又中又英｜cast a pall - Michael Chugani 褚简宁

Omicron has cast a pall over the Year of the Tiger.

The Lunar New Year is around the corner, which means it's very near. Normally, the New Year is when people have large family meals, pray for good fortune in temples, visit friends and relatives, and give laisee packets. Many Hong Kong people go on holidays abroad or visit relatives on the mainland. But these are not normal times. The coronavirus pandemic has cast a pall over the Lunar New Year in Hong Kong. To cast a pall over something means to take the enjoyment out of or spoil the mood of something. Omicron has taken the enjoyment out of the Lunar New Year. The government has closed bars, cinemas, gyms, flower fairs, and other places.

Restaurants must close by 6pm except for take-out food. Restaurant and bar owners have cried foul. To cry foul means to protest strongly about something that people believe is unfair. Bar and restaurant owners are crying foul because they believe it's unfair for the government to shut their businesses at the busiest time of year. A family evening meal on the eve of the New Year is a very important occasion. Many Hong Kong families book restaurant tables in advance for this meal with family members and relatives. Most restaurant owners depend on Lunar New Year business to put them in the black.

If a business is in the black, it means it is profitable and has no debt. If a business is in the red, it means it has debts because it is not profitable. Many small restaurant owners fear they will be in the red because the fast-spreading Omicron virus may mean the government will ban dine-in service indefinitely at 6pm even after the Lunar New Year. It is Hong Kong's bad luck that Omicron has cast a pall over the Year of the Tiger. Some believe Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor is bad luck because so many bad things have happened during her time as chief executive. I don't know but I hope the Year of the Tiger will bring good fortune.
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农历新年是around the corner，意即它即将来临。通常来说，新年都是人们有大型家族聚餐、到庙宇祈求好运、探访亲友以及派利是的时候。许多香港人都会到外地度假，或是到内地探亲。然而，这已不再是正常的时期，全球大流行的新冠病毒疫情为香港的农历新年蒙上了一层阴影（cast a pall）。To cast a pall over something的意思是令某件事情变得乏味，扫了大家的兴致。Omicron病毒扫了大家度岁的兴致，政府已关闭了酒吧、戏院、健身室、年宵花市和其他场所。

除了外卖，食肆在晚上六时后一律禁堂食。餐厅和酒吧东主都在喊冤（cried foul）。To cry foul意即公开叫屈，为他们认为不公之事表达强烈不满。酒吧和餐厅东主都在鸣冤叫屈（crying foul），因为他们认为，政府要他们在年中最旺的时节停业是不公平的。新年除夕的团年饭是极其重要的活动，许多香港家庭都会预先订好餐厅、酒楼的枱，去跟家人和亲戚吃这顿饭。大部份餐厅东主都是靠农历新年期间的生意去令餐厅有盈利（in the black）。

若一盘生意是in the black，意即它有盈余而没有负债；若一盘生意是in the red，意即它有赤字亏损，因为它并不赚钱。许多小餐馆的店主都害怕生意出现赤字（in the red），因为Omicron病毒快速传播，意味着即使过了农历新年，政府或仍然无限期地禁止晚上六时后堂食。Omicron病毒给虎年盖上了一层阴霾（cast a pall），实属香港的不幸。有些人相信，特首林郑月娥就是衰运，因为她上任特首以来，有太多坏事发生；这我就不知道了，我只希望虎年可以带来好运。
中译：七刻