关于陷入经济困境的英语表达

Americans have special ways of talking about economic troubles. People in business or families may say they feel the pinch. Or they may say they are up against it. Or, if things are really bad, they may say they have to throw in the towel.

A pinch is painful pressure. To feel the pinch is to suffer painful pressure involving money. The expression, feel the pinch, has been used since the 16th century. The famous English writer William Shakespeare wrote something very close to this in his great play “King Lear.” King Lear says he would accept necessity’s sharp pinch. He means he would have to do without many of the things he always had. Much later, the Times of London newspaper used the expression about bad economic times during the 1860s. It said, “so much money having been spent... All classes felt the pinch.”

Worse than feeling the pinch is being up against it. The saying means to be in a lot of trouble. Word expert James Rogers says the word “it” in the saying can mean any and all difficulties. He says the saying became popular in the United States and Canada in the late 19th century. Writer George Ade used it in a book called “Artie.” He wrote, “I saw I was up against it.”

Sometimes a business that is up against it will have to throw in the towel. This means to accept defeat or surrender. Throwing in the towel may mean that a company will have to declare bankruptcy(破产). The company will have to take legal steps to let people know it has no money to pay its debts. Most businesses do not throw in the towel. They just re-organize so they can compete better.

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1.What is the expression “feel the pinch” about?

A Being in big trouble.

B Financial difficulties.

C Physical pain.

D Family stress.

解析：选B。B 细节理解题。根据第二段的“To feel the pinch is to suffer painful pressure involving money.” 可 知 feel the pinch 是一个关于承受金钱方面压力的表 达，即财务困难。故选 B。

2.When was the expression “feel the pinch” first used in economic field?

A During the 1860s.

B Before the 16th century.

C In the late 19th century.

D After Shakespeare wrote King Lear.

解析：选A。A 细节理解题。根据第二段的“Much later, the Times of London newspaper used the expression about bad economic times during the 1860s.”可知 feel the pinch第一次用于经济领域是在19世纪60 年代。故选 A。

3.The word “it” in the phrase “up against it” refers to _________.

A the pinch

B busines

C the towel

D hardship

解析：选D。D 词义猜测题。根据第三段的“Word expert James Rogers says the word ‘it’ in the saying can mean any and all difficulties.可知 up against it 里面的 it 指的是任何困难。故选 D。

4.Which phrase will be used when a company has to close down?

A To feel the pinch.

B To throw in the towel.

C To be up against it.

D To accept the sharp pinch.

解析：选B。B 细节理解题。根据最后一段的“Sometimes a business that is up against it will have to throw in the towel. This means to accept defeat or surrender.”可 知，有时候遇到困难的企业将不得不 throw in the towel，这意味着接受失败，即倒闭。故选 B。