2013-04-11
Source: http://news.hkheadline.com/dailynews/headline_news_detail_columnist.asp?id=233444§ion_name=wtt&kw=126
few days ago I had to squeeze into a packed (very full) MTR train during rush hour.The word squeeze can be used in numerous (many) ways,but the expression squeeze into means to push into or to fit into something small.For example, it is now the fashion to wear tight-fitting pants (trousers in British English).Fat people should not try to squeeze into slim-fit (tight-fitting) pants. But I have seen some women wearing them.The slim-fit pants made their fat legs look even fatter. To squeeze into a packed MTR train means to get in when there is very little space left.
I
couldn't even move a finger after I squeezed into the packed train because there were so many people inside.The expression "couldn't even move a finger"means it was hard to move any part of your body. You can, of course, move your finger in a packed train, but the expression simply means it was difficult to move. After two stops, a passenger squeezed in next to me. His face was almost touching mine. Then I saw him start to sneeze without covering his mouth. I panicked, which means I suddenly became very scared.
I panicked because I suddenly thought of the new avian (to do with birds) flu that is now killing people in eastern China. I know the new bird (avian) flu cannot yet spread from human to human (one person to another) but I still didn't want anyone sneezing into my face. I tried to turn around but couldn't because the train was too packed. I knew I only had a second or two before his sneeze came out. Everyone looked at me and wondered why I was pushing them so I could get away. Then the man's very loud sneeze came out, together with some sticky liquid from his nose, and everyone looked at him angrily. The MTR should put signs in trains that say: "No sneezing allowed. Penalty $500".
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數天前我在繁忙時間擠進(squeeze into)一列擁擠(packed)的港鐵列車。Squeeze這個字有許多(numerous)用法,習語squeeze into則解作擠進很小的空間裏。例如,潮流興緊身褲(pants,英式英語是trousers)。肥人最好就別嘗試擠進(squeezed into)貼身褲(slim-fit pants)裏去了。但我確曾見過有些女人穿貼身褲(slim-fit pants),反而令她們的肥腿顯得更肥。To squeeze into a packed MTR train即是擠進一個水洩不通的車廂。
當我擠進(squeezed into)那個擠迫(packed)的車廂後,我完全動彈不得(couldn't even move a finger),因為人太多了。習語couldn't even move a finger即是身體難以郁動,當然,你在擠迫(packed)的車廂裏還可以動動指頭。兩個站以後,有位乘客擠到(squeezed in)我身旁,他的臉幾乎碰到我的臉。然後我見到他開始不掩嘴打噴嚏。我霎時感到很驚慌(panicked)。
我驚恐(panicked)是因為我突然想起在中國東部地區的致命新型禽(avian)流感。我知道新型禽(avian)流感尚未能人傳人(human to human),但我仍不希望任何人打噴嚏在我的臉上。我努力迴避但不果,因為車廂實在太迫(packed)了。我知道他下個噴嚏之前我只有一兩秒的時間。人人都在側目,不明白為何我在推着他們,好讓自己能夠脫身。接着是那男人大大聲的「乞嚏」,伴隨着濃稠的鼻涕,人人向他怒目而視。港鐵好應在車廂內貼上告示:「嚴禁打噴嚏。違者罰款五百。」mickchug@gmail.com
中譯:七刻
Michael Chugani 褚簡寧