비행기로 장시간 여행을 하는 경우, 특히 비좁은 ‘economy class’에 앉아 여행을 하게 되면 다리에 쥐가 날 정도로 힘들지요. 특히 키가 크고 몸집이 큰 사람들은 더 불편하겠죠. 기차나 버스를 탔을 때도 다리를 뻗을 수 있는 공간이 너무 좁을 때가 있는데요, 그 공간을 ‘legroom’이라고 합니다. 여기서 ‘room’은 ‘여유’나 ‘공간’을 의미하지요. 따라서 ‘legroom’은 다리를 뻗을 수 있는 공간을 말합니다.

A: How was your flight?
B: It was fine, but I was a little cramped.
A: Where were you sitting on the plane?
B: I was in an economy class seat. There was not enough legroom for me. I had no elbowroom, either.

A: It sounds uncomfortable!
B: I had no room to breathe!
A: Economy class is not for tall people like you!
B: You can say that again!

이제 문장을 하나씩 다시 듣고 따라 하면서 의미를 살펴볼까요?
A: How was your flight?
비행기 여행 어땠어요?
* flight: 비행기 여행, 비행기 편, 비행

B: It was fine, but I was a little cramped.
그런 대로 좋았어요. 하지만 비좁아 갑갑했어요.
* cramped: 불편할 정도로 공간이 비좁은 (손발에 쥐가 나다는 ‘cramp’에서 유래된 단어)
A: Where were you sitting on the plane?
비행기 어디에 앉아왔어요?

B: I was in an economy class seat. 이코노미 석에 앉아왔어요. There was not enough legroom for me. 다리 뻗을 공간이 충분치 않았어요. I had no elbowroom, either. 팔꿈치 움직일 공간도 없었고요.
* legroom: (의자와 의자 사이에) 다리를 뻗을 수 있는 공간
* elbowroom: 팔꿈치를 움직일 수 있는 공간(여지), 활동할 수 있는 여지

A: It sounds uncomfortable!
불편했겠군요!
* uncomfortable: 불편한
B: I had no room to breathe!
숨쉴 공간도 없었어요!

A: Economy class is not for tall people like you!
이코노미 석은 당신처럼 키가 큰 사람한테는 안 어울려요!
B: You can say that again!
그렇다마다요!
* You can say that again!: (다시 말해도 좋을 만큼) 옳은 말씀입니다. 동감이에요.

이제 대화 내용 중에서 “다리 뻗을 공간이 부족했어요.”하는 표현을 활용해서 간단히 주고 받는 연습을 해볼까요?
A: How was your flight?
B: There was not enough legroom for me.
A: How did you like your flight?
B: I was cramped on the plane.

A: How was your flight?
비행기 여행 어땠어요?
B: There was not enough legroom for me.
다리 뻗을 공간이 부족했어요.

A: How did you like your flight?
비행기 여행 어땠어요?
B: I was cramped on the plane.
기내에서 비좁아서 힘들었어요.

이제 여러분들께서 한국말 표현을 영어 표현으로 말해보는 시간입니다.
비행기 여행 어땠어요?
How was your flight?
그런 대로 좋았어요. 하지만 비좁아 갑갑했어요.
It was fine, but I was a little cramped.

비행기 어디에 앉아왔어요?
Where were you sitting on the plane?
이코노미 석에 앉아왔어요.
I was in an economy class seat.

다리 뻗을 공간이 충분치 않았어요. 팔꿈치 움직일 공간도 없었고요.
There was not enough legroom for me. I had no elbowroom, either.

불편했겠군요!
It sounds uncomfortable!
숨쉴 공간도 없었어요!
I had no room to breath!

이코노미 석은 당신처럼 키가 큰 사람한테는 안 어울려요!
Economy class is not for tall people like you!
그렇다마다요!
You can say that again!

A: How was your flight?
B: It was fine, but I was a little cramped.
A: Where were you sitting on the plane?
B: I was in an economy class seat. There was not enough legroom for me. I had no elbowroom, either.

A: It sounds uncomfortable!
B: I had no room to breathe!
A: Economy class is not for tall people like you!
B: You can say that again!