Catch-22 左右为难 进退两难

Catch-22 左右为难 进退两难

内容简介 菲菲申请了一份新工作，但由于经验不足而没能得到。Rob 说这样一来，菲菲处在一个 “catch-22” 的窘境。在本集节目中，Rob 和菲菲教大家这个出自长篇小说《第二十二条军规》的表达。

大家好，欢迎来到 BBC 英语教学的《》节目。我是冯菲菲。

Rob

And hello, it's Rob here too. Oh , why the glum face?

I didn't get it.

Rob

Get it?

I didn’t get the job.

Rob

Oh yes, the job. You went for a new job, one you really really wanted. One that you said you would be perfect for.

Clearly I’m not. 你看我收到的回绝信上说“经验不足”。But if I don't do the job, how do I get the experience?

Rob

Oh dear, it sounds like catch-22.

Catch-22 是什么？是什么证书吗？

Rob

Nope, it just describes a situation where you can't win. Basically, you can't do one thing until you have done another thing – which you can't do until you have done the first thing.

So it's an impossible situation. 原来“catch-22”这个说法出自英文小说“Catch-22《第二十二条军规》”，它在现代用语中表示“左右为难，无法摆脱的困境”。

Rob

Let's hear some examples of this phrase in action.

Examples

I need my parent's car, but my mum says I need permission from my dad, then my dad says I need permission from my mum. I can't get permission from either. So I'm in a catch-22 situation.

To apply for a short-term student visa to study English in the UK, you have to be able to speak some English, but you want to come to England to learn English! It's catch-22 for many potential students.

这里是 BBC 英语教学的《》节目。Rob 刚才说我现在处于一个“catch-22 situation”，也就是说我进退两难，怎么都不是。

Rob

Yes , you can't get a new job without some experience of doing it, but you can't get the experience without doing the job. It's catch-22!

It's a strange phrase, Rob.

Rob

Yes, as you mentioned earlier, it comes from a title of a book - Catch-22, written by Joseph Heller in 1961, which describes absurd bureaucratic constraints on soldiers in World War II.

But look , don't be too sad about the job, you've got plenty of experience for doing this job.

That's because I've been here for 40 years.

Rob

But we respect you for your expertise, especially in one task.

What's that?

Rob

Making the tea. Now could you put the kettle on please?

Oh, I really need a new job.

Rob

Bye.