看美剧学英语高频短语：A drop in the bucket
A drop in the bucket：it means a very small or insignificant amount compared to what is needed, expected, or desired. It conveys the idea that one’s contribution or effort, though real, is too small to make a meaningful difference in the larger context. （指“九牛一毛、杯水车薪、沧海一粟”，比喻数量或作用微不足道，与整体需求相比毫无影响。这个短语源自“在一桶水里滴入一滴水”，暗示那一滴几乎不会改变整体状况。）
以下是英语高频短语“A drop in the bucket”在美剧语料库中的相关例句：
场景一：选自美剧《生活大爆炸》S12E17 18:19（Sheldon与Amy）
Sheldon: You know, spending time with Michael and Halley today 你知道吗，今天和迈克尔、哈利在一起
——>> really made me think about our future children. 真的让我开始畅想我们将来的孩子了。
Amy: What an interesting and completely unforeseen development. 多么有趣且完全出乎意料的发展。
——>> What are you thinking? 你在想什么？
Sheldon: Well, I just can’t decide. 嗯，我只是难以决定。
——>> Either five sets of triplets 是要五组三胞胎
——>> or three sets of quintuplets. 还是三组五胞胎。
Sheldon: You know what? It doesn’t matter as long as they’re healthy. 知道吗？只要他们健康，这都不重要。
——>> And divisible by three. 并且能被三整除。
Amy: That’s a lot of babies, Sheldon. 那孩子也太多了，谢尔顿。
Sheldon: Oh, only for humans. 哦，那只是对人类而言。
——>> For frogs, it’s just a drop in the bucket. 对青蛙来说，这不过是九牛一毛。
Amy: Well, I’m sorry I’m not a frog. 嗯，抱歉我不是青蛙。
Sheldon: Oh, don’t feel bad, Amy. 哦，别难过，艾米。
——>> You’re good enough for me. 你对我来说已经足够好了。
场景二：选自美剧《纸牌屋》S02E08 06:04 （Frank, Linda与Doug）
Linda: All the President has to do is pick up the phone, 总统只需要拿起电话，
——>> and the bridge is approved. 大桥项目就能获批。
Frank: If the President had wanted to be involved, 如果总统想介入，
——>> he would have already made that call. 他早就打过那个电话了。
Linda: It’s his initiative, Linda. 那是他提出的倡议，琳达。
Frank: Was his initiative. We’re in a trade war now. 曾经是。我们现在处于贸易战中。
——>> But that doesn’t mean we have to abandon good policy. 但这不意味着我们必须放弃好的政策。
Linda: It’s inconsistent with his current stance. 这与他当前的立场不一致。
Frank: The Committee on Foreign Investment has 30 days to approve. 外国投资委员会有30天的时间来批准。
——>> There’s only six days left. 现在只剩下6天了。
——>> They won’t act without a directive 没有美国总统的指示，
——>> from the President of the United States. 他们是不会行动的。
Linda: I’m confused, you’ve been the biggest proponent [prə’pəʊnənt] 我搞不懂，你一直是
——>> of a strong position against China. 对华采取强硬立场的最主要支持者。
Frank: That is not true. 这不是事实。
——>> I advocated the opposite early on. 我早期主张的是相反立场。
——>> You seem fixated on this bridge. 你似乎对这座桥念念不忘。
——>> Is something else going on here? 这里头还有什么别的事吗？
Doug: Unemployment is at nine-point-two, 失业率高达9.2，
——>> inflation is skyrocketing, 通胀率直线上升，
——>> we’re on the verge of losing our majority. 我们眼看就要失去多数党地位了。
——>> The president needs to offer a piece of good news. 总统需要拿出一点好消息。
Frank: A bridge? That’s a drop in the bucket. 一座桥？那不过是杯水车薪。
——>> Jobs, infrastructure, 就业，基础设施，
——>> deficit reduction— 削减赤字——
Linda: You’re still not being straight with me. 你还是没跟我交底。
Frank: I have no ulterior motive here, 我没有任何不可告人的动机，
