I think people everywhere dream about having lots of money. I know I do. I would give anything to make money hand over fist. I would like to earn large amounts of money. You could win a large amount of money in the United States through lotteries. People pay money for tickets with numbers. If your combination of numbers is chosen, you win a huge amount of money – often in the millions. Winning the lottery is a windfall.
* make(lost) money hand over fist = 일확천금을 벌다/순식간에 엄청난 돈을 잃다/ lottery = 로또/ windfall = 우발적인 소득; 뜻밖의 횡재
A few years ago, my friend Al won the lottery. It changed his life. He did not have a rich family. He was not born with a silver spoon in his mouth. Instead, my friend was always hard up for cash. He did not have much money. And the money he did earn was chicken feed – very little.
* born with a silver spoon in one's mouth = 복을 타고 태어나다; 부자집에 태어나다/ be hard up (for sth) = 돈에 쪼들리는/ chicken feed = 푼돈
Sometimes Al even had to accept hand-outs, gifts from his family and friends. But do not get me wrong. My friend was not a deadbeat. He was not the kind of person who never paid the money he owed. He simply pinched pennies. He was always very careful with the money he spent. In fact, he was often a cheapskate. He did not like to spend money. The worst times were when he was flat broke and had no money at all.
* handout = (가난한 사람들에게) 거저 주는것/ deadbeat = 빚을 떼어먹으려는 사람(회사); 게으름뱅이/ pinch pennies = 인색하게 굴다, 절약하다/ cheapskate = 구도쇠/ flat broke = 완전 거덜 난(쪽박을 차게 된)
One day, Al scraped together a few dollars for a lottery ticket. He thought he would never strike it rich or gain lots of money unexpectedly. But his combination of numbers was chosen and he won the lottery. He hit the jackpot. He won a great deal of money.
* scrape (sth) together(or up) = ~을 어렵게 구하다(모으다)/ strike it rich = 큰 벼락부자가 되다/ hit the jackpot = (도박, 복권에서) 대박을 터뜨리다
Al was so excited. The first thing he did was buy a costly new car. He splurged on the one thing that he normally would not buy. Then he started spending money on unnecessary things. He started to waste it. It was like he had money to burn. He had more money than he needed and it was burning a hole in his pocket so he spent it quickly.
* splurge (sth on sth) = 돈을 물 쓰듯 쓰다/ have money to burn = 돈이 남아돌다(썩어 나다)/ burn a hole in one's pocket = 곧 써서 없어지다
When we got together for a meal at a restaurant, Al paid every time. He would always foot the bill, and pick up the tab. He told me the money made him feel like a million dollars. He was very happy.
* foot the bill = 비용을 부다하다/ pick up the tab = (~에 대한 돈을) 지불하다/ feel(or look) like a million dollars = 아주 좋아 보이다
But, Al spent too much money. Soon my friend was down and out again. He had no money left. He was back to being strapped for cash. He had spent his bottom dollar, his very last amount. He did not even build up a nest egg. He had not saved any of the money.
* be down and out = 빈털터리인; 노숙자 신세인/ be strapped for cash = 돈에 쪼들리는/ bottom dollar = 최후의(남은) 돈/ nest egg = 비상금, 저축금
I admit I do feel sorry for my friend. He had enough money to live like a king. Instead, he is back to living on a shoestring -- a very low budget. Some might say he is penny wise and pound foolish. He was wise about small things, but not about important things.
* (be, live, do sth) on a shoestring = 돈을 아주 적게 쓰는/ penny wise and pound foolish = 소탐대실; 한푼 아끼려다 열냥 잃는다
