"poor as church mice" in Chinese (Simplified)

• 穷得像教堂里的老鼠

Definition

形容某人非常穷，几乎没有钱，通常以比喻、幽默的方式表达极端贫困。

Usage Notes (Chinese (Simplified))

这是一个非正式的表达，通常带有幽默或同情的语气。不是字面意思，不是真的老鼠。常用来形容生活拮据：'他们穷得像教堂里的老鼠'。类似说法有：'身无分文'、'穷得叮当响'。

Examples

After losing his job, Tom was poor as church mice.

汤姆失业后，**穷得像教堂里的老鼠**。

They lived poor as church mice for years.

他们多年来一直**穷得像教堂里的老鼠**。

When I was a student, I was poor as church mice.

我学生时代**穷得像教堂里的老鼠**。

We didn’t have a cent to our name—honestly, we were poor as church mice back then.

那时候我们身无分文，真的**穷得像教堂里的老鼠**。

I’d help if I could, but I’m poor as church mice myself right now.

如果可以我肯定会帮，不过我现在自己也**穷得像教堂里的老鼠**。

Back in college, my friends and I joked that we were all poor as church mice every month before payday.

大学时，我和朋友们常开玩笑说每次发工资前我们都**穷得像教堂里的老鼠**。