英语短语“out of pocket”是一个与金钱/经济状态紧密相关的口语化表达,核心含义是“钱从口袋里出去”,衍生出以下3类常见用法:
指某笔费用由个人先行支付,而非由公司、保险或他人承担(可能后续报销,也可能无法报销)。
作形容词修饰名词时:需用连字符“out-of-pocket”(固定搭配:`out-of-pocket expenses` = 自付费用)。
常用结构:`pay for sth out of pocket`(自掏腰包付某事的钱);`be out of pocket for sth`(为某事垫付)。
例句:The company will reimburse you for any out-of-pocket expenses from the business trip (e.g., taxi fares, meals).(公司会报销你出差的所有自付费用,比如打车费、餐费。)
I had to pay for the laptop repair out of pocket because the warranty expired.(因为保修过期,我得自己掏腰包修电脑。)
If the insurance doesn’t cover the damage, you’ll be out of pocket for the full cost.(如果保险不赔,你得承担全部费用。)
描述个人暂时没有可支配资金的状态,相当于“broke”(穷的)或“short of money”(缺钱)。
用法:通常作表语(be out of pocket)。
例句:Don’t ask me to go shopping—I’m out of pocket until payday.(别叫我逛街,我要到发工资前都没钱了。)
After paying rent and utilities, I’m totally out of pocket this month.(付了房租和水电费后,我这个月彻底穷了。)
表示某件事导致他人花钱/赔钱,固定搭配为`leave someone out of pocket`(让某人掏腰包/受损失)。
例句:The cancelled concert left thousands of fans out of pocket for tickets and travel.(取消的演唱会让数千名粉丝因为门票和路费蒙受损失。)
The faulty product left many customers out of pocket by hundreds of dollars.(这个残次品让很多顾客损失了数百美元。)
1、 不要混淆:`out of pocket`≠`out of office`(后者指“不在办公室/岗位”)。
2、 与“out of cash”的区别:`out of cash`强调“没现金”,而`out of pocket`更泛指向“没钱”或“垫付”。
“out of pocket”的本质是“钱从口袋流出”——要么是自己付钱(垫付),要么是没钱(钱流光了),要么是让别人赔钱。记住常见搭配(如`out-of-pocket expenses`、`leave sb out of pocket`),结合语境就能准确使用!