Should you give money to people on the street?
老兄，你有一塊錢嗎？ 該不該掏錢給在路上跟你討錢的人？
You may have seen people asking strangers for money on the street. In some parts of the world, they are called beggars. In the U.S. and Canada, they are known as panhandlers. Some sit quietly with a hand-written sign asking for help. Others approach people directly. Some are polite, and some are rude. Some may even threaten people who don't give them money. Most of them definitely need money. But should you give it to them when they ask?
Small business partners Mel and Dave just encountered a panhandler on their way to lunch.
(inside coffee shop) I noticed you gave that guy out on the street some money. Do you always give to panhandlers?
No, not always. If I did, I wouldn't have any money for myself. It seems they're everywhere these days.
It sure does. I never give money to any of them.
But that guy said he was hungry. And he sure looked hungry.
Maybe. But he'll probably buy alcohol or drugs with your money instead of food.
We don't know that. He might be getting something to eat right now.
Info Cloud
Beggars can’t be choosers. 別無選擇，一定要接受一件事情的時候
Hello. Welcome to Info Cloud, friends. Rex, I'm so hungry. I know there are some yummy snacks in the break room. I can't wait to eat some.
Sorry, Anne Marie. But the only thing left is a piece of bread, and it's not the kind you like. Oh. Well, I'm so hungry, I'll eat it anyway.
Beggars can't be choosers.
Beggars can't be choosers. Now that's a good phrase. Let's talk about that today. Can you explain to our friends what a beggar is?
Sure. A beggar is someone homeless or destitute. Beggars sometimes stand on the side of the road and beg for money.
Beggars are poor and can't choose what they are given. When someone decides to donate money or food to them, they take it and are thankful for it.
So when we use the phrase "beggars can't be choosers," it means you don't have a choice, and you will be happy with what you can get. Here's an example.
There haven't been many available shifts to work this weekend. I didn't want to work Saturday night. But beggars can't be choosers, I'll take what I can get.
I'll definitely take what I can get when it comes to snacks. I'm hungry, and beggars can't be choosers.
今天要跟大家分享的這個流行用語相當有趣，那就是 Beggars can’t be choosers. 這句話字面上是乞丐沒得選擇。當你遇到別無選擇，一定要接受一件事情的時候，就可以說: Beggars can’t be choosers. 例如，你如果餓到受不了了，家裡只剩下泡麵，你只能說: Well, beggars can’t be choosers. 我沒得選，只能吃泡麵了。beggars 這個字有一種迫切感，choosers 就是選擇的人。
Language Lab
approach v. 靠近、接近
to move or become near or nearer to something or someone
- Before the train even approached the station, people were already waiting in line on the platform.
火車還沒有接近火車站，月台上的人都已經排好隊了。
approach v. 為了金錢或商業而聯繫
to start talking to (someone) for some purpose (such as to ask a question or make a request)
- The inventor needed more money to mass-produce his product, so he approached several investors to see if anyone would be interested in investing.
那位發明家需要更多錢來大量生產他的產品，於是他接下幾位投資者，看看誰有興趣投資。
approach n. 方法
a way of dealing with something : a way of doing or thinking about something
- When it comes to problem-solving, Elva always prefers the direct approach.
Elva 處理問題時，喜歡用直接的方法來處理。
threaten v. 威脅、恐嚇
to say that you will harm someone or do something unpleasant or unwanted especially in order to make someone do what you want
- Mr. Thomas threatened his neighbor with an axe, so his neighbor called the police.
Thomas 先生拿著斧頭威脅著他的鄰居，所以鄰居就報警。
threaten v. 可能帶來危害
used to say that something bad or harmful appears likely or possible
- The typhoon threatened the communities along the coast.
颱風可能危害到海岸沿線的社區。
- Before the tsunami hit the island, farmers noticed their animals behaving strangely and knew something bad was threatening the island.
海嘯還沒有襲擊小島前，農夫們注意到動物奇怪的行為，然後就知道有不好的事情即將發生。
threaten v. 當一個人的職位、人格或自信受到威脅
to be something that is likely to cause harm to (someone or something) : to be a threat to (someone or something)
- The Evil Queen wanted to be the most beautiful woman in the kingdom and felt threatened by the beautiful Princess Snow White.
邪惡的皇后想要成為王國裡最美麗的女人，而美麗的白雪公主卻讓她感受到威脅。
encounter v. 遇到 (未經安排的相遇)
to meet (someone) without expecting or intending to
- When Tiffany came home, she encountered a stranger sticking a flyer onto her front door.
Tiffany 回家時，碰到一位陌生人正在把一張傳單貼在她的大門上。
- There is usually nobody at the park whenever Davis goes for a run, but today he encountered a lovely woman who was there with her dog.
Davis 在公園裡慢跑時，通常都沒有人，但是今天他卻遇到一位正在遛狗的美女。
encounter n.偶然的相遇
a meeting that is not planned or expected
- Debbie met a handsome stranger while she was vacationing in Hawaii, and that encounter became the most memorable part of her trip.
Debbie 在夏威夷度假時，遇到一位英俊的陌生人，而那次相遇成為Debbie 夏威夷之行最難忘的一部分。
- Ryan likes to tell the story of his encounter with a funny old lady at the bus stop. Ryan 喜歡分享他在公車站遇見一位有趣老太太的故事。
alcohol n. 酒、含酒精的飲料 ; 乙醇
a clear liquid that has a strong smell, that is used in some medicines and other products, and that is the substance in liquors (such as beer, wine, or whiskey) that can make a person drunk
drinks containing alcohol
- You should not be driving if you already drank some alcohol.
你既然喝了酒，就不應該開車。
- This cologne contains 80% alcohol.
這瓶古龍水的乙醇濃度有百分之八十。
alcoholic adj. 東西跟酒/酒精有關
of, containing, or caused by alcohol
- This restaurant does not serve any alcoholic drinks.
這一家餐廳不供應含酒精的飲料。
alcoholic n. 酗酒者
a person who frequently drinks too much alcohol and is unable to live a normal and healthy life : a person who is affected with alcoholism
- An alcoholic is someone who feels the need to drink alcohol very often.
一位酗酒者會覺得需要常常喝酒。
panhandle v.
/ˈpænˌhændl̟/
to ask strangers for money in a public place (such as on a sidewalk)
- There is a law against panhandling in the subway.