——>> but if you feel that strongly 但如果你态度如此坚决，
——>> and the president feels that strongly, 总统也态度如此坚决，
——>> then I’ll back off. 那么我会退出。
——>> I won’t mention it again. 我不会再提了。
Linda: I think that’s a wise decision. 我认为这是个明智的决定。
——>> We should be a united front. 我们应该组成统一战线。
Frank: I couldn’t agree more. 我完全同意。
——>> Thank you. 谢谢。
Linda: Why does everything have to be a struggle? 为什么每件事都非得这么费劲？
——>> Can’t some people just say “Yes” for once? 有些人就不能痛痛快快说声“行”吗？
Doug: Sir. 先生。
Frank: I need the president’s schedule for the next two days. 我需要总统未来两天的日程。
Doug: She change her mind? 她改变主意了？
Frank: What do you think? 你说呢？
Doug: So what’s our next move? 那我们下一步怎么做？
Frank: I’ll focus on the bridge, 我来主攻大桥的事，
——>> you talk to the Indian affairs. 你去和印第安事务部谈。
——>> The sooner that Whitehall’s tribe gets recognized, 怀特霍尔的部落越早得到承认，
——>> the sooner they can break ground on that casino. 他们就能越早破土动工那个赌场。
Frank: Yes sir. 明白，先生。
场景三：选自美剧《纸牌屋》S03E05 09:56 （Doug, Dunbar与Cynthia）
Dunbar: What are you thinking in terms of salary? 薪资方面你有什么想法？
Doug: Twenty-two thousand per quarter. 每季度两万二。
Dunbar: That’s way below what I’m worth. Even in this state. 这远低于我的价值。即便在我现在这种境况下。
Doug: What do you think’s appropriate? 那你觉得多少合适？
Dunbar: Two-fifty and three points on the ad-buy. 二十五万，外加广告采购的三个点。
Doug: That’s beyond our means. 这我们负担不起。
Dunbar: No, it’s not. – 不，你们负担得起。
——>> It’s a drop in the bucket from your estate. 这对你的财产来说不过是九牛一毛。
——>> You said you wanted in because you believed in this campaign. 你说你加入是因为你相信这场竞选。
Doug: – That’s right. – 没错。
Dunbar: – Sounds like it’s more about money. – 听起来更像是为了钱。
Dunbar: It’s about being valued. Two-fifty and the points is a bargain. 这关乎被重视。二十五万加提点已经很便宜了。
——>> I want to work for you, just not as a beggar. 我想为你工作，但不是以乞丐的身份。
Cynthia: We don’t trust you yet, Doug. 我们还不信任你，道格。
——>> We don’t even halfway trust you, so you are a beggar. 我们连一半的信任都没有，所以你就是一个乞丐。
——>> And you shouldn’t trust me… until I prove myself. 而你也不该信任我……直到我证明自己。
Dunbar: That’s a gamble you don’t get to take 你想赌这一把，
——>> without putting chips on the table. 自己就得先放筹码上桌。
Cynthia: Cynthia and I will discuss. 辛西娅和我会讨论一下。
Dunbar: Thank you for your time. 感谢您的时间。
场景四：选自美剧《傲骨贤妻》S06E17 32:20 （Whiteman, Diane, Alicia, Mr.Dalton）
Whiteman: Braden v. Campbell– puntitives for invasion of privacy 布拉登诉坎贝尔案——因未经授权公开日记而引发的侵犯隐私权惩罚性赔偿
——>> stemming from the unauthorized publication of a diary. （同上句）
Diane: So we argue every E-mail hacked is like a diary entry. 所以我们的论点是，每一封被黑的邮件都像一篇日记。
Alicia: No. You have to settle this. 不。你们必须和解。
Blackman: The firm’s reputation can’t handle another dump. 律所的名声经不起又一次（邮件）倾泻了。
Alicia: The firm’s reputation, Ms. State’s Attorney? 律所的名声，州检察官女士？
——>> Your E-mails were noticeably absent 你的邮件明显没有出现在
——>> from the first dump, Alicia. 第一次的泄露中，艾丽西亚。
