“忙得四脚朝天”用英语怎么说

Donny在北京学中文。他的中国朋友要是遇到了不知道用美语怎么说的词，就会来请教他。今天是杨琳要问的：忙。

Donny：Hi 杨琳，what's up? I haven't seen you in ages.

YL: 别提了，我最近特别忙，I am really busy! 忙得四脚朝天，怎么说...four feet up!

Donny: four feet up? I can imagine. But in English, we don't say that...You can say I'm up to my neck in work.

YL: I'm up to my neck... in work ? 工作太多，堆到和脖子一样高？被工作压得喘不过气来。这个说法太形象了! 还有别的吗？

Donny: There is another expression that also has to do with body parts. It is "I've got my hands full".

YL: I've got my hands full。我明白了，就是说两手都没闲着。

Donny: Exactly. Oh, I just thought of another one---"I have a lot on my plate".

YL: I have a lot on my plate? plate, p-l-a-t-e, plate 不是盘子么？说盘子里有很多东西，那一定是...忙着吃呢吧？

Donny: That's possible! Anyway, when you say you have a lot on your plate, it means you're busy.

YL: 我知道了。哎呀，我快迟到了，快，再教最后一个。

Donny: Okay, this one will be easier to remember-- I've got a million things to do!

YL: 太夸张了吧! I've got a million things to do! 有一百万件事情等着我去做。

Donny: Right! Now, Yang Lin, tell me what you've learned today!

YL: 今天学到的还真不少。形容特别忙可以说，I'm up to my neck in work，工作堆到脖子了；I've got my hands full, 两手都占着呢；I have a lot on my plate，盘子里堆得满满的。哎呀! 我得赶紧走人了，I've got a million things to do!

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（来源：VOA英语教学 编辑：丹妮）