點滴英語天天學第332期:雅思詞彙(192)

1. Expression：keep head above water

Explanation 1：To manage to survive, especially financially. （收入微薄以勉強維持生活，所掙之錢僅夠餬口，不欠債）

Example：We have so little money that we can hardly keep our heads above water.

我們的錢太少了，幾乎無法維持生活。

It's hard to keep your head above water on this much money.

靠這些錢維持生活是很苦難的。

Before the new highway was built, I could easily fill every table in my restaurant. These days, with fewer diners, it's become a struggle to stay in business. I'm barely keeping my head above water. I don't know how much longer I can afford to stay open.

沒有那條高速公路的時候，我的餐館裏總是坐得滿滿的。可如今，客人少多了，錢越來越難賺，能維持收支平衡就已經很不容易了。我真不知道還能堅持多久。

My wife and I are excited about furnishing our new house in North Carolina. But since we still haven't sold our old place back in Massachusetts, it's been a huge financial challenge. So far we've kept our heads above water. We only hope we can find a buyer soon!

我跟太太正在裝修北卡羅來納州的新房子，興奮極了。但是因爲我們在麻薩諸塞州的舊房子還沒有脫手，所以財務上壓力很大。到目前爲止，我們還能勉強支撐着，真希望能儘快找到買主。

Explanation 2：To keep up with one's work. （趕得上……）

Example ：It's all I can do to keep my head above water with the work I have. I can't take on any more.

我能做的就是趕完我手頭上的工作，我可不能再接更多的活兒了。

We have so many orders that we can hardly keep our heads above water.

我們有太多訂單了，幾乎做不過來。

2. Expression：keep the wolf from the door

Explanation：To keep from starving, freezing, etc. （避免挨餓受凍，維持生計）

Example：We have a small amount of money saved, hardly enough to keep the wolf from the door.

我們省下的錢很少，幾乎不夠維持生計。

We were extremely poor then, and begging for scraps was all I could do to keep the wolf from the door.

我們當時窮得一貧如洗，我只能乞討殘羹剩飯來維持生計。

This loan will keep the wolf from the door, at least, but I'm worried it won't last long.

這筆貸款至少能維持生計，但我擔心它維持不了多久。

A: I hear you are just promoted. You should change your car, right?

聽說你剛晉升了，現在該換部車了吧？

B: Of course not. You know that I have got three children to feed. So despite my high salary, I can just keep the wolf from the door.

不行，你知道我有三個小孩要撫養。所以雖然收入可觀，但是也只是勉強度日。