（A woman spitting on the office Glass） （一个女人朝办公室玻璃吐口水）
Diane: You’re going to clean that up! 你把那个给我擦干净！
Alicia: Our interests are aligned here. 我们在这件事上的利益是一致的。
Diane: Respectfully, Alicia, our interests have not been aligned 恕我直言，艾丽西亚，我们的利益从未一致过，
——>> since you used our office as a staging ground for your political career. 自从你利用我们律所作为你政治生涯的跳板之后。
——>> Have you read the last two years of E-mails? 你读过过去两年的邮件了吗？
——>> This one’s from Will to me, 这封是威尔写给我的，
——>> November 12, 2013. 2013年11月12日。
——>> “Alicia, can you meet with Sweeney tomorrow at 3:00? “艾丽西亚，你明天三点能和斯威尼见面吗？
——>> Our favorite wife-killing psycho has requested your presence.” 我们最爱的杀妻神经病点名要你在场。”
Diane: Diane, this one’s from you. 戴安，这封是你写的。
——>> Monday, June 3, 2013. 2013年6月3日，星期一。
——>> “Let’s huddle about the Connolly billings. “我们得碰头商量一下康诺利的账单问题。
——>> “I want to head that geriatric [ˌdʒeri’ætrɪk] blimp [blɪmp] off at the pass.” “我得拦住那个老古董顽固的保守分子（亦可指软式小型飞船），别让他瞎搞。”
Diane: Yes. 是的。
——>> We need to settle. 我们需要和解。
——>> Now. 马上。
Mr. Dalton: – No. – 不。
Alicia: – Mr. Dalton, $500,000 – 道尔顿先生，五十万美元
——>> at least gives you something. 至少能让您有所收获。
——>> It’s a drop in the bucket for Wharfmaster [‘hwɔːfmɑːstə(r)]. 对码头管理公司来说这只是九牛一毛。
Mr. Dalton: I want that arrogant son of a bitch out of business. 我要让那个傲慢的狗娘养的关门大吉。
Diane: Well, then at this time, 那么，在此时，
——>> we need to notify you that we are withdrawing as your counsel. 我们需要通知您，我们将退出此案，不再担任您的法律顾问。
——>> – What? – 什么？
Mr. Dalton: – Given the damage – 考虑到
——>> we’ve already incurred [ɪn’kɜːd] from that hack, 我们已经因那次黑客事件遭受的损害，
——>> we can’t continue in an effective capacity. 我们无法再有效地提供服务。
Alicia: But we can refer you to a number of excellent law firms. 但我们可以为您推荐几家优秀的律师事务所。
Mr. Dalton: You think a single one 你觉得有哪家律所
——>> would take me on after what happened to you? 在你们出了这种事之后还会接我的案子吗？
——>> We’re stuck with each other, Ms. Lockhart. 我们被绑在一起了，洛克哈特女士。
Diane: Mr. Dalton, our firm is undergoing a catas… 道尔顿先生，我们律所正在经历一场灾…
Mr. Dalton: No. Listen, you undertook an obligation to represent me. 不。听着，你们承担了代理我的义务。
——>> Now, you’re going to fulfill it. 现在，你们必须履行它。
以下是英语高频短语“A drop in the bucket”在日常交流与商务语境中的相关例句：
Daily Conversation:
-
Expressing Futility: “I know I recycled all my bottles today, but with all the plastic in the ocean, it feels like a drop in the bucket.”
（我知道我今天回收了所有的瓶子，但想到海洋里的塑料，这感觉就像是沧海一粟。） -
Describing Effort: “Volunteering for one weekend is nice, but to solve this problem, it’s just a drop in the bucket.”
（做一个周末的志愿者是好事，但要解决这个问题，这不过是杯水车薪。）
Business Context:
-
Budgeting: “The $10,000 cost-saving measure is a drop in the bucket compared to the company’s $10 million deficit.”
（与公司一千万美元的赤字相比，这一万美元的成本节约措施不过是九牛一毛。） -
Market Impact: “Our sales in the new region are growing, but for now, they’re just a drop in the bucket of our global revenue.”
（我们在新区域的销售额正在增长，但目前来说，这只是我们全球总收入的一小部分。）
