* 13 Trouble
13.1�� When you admit that you are in trouble
I�m in trouble.�� Listen�� <�I lost my job. I�m in trouble.�>
I�m in big trouble.�� Listen�� <�I�ve been looking for a job for six months. I failed to find it. I�m in big trouble.�>
I�m in deep trouble.�� Listen�� <�I lost my house. I�m in deep trouble.�>
I�m in a fix.�� Listen�� �I�m in trouble.��� <�I crashed my father�s car. I�m in a fix.�>
I�m in a jam.�� Listen�� (also in a pickle or in a tight spot)�� <�I broke the law and got caught. I�m in a jam.�>
I�m in way over my head.�� Listen�� A �I am in trouble very deep.��� <�I�m under criminal investigation. I�m in way over my head.�>
I�m under water.�� Listen�� <�The value of my home is below my mortgage. In other words, I owe more money on my house than my house costs. I�m under water.�>
I�m having quite a time.�� Listen�� A �I am having a difficult time.��� <�How is your financial situation?� � �I�m having quite a time. I�ve been out of work for a few months.�>
My job is on the line. Listen A “My job is at risk.” <“Our project isn’t doing well. My job is on the line.”>
My reputation is on the line.�� Listen�� <�I�m involved in a scandal. My reputation is on the line.�>
My reputation is at stake. Listen A “My reputation is at risk.” <“I’m under scrutiny. My reputation is at stake.”>
I�m damned if I do and damned if I don�t.�� Listen�� A �I�m in trouble if I do it and in trouble if I don�t do it.��� <�No matter what I do, I�m in trouble. I�m damned if I do and damned if I don�t.�>
13.2�� When a person is in trouble
What kind of mess did you get yourself into?�� Listen�� <�I�m aware that you�re in trouble. What kind of mess did you get yourself into?�>
How could you get yourself into such a mess?�� Listen�� <�Now you have to pay a big fine. How could you get yourself into such a mess?�>
How could you be so stupid?�� Listen�� <�Why didn�t you pay taxes for three years? How could you be so stupid?�>
How could you do something so stupid?�� Listen�� <�Why did you ignore the court�s decision? Now they can arrest you. How could you do something so stupid?�>
How are you going to get out of this mess? Listen <“Do you understand that you can go to jail for that? How are you going to get out of this mess?”>
How are you going to dig yourself out of this one? Listen <“The police are saying your case was not just a traffic accident. It was a hit-and-run. How are you going to dig yourself out of this one?”>
How are you going to dig yourself out of this grave?�� Listen�� <�Now you�re on the run and all the police of the state are after you. How are you going to dig yourself out of this grave?�>
You have messed up your life.�� Listen�� <�Why did you argue with the judge? How could you be so stupid? You�ve messed up your life.�>
You have really screwed up.�� Listen�� <�You got arrested for drunk driving. You have really screwed up.�>
You're up the creek.�� Listen�� A �You have to row upstream. You are in a difficult situation.��� (sometimes You're up the creek without a paddle.)�� <�You did it to yourself. You're up the creek.�>
You asked for it.�� Listen�� A �You caused this trouble yourself.��� <�Your own actions brought you to this dire situation. You asked for it.�>
The chickens have come home to roost.�� Listen�� A �The problems created by you have returned to you.��� <�You assumed too much debt upon yourself, and now you can�t pay it back. The chickens have come home to roost.�>
13.3�� When you admit that you are out of money
I�ve lost everything.�� Listen�� <�The stock market crashed. I�ve lost everything.�>
I�m bankrupt.�� Listen�� <�I�ve lost all my money. I�m bankrupt.�>
I�m broke.�� Listen�� <�I�ve had too many bad deals. I�m broke.�>
I�m dead broke.�� Listen�� <�I lost my money in Las Vegas. I�m dead broke.�>
I�m flat broke.�� Listen�� <�I lost my money to gambling. I�m flat broke.�>
I have nothing.�� Listen�� <�My stocks and bonds are gone. I have nothing.�>
I�ve got nothing but the shirt on my back.�� Listen�� <�My money is gone. I�ve got nothing but the shirt on my back.�>
I don�t have a penny to my name.�� Listen�� <�I drank too much. I don�t have a penny to my name.�>
All I have is my good name.�� Listen�� <�I don�t have much money. All I have is my good name.�>
I�m as poor as a church mouse.�� Listen�� <�If you are looking for money, you�ve got to look in a different direction. I am poor as a church mouse.�>
13.4�� When you want to stop a person from starting trouble
Don�t make trouble.�� Listen�� <�We all work for the same cause. Don�t blab about what we do here. Don�t make trouble.�>
Don�t go looking for trouble.�� Listen�� <�I want to warn you, stay away from those you don�t know well. Don�t go looking for trouble.�>
Are you asking for trouble?�� Listen�� <�What are you trying to find out? Why are you so nosy? Are you asking for trouble?�>
Don�t rock the boat.�� Listen�� A �Don�t disturb a stable situation.��� <�When you give an interview, be very careful. Don�t tell them too much. Don�t rock the boat.�>
Stop stirring things up.�� Listen�� <�Stop communicating with our political opponents. Stop stirring things up.�>
Don�t you have anything better to do?�� Listen�� <�Why do you journalists spy on people? Don�t you have anything better to do?�>
You like to make havoc, don�t you?�� Listen�� <�I know, there was a conflict at every place where you have worked. You like to make havoc, don�t you?�>
13.5�� When a person is in debt
He is up to his eyeballs in debt.�� Listen�� <�He has a mortgage and a huge loan from a bank. He is up to his eyeballs in debt.�>
She is up to her ears in debt.�� Listen�� <�She has several credit cards and she likes shopping. She is up to her ears in debt.�>
He is borrowing from Peter to pay Paul.�� Listen�� <�He has several high-interest private loans. He is borrowing from Peter to pay Paul.�>
He is in the red.�� Listen�� A �He is not in the black. He is in the negative.��� <�His expenditure significantly exceeds his income, and he borrows money to cover the deficit. He is in the red.�>
13.6�� When you see a person falling from a boat into the water
Man overboard!�� Listen�� <When the sailor saw a girl in the water, he threw her a life raft and shouted, �Man overboard!�>
Get a lifeguard!�� Listen�� <The lady saw a drowning man near to her and shouted, �Get a lifeguard!�>
13.7�� When you see a building on fire
Fire!�� Listen�� <Frightened people ran from the burning theater shouting �Fire!�>
Call the fire department!�� Listen�� <The cop saw a fire and told his partner, �Call the fire department.�>
13.8�� When you have survived a trouble
I�ve been to hell and back.�� Listen�� A �I have survived a good deal of trouble.��� <�I�ve seen a lot of trouble in my life. I�ve been to hell and back.�>
I made it against all odds.�� Listen�� A �I survived even though my chances were slim.��� <�The war was awful. I lost many friends. I made it against all odds.�>
I�m out of the woods.�� Listen�� A �My troubles are over.��� <�My wound is much better now. I�m out of the woods.�>
I�m alive and kicking.�� Listen�� A �I am alive and full of energy.��� <�My ordeal is over. I�m alive and kicking.�>
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