VOA慢速英語:Are You Loaded?

Now, the VOA Special English program WORDS AND THEIR STORIES.

現(xiàn)在是美國之音慢速英語詞匯掌故節(jié)目。

Most people enjoy working for several reasons. Their job might be fun, or they like their employer and the other people at work. Most people I know, however, work for the money. I do not know anyone who is loaded, or extremely rich. Most of my friends work to earn enough money to live. They have to make ends meet. They have to earn enough money to pay for the things they need. Some even live from hand to mouth. They only have enough money for the most important things.

大部分人喜歡工作有以下幾個(gè)原因：他們的工作可能非常有趣，或者他們喜歡老板和同事。然而我認(rèn)識(shí)的大部分人工作是為了賺錢。我不認(rèn)識(shí)富有的人(loaded，富有的)，我的多數(shù)朋友工作是為了賺錢養(yǎng)家，他們必須量入為出(make ends meet)，賺錢購買自己需要的東西。有幾個(gè)甚至只能糊口(from hand to mouth)，只能購買生活中一些最重要的東西。

They struggle to earn enough money to bring home the bacon. It can be difficult to earn enough money for a family to survive. Sometimes, poor people even get caught short. They do not have enough money to pay for what they need.

他們努力賺錢以養(yǎng)家糊口(to bring home the bacon)。賺錢維持一家生計(jì)并不容易。有時(shí)，窮人甚至?xí)诸^拮據(jù)(caught short)，無法支付自己想買的東西。

Or they have to spend or lay out more money than they want for something. When this happens, poor people have to tighten their belts and live on less money than usual. I hate when I have to live on less money. It takes me longer to get back on my feet, or return to good financial health.

或者，他們必須為某些東西花費(fèi)(lay out )超過他們預(yù)計(jì)的錢。這時(shí)，窮人只得勒緊腰帶(tighten their belts)生活。我討厭手頭拮據(jù)的時(shí)候，這會(huì)花費(fèi)我很長時(shí)間才能東山再起(back on my feet)，重回良好的財(cái)務(wù)狀況。

However, other people are on the gravy train. They get paid more money than their job is worth. These people make a bundle. They really rake in the cash. In fact, they make so much money that they can live high off the hog. They own the best of everything and live in great ease. Sometimes they pay an arm and a leg for something.

然而，有些人工作清閑卻薪水很高(gravy train)，他們拿到的工資超出他們的工作價(jià)值。這些人賺很多錢(make a bundle)，輕易賺取大筆現(xiàn)金(rake in the cash)。事實(shí)上，他們賺了這么多錢可以生活優(yōu)越(live high off the hog)，他們擁有最好的一切，過著舒適安逸的生活。有時(shí)候他們?yōu)橐恍〇|西花一大筆(pay an arm and a leg for something)。

Because money is no object to wealthy people, they will pay high prices for whatever they want. Sometimes, they even pay through the nose. They pay too much for things.

因?yàn)閷?duì)富人而言，錢不是問題(money is no object)。他們會(huì)為自己想要的任何東西付出高昂的價(jià)格。有時(shí)，他們購買一些東西甚至?xí)洞髢r(jià)錢(pay through the nose)，超出原有價(jià)值很多。

I am not rich. I did not make a killing in the stock market when my stocks increased in value. Yet, I am not poor either. When I go out with friends, I do not want to shell out or pay a lot of money. Often, my friends and I will chip in or pay jointly for a fun night out. When we go to restaurants the meal is Dutch treat. Each person pays his or her own share.

我不富有。我并沒有在我的股票升值時(shí)在股市大賺一筆(make a killing)。然而，我也并不窮。當(dāng)我和朋友出去時(shí)，我不愿意付款(shell out)。通常，我們湊份子(chip in)出去樂一個(gè)晚上。當(dāng)我們出去吃飯通常AA制，每個(gè)人付自己的那部分。

Once, the owner of a restaurant gave us a dinner on the house. We did not have to pay for our meals. However, I admit that we had to grease someone’s palm. We had to pay money to the employee who led us to our table. The money was for a special request. Yes, it was a buy off. The employee put us at the top of the list for a table instead of making us wait like everyone else. We had a great time that night and the meal did not set me back at all.I did not have to pay anything.

有一次，餐館老板免費(fèi)(on the house)給我們提供了一頓晚餐，我們無須掏錢。然而，我承認(rèn)我們需要收買某人(grease someone’s palm)。我們必須付錢給領(lǐng)座的服務(wù)員。這筆錢有特殊目的，是的，它是賄賂(buy off)。服務(wù)員將我們放到了排隊(duì)的首位，這樣我們就不用像別人那樣等座了。這個(gè)晚上非常愉快。這頓飯也沒花我一分錢(set me back)。

Because of that experience, I will always remember that nice things still happen in a world that is driven by money. But, that is just my two cents worth. It is just my opinion.

由于這次經(jīng)驗(yàn)，我會(huì)永遠(yuǎn)記得，在由金錢驅(qū)動(dòng)的社會(huì)里，仍然會(huì)有美好的事情發(fā)生。但這只是我個(gè)人的意見(two cents worth)。