Jessia在北京学中文，她的中国朋友要是遇到了不知道用美语怎么说的词，就会来请教她。今天是怡茹要问的：崩溃。

Jessica：Morning 怡茹! Oh..you don't look so well, are you sick?

YR: 生病倒没有，就是精神快崩溃了。老板让我做调研，一共需要1000多个样品数据! 我已经做了两个星期，头昏脑胀，可还是没做完! I am going crazy!

Jessica: Don't freak out yet. 怡茹，咱们一块想想办法!

YR: Wait a second...你说，freak out?

Jessica: Freak is spelled f-r-e-a-k, freak; freak out 就是崩溃的意思。

YR: OMG! That's totally me! I'm freaking out! 你说想办法，我已经上网找，问朋友，去图书馆查，都没有现成的数据，完全要自己一点一点搜集! 我觉得我已经走投无路了....

Jessica: Yeah... seems like you are at the end of your rope. This phrase basically means you are out of options. I'm so sorry 怡茹!

YR: At the end of my rope? 真形象。绳子到头了，没有别的办法。I'm SO at the end of my rope! Jessica，你说要是我无法按时完成任务，那可怎么办呀! 老板都催我两次了，我现在感觉如履薄冰。

Jessica: Yeah, being on thin ice is definitely not the best feeling in the world.

YR: On thin ice 就是中文里说的如履薄冰吧？太形象了。

Jessica: You know what? I'm not worried about you. I think you can definitely finish the assignment on time!

YR: 真的吗？好，那我加油，一定按时完成，做得漂漂亮亮的！

Jessica: That's the spirit!

YR: 我去了！ Bye Jessica!

Jessica: Wait 怡茹！ Before you go, tell me what you've learned today!

YR: 第一，崩溃可以用 to freak out;

第二，走投无路，无技可施是 at the end of someone's rope;

第三，如履薄冰是 on thin ice.