used to be as poor as a church mouse before his success in stock markets.
在股票投资成功以前,他曾过着一贫如洗的生活。
第四种,噢!财务赤字了
in the red / in the hole 负债、欠款
财务出现危机,我们会含蓄的说赤字,在英文里也是相同的用 in the red,或是 in the hole 表示深陷财务危机的之意。
My brother has a lot of credit card debts. He has about 1 million in the hole now.
我弟弟欠了很多卡债,他现在大概还欠一百万元。
go bankrupt 破产
He became depressed after he went bankrupt.
他破产后陷入忧郁。
第五种,学习节俭过生活
预算还不算太紧,但必须掌握未来的支出与收入,做有效的金钱规划。就好像花用每一分钱,都要用手指紧紧地捆住,不出任何差错、非常谨慎。
strap for cash / pinch pennies / pinch and scrape 精打细算
strap (v.) 捆绑、pinch (v.) 掐住,来看看怎么精打细算、攒钱度日呢?
I can’t go to the movies with you guys because I’m strapped for cash now.
我不能和你们去看电影,因为我正在控制预算过日子中。
A: Can I borrow a few bucks for Christmas party?
B: Sorry, but I’m pinching pennies myself.
你可以借我点钱去参加圣诞派对吗?
抱歉,我正在努力节制自己的支出。
tighten one’s belt 勒紧裤带
这个用法相当好记,和中文里的意象一样,把皮带束紧、约束自己不能乱花钱的过生活,还有一种可爱的用法 draw in one’s horns,提醒自己和他人不要再把购物欲望的触角伸到各大百货周年庆啦!该收手,不能乱花钱啰!
The young couple have to tighten their belt to make ends meet.
那对年轻的情侣必须勒紧裤带过生活,才能收支平衡。