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And now, Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning English.
欢迎收听VOA慢速英语《词汇掌故》节目。
On this program we explore words and expressions in the English language.
在本节目中，我们探讨英语中的单词和短语。
We give you definitions, examples, and notes on usage.
我们给出释义，例子并对用法进行解释说明。
Sometimes we even use them in conversations.
有时我们会在对话中使用它们。
Today we talk about a common object.
今天我们谈论的是一个普通的物体。
Shoestrings are very useful for keeping our shoes on.
鞋带对我们穿鞋很有用。
But they are also useful for describing a situation where money is tight, meaning there is not much of it.
但它们也可以用来描述资金紧张的情况，意思是钱不多。
A budget is the amount of money available for some purpose.
预算是指用于某种目的的可用资金。
So, if you are on a shoestring budget, you do not have a lot of money.
因此，如果你的预算很少，意思是你没有很多钱。
You have just enough to get by.
你的钱只够勉强过活。
If you can get by on very little money, you are able to live on a shoestring.
live on a shoestring的意思是靠很少的钱过活。
Sometimes we shorten this expression and just say "on a shoestring."
有时我们会把这个短语缩写成“on a shoestring”。
We have other ways of describing this situation.
我们有其他方式来描述这种情况。
For example, you might say you are living paycheck-to-paycheck.
例如，你可能会说你勉强维持生计。
This means you get your paycheck but by the time your next one comes, you have used all your money to pay your bills.
意思是你拿到了薪水，但当你拿到下一份薪水时，你已经花光了所有的钱来支付账单。
Living paycheck-to-paycheck can also be called living hand-to-mouth.
勉强维持生计的生活也可以用living hand-to-mouth。
The money goes right into your hand and then you must buy the most basic of necessities – food.
钱直接到你的手中，然后你必须购买最基本的必需品——食物。
You do not have money to spend on extras.
你没有钱买额外的东西。
Everything you earn goes to pay for your immediate needs – things like, food, shelter, medicine, and transportation.
你赚的所有钱都用来支付你的直接需求——食物、住宿、药品和交通等——的费用。
But now let's go back to our shoestrings.
但现在让我们回到和“鞋带”相关的短语上。
You can do a lot of things "on a shoestring."
你可以“用很少的钱”做很多事情。
For example, if you can travel on a shoestring, you travel very cheaply.
例如，如果你可以用很少的钱旅行，意思是你用很低廉的成本旅行。
You do not spend money on costly hotels.
你不会把钱花在昂贵的酒店上。
You look for good deals.
你寻找划算的交易。
You might use coupons, discount offers or other ways to save money.
你可以使用优惠券、折扣优惠或其他省钱的方法。
And you may plan to travel at less costly times.
你可能会计划在价格更便宜的时候旅行。
People who travel on a shoestring are often called budget travelers.
用很少的钱旅行的人通常被称为预算节约型旅游者。
I learned how to travel on a shoestring when I studied in China.
在中国读书时，我学会了如何穷游。
As a student, I did not have much money.
作为一名学生，我没有多少钱。
So I traveled everywhere by train and stayed at universities.
所以我坐火车到处旅行，住在大学里。
Traveling on a shoestring let me go to many more places.
穷游让我去了更多的地方。
But how did shoestring come to describe a tight budget – one with little money?
但是，人们为何会用shoestring来形容预算紧张呢？
Well, some word experts say it comes from people who sold small items on the streets.
一些词汇专家表示，这个短语来自那些在街上卖小商品的人。
These items often included shoestrings.
这些物品通常包括鞋带。
Now let's hear two friends use this expression.
现在让我们来听两个朋友是如何使用这个短语的。
Hey, I hear you're going on vacation next week. Where are you off to?
嘿，我听说你下周要去度假。你要去哪里？
First, I'm going to Paris and then heading to Barcelona.
首先，我要去巴黎，然后去巴塞罗那。
Finally I'll finish up my trip in Milan.
最后，我将会在米兰结束我的旅行。
That is some trip! You must have saved up for a long time to have enough money for that kind of travel budget.
那真是一次了不起的旅行！你一定存了很长时间的钱才有足够的钱来支付那种旅行预算。
Not at all! I am an expert at traveling anywhere on a shoestring.
根本不是！我是穷游的专家。
In Paris, I'm staying with friends.
在巴黎，我和朋友住在一起。
In Barcelona, I found a cheap dorm room at a university.
在巴塞罗那，我在一所大学里找到了一间便宜的宿舍。
And in Milan, I'm working on a farm in exchange for a free room and meals.
在米兰，我在一个农场工作，以换取免费的食宿。
Wow, you are REALLY good at shoestring travel.
哇，你真的很擅长穷游。
By not spending a lot of money on hotels, you're able to go to more places.
不用在酒店上花很多钱，你就可以去更多的地方。
Exactly!
一点儿没错!
And that's all the time we have for this Words and This Stories.
以上就是本期《词汇掌故》节目的全部内容。
Are you learning English on a shoestring?
你是在用很少的钱学英语吗？
If so, keep listening to VOA Learning English.
如果是这样，请继续收听美国之音慢速英语。
Our high-quality content is free!
我们的优质内容是免费的！
Until next time … I'm Anna Matteo.
下次见……我是安娜·马特奥。
译文为可可英语翻译，未经授权请勿转载！
