“掉链子”（双语加油站）

“掉链子”的第一个意思是“自行车在行驶过程中,链条从传动的链轮上脱落，从而失去传动能力”。英语译为to come off。例如：

1. 当这个骑行者蹬车时，忽然发现它不前行。原来是掉链子了。When the bicyclist pedaled his bike, he suddenly found it refuse to move on. It turned out that its cycle chain had come off.“掉链子”的第二个意思是“事件在发展过程中的节骨眼上出现意外，没有达到预期效果就失败了”。英语译为to come to failure, to turn to failure。例如：

2. 他在实验关键时候掉链子，感到极其郁闷。As he came to failure at the critical moment in his experiment, he felt greatly depressed.

3. 这个篮球队在比赛快结束时，突然掉链子而输了球。The basketball team suddenly turned to failure and lost the match when the game drew to an end. ▲

（本栏目供稿：王逢鑫教授）