Catch-22 左右為難進退兩難

[圖片來源：Getty Images]

內容簡介

菲菲申請瞭一份新工作，但由於經驗不足而沒能得到。Rob 說這樣一來，菲菲處在一個 “catch-22” 的窘境。在本集節目中，Rob 和菲菲教大傢這個出自長篇小說《第二十二條軍規》的表達。

文字稿

（關於臺詞的備註: 請註意這不是廣播節目的逐字稿件。本文稿可能沒有體現錄制、編輯過程中對節目做出的改變。）

Feifei
大傢好，歡迎來到 AYYBLOG 英語教學的《地道英語》節目。我是馮菲菲。

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

Feifei
I didn’t get it.

Rob
Get it?

Feifei
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.

Feifei
Clearly I’m not. 你看我收到的回絕信上說“經驗不足”。But if I don’t do the job, how do I get the experience?

Rob
Oh dear, it sounds like catch-22.

Feifei
Catch-22 是什麼？是什麼證書嗎？

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.

Feifei
So it’s an impossible situation. 原來“catch-22”這個說法出自英文小說“Catch-22《第二十二條軍規》”，它在現代用語中表示“左右為難，無法擺脫的困境”。

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.

Feifei
這裡是 AYYBLOG 英語教學的《地道英語》節目。Rob 剛才說我現在處於一個“catch-22 situation”，也就是說我進退兩難，怎麼都不是。

Rob
Yes Feifei, 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!

Feifei
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 Feifei, don’t be too sad about the job, you’ve got plenty of experience for doing this job.

Feifei
That’s because I’ve been here for 40 years.

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

Feifei
What’s that?

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

Feifei
Oh, I really need a new job.

Rob
Bye.