我们讲的英语第173期:Not enough room to swing a cat 空间拥挤

(Li is accompanying Finn as he goes flat hunting)
（莉陪芬恩去找公寓）

Finn: This is flat number five, Li. I'm happy you came along to help me find a nice place to live.
芬恩：莉，这是五号公寓。我很高兴你过来帮我找好的居住地。

Li: Renting a new place is a big step, Finn. This one looks good. Look here. Big windows, lots of light coming in. Isn't it nice?
莉：芬恩，租新公寓是个重大的决定。这间公寓看起来不错。看看这里。这么大的窗户，有很多光线可以照射进来。是不是很棒？

Finn: Yeah. It's good but…
芬恩：是。是很好，但是……

Li: It's been painted recently. Look, the wooden floor is lovely!
莉：这间公寓近期刚粉刷过。看啊，那个木门多可爱啊！

Finn: Yes, you're right, it's lovely but… Li… there's not enough room to swing a cat!
芬恩：是，你说得对，是很可爱，但是，莉……这里太狭小了，连转身的地方都不够！

Li: A cat? Are you sure? No problem. I saw one outside. I'll be back in a minute.
莉：一只猫？你确定吗？没问题。我刚在外面看到了一只。我马上就回来。

(She leaves the room for a few seconds)
（她离开了房间几秒钟）

Finn: Li, what is this?!
芬恩：莉，这是什么？

Li: It's a cat, Finn. I didn't know you liked swinging cats around, but… well, this cat was just outside and you can try swinging it! Just be gentle with it.
莉：芬恩，是只猫。我不知道你喜欢晃动猫咪，不过……嗯，这只猫刚刚就在外面，你可以试着摇摆它！你要对它温柔点。

Finn: No, Li. I don't swing cats. In English, you use the expression 'there's not enough room to swing a cat' when you want to say a place is much too small.
芬恩：不是，莉。我并不是要摇摆猫。在英语中，你用there's not enough room to swing a cat这个表达该来来形容一个地方非常小。

Li: What a relief!
莉：真是松了口气！

Finn: 'Not enough room to swing a cat' is today's expression in The English We Speak. Let's hear some examples of how to use it.
芬恩：Not enough room to swing a cat就是今天地道英语节目要学的表达方式。我们来听些例句学习一下这个表达的用法。

Examples
例句

The library at my college was really small. There wasn't enough room to swing a cat!
我学校的图书馆非常小，连转身的地方都不够！

I can't work in this office. There's not enough room to swing a cat! Where will I put my books and my computer?
我不能在这间办公室工作，它真是太狭小了！我要把我的书和电脑放在哪里啊？

Finn: So, not enough room for me in this flat, Li. But thanks for coming with me all the same.
芬恩：所以，莉，对我来说这间公寓的大小不够。不过还是谢谢你和我一起过来。

Li: So what are you going to do, Finn?
莉：芬恩，你打算怎么做？

Finn: I think I'll just move in with my brother.
芬恩：我想我会搬去和我哥哥一起住。

Li: Is his flat small? Could you… swing a cat there?
莉：他的公寓小吗？你能……在那里和猫玩吗？

Finn: In my brother's house cats rule! He loves furry little animals.
芬恩：我哥哥家猫可是宝贝！他非常喜欢毛茸茸的小动物。

Li: Well, I think this cat might join you there. Let's go, Finn. Bye.
莉：嗯，我想这只猫可以和你一起住在你哥哥家。我们走吧，芬恩。再见。

Finn: Bye. And no cat was harmed in the recording of this programme. Isn't that right, Tubby?
芬恩：再见。没有猫咪给这期节目的录制带来影响。对吧，图比？

Tubby: Meow.
图比：喵。