日常口语: 进退两难 20090525

我爱英语

Creek是溪流，以前这个习惯用语是up the creek without a paddle。 Paddle是桨，可以想象如果有人乘小船逆流而上手头却没有桨，处境该有多难。使用这个习惯用语的人很快就省略了without a paddle，只是说up the creek来表达同样的意思。我们看个例子来体会它的含义吧。这是个小伙子在说他跟女朋友Mary的关系陷于僵局。


I'm sure up the creek with Mary. I took this new girl in the office out to dinner just to get acquainted. And Mary happened to see us. Now she won't even answer my calls. 他带办公室新来的女孩出去吃饭，其实只想彼此熟悉一下，但是让Mary撞见,这可惹出麻烦来了，现在Mary连他的电话都不肯接。

所以他说: I’m sure up the creek with Mary，意思是我和Mary真是处于僵局。Up the creek意思是处于僵局的，或者陷于困境的。
我们再看个例子。这回说话的是个自讨苦吃的大学生。他一心贪玩，学习松懈，成绩直线下降，以致保不住减免学费的奖学金了。我们看看他的尴尬处境

I sure had a good time last semester - I didn't have much time to study. But now I'm up the creek; I certainly don't have the tuition money and I hate to ask dad to pay it. 我上学期玩儿得可真痛快，简直没时间念书了。 但是现在我可进退两难了：我自己当然没钱交学费，而我实在不愿意向爸爸开口要。
这里的up the creek用来描绘进退两难的困境。

boyhou

up the creek  处于困境
I'll be up the creek if I don't pass this history test.
我若不能通过这次历史考试, 麻烦可就大了。

Mablegu

Up the creek 处于僵局或陷入困境

jieya

up the creek进退两难

shunshun77

dilema和up the creek有区别吗？

shunshun77

dilema和up the creek有区别吗？

kobe0320

I'm  sure up the creek with my dad

yumentoudu

up the creek
betewen rock and hard place

追逐恒星

up the creek with sb

wenbiyao

up the creek进退两难