核心畫面

You can think of a gum tree as a very tall trunk that leaks something sticky and carries leaves with a sharp, cool smell. Two things about it stay with people: it is high, and you cannot easily get down from it once you are up there.

「gum tree」可以想成一棵又高又直的樹。樹皮被割開就滲出黏黏的膠,名字裡的 gum 就是從這裡來的。葉子搓破以更多收起「gum tree」可以想成一棵又高又直的樹。樹皮被割開就滲出黏黏的膠,名字裡的 gum 就是從這裡來的。葉子搓破以後有一股很衝、很清涼的味道,那就是尤加利精油。這棵樹留給人的印象有兩個:一是高,二是爬上去以後不好下來。第一個印象撐起它的本義,第二個印象撐起那句英式俚語。

Two branches

會流膠的高樹

照字面的意思:一棵會流出樹膠的樹。

noun · B1

A tall tree, especially a eucalyptus, whose leaves have a strong clean smell; the oil from the leaves is used in medicines, and the trunk leaks a sticky liquid called gum.

尤加利樹;桉樹

爬上去就下不來的困境

這一族用的不是樹本身,而是「人爬到那麼高的樹上」這個處境。

noun · C1

If you are up a gum tree, you are in a very difficult situation and cannot see an easy way out of it.

陷入困境;卡住了