Jason: Man, I’m feeling the pinch as the gasoline prices keep going up!
Jen: I know. It’s ridiculous, isn’t it? You’re not the only one feeling the pinch of surging gasoline prices. Everyone else is too.
Jason: I hope the gas prices drop soon.
Jen: Same here.

본문에서 Jason이 “Man, I’m feeling the pinch as the gasoline prices keep going up! 요즘 기름값이 계속 올라서 돈에 쪼들려.”라고 하자, 제가 “I know. It’s ridiculous, isn’t it? 알아. 너무 심하지 않니? You’re not the only one feeling the pinch of surging gasoline prices. Everyone else is too. 기름값 때문에 돈에 쪼들린다고 느끼는 건 너뿐만이 아니야. 모두들 그래”라고 맞장구를 칩니다.

이어서 Jason이 “I hope the gas prices drop soon. 기름값이 얼른 내려갔으면 좋겠어.”라고 말하자, 저도 “Same here. 마찬가지야.” 라고 답합니다. Now keep today’s expression, ‘feel the pinch’ in mind and let’s hear the conversation again. 그럼 다시 한번 대화를 들어볼까요?

Jason: Man, I’m feeling the pinch as the gasoline prices keep going up!
Jen: I know. It’s ridiculous, isn’t it? You’re not the only one feeling the pinch of surging gasoline prices. Everyone else is too.
Jason: I hope the gas prices drop soon.
Jen: Same here.

Today’s expression is feel the pinch. You know that if somebody pinches you, it hurts right? Well, today’s expression gives off that same feeling of hurt. If you are feeling the pinch you are affected by hardship, especially financially. So basically you are financially restricted or you’re finding it more difficult to survive on your income.

'Feel the pinch’를 직역하면 ‘꼬집는 것을 느끼다.’ 지만, ‘돈에 쪼들리다.’는 뜻으로 쓰입니다. 만일 누군가에게 꼬집히면 따끔하고 아프겠죠? Feel the pinch는 이렇게 돈에 쪼들리고 경제적으로 힘들 때 쓰는 표현입니다.

오늘 본문에서 Jason이 요즘 기름값이 계속 올라서 돈에 쪼들린다고 합니다. “Man, I’m feeling the pinch as the gasoline prices keep going up!”라고요. 이처럼 금전적으로 어려운 상황일 때 쓸 수 있는 표현이 바로 ‘feel the pinch’입니다.

그럼 다른 예문을 좀 더 살펴볼까요? “The schools felt the pinch in the budget this year.” 이라는 문장은 “학교들은 올해 예산 문제로 어려움을 겪고 있다.”라는 뜻이 되겠죠. 마지막으로 오늘의 대화를 들어보겠습니다. Now that you know what today’s expression means, let’s listen to the conversation for the last time.

Jason: Man, I’m feeling the pinch as the gasoline prices keep going up!
Jen: I know. It’s ridiculous, isn’t it? You’re not the only one feeling the pinch of surging gasoline prices. Everyone else is too.
Jason: I hope the gas prices drop soon.
Jen: Same here.

Let’s review! If you are feeling the pinch you are affected by hardship, especially financially. FEEL THE PINCH.