又中又英 | Pulled no punches | 褚简宁

　　Opinion polls show US President Donald Trump's Republican Party is floundering ahead of this November's midterm Congressional elections. To be floundering means to be facing great difficulties. Democrat candidates in the elections are not pulling punches in linking their Republican opponents to Trump's unpopular policies even though Trump, as president, is not a participant in Congressional elections. To pull punches means to show restraint or lessen your criticism to avoid offending someone. But if you are not pulling punches, it means you are not showing any restraint in criticizing someone.

　　Trump knows his deep unpopularity could hurt Republican candidates in this November's midterm Congressional elections. Republicans now control both Houses of Congress with slim majorities. Polls show the Democrats are almost certain to win back control of the House of Representatives and possibly even the Senate, giving them full control of Congress. Trump recently offered to give every adult American citizen US$5,000 if his Republican Party retains control of Congress. He said recipients must spend the money in the US. Critics have pulled no punches in accusing Trump of bribing voters, which is illegal.

　　Others have described Trump's proposed cash handouts as a form of helicopter money. The expression "helicopter money" means giving cash to people to stimulate a weak economy. The Hong Kong government gave every adult permanent resident helicopter money of HK$10,000 in 2020 to stimulate the economy during the Covid pandemic. Both Trump and President Joe Biden gave helicopter money to Americans during Covid. But critics of the US$5,000 say the US economy doesn’t need of stimulating even though Trump’s Iran war has raised gas and food prices. They say cash handouts will instead worsen inflation and US debt.

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　　民意调查显示，美国总统特朗普所属共和党在11月国会中期选举前，正在苦苦挣扎（floundering）。To be floundering是指要面对重重困难。民主党候选人在这场选举中，毫不手软地（not pulling punches）将他们的共和党对手扣连至特朗普那些不受欢迎的政策上，即使作为总统的特朗普并非国会选举的参与者。To pull punches是指手下留情，批评时有所保留，以免冒犯到他人。但若你are not pulling punches，那即是说你批评某人时毫不留情。

　　特朗普也知道，自己极度不得民心，足以在这11月的国会中期选举中损害到共和党的候选人。共和党人现正以微弱多数掌控着国会两院。民调显示，民主党几近肯定能夺回众议院，也很有可能同时拿下参议院，使他们能全面掌控国会。特朗普最近提出，若他的共和党得以维持掌控国会，可向每名美国公民派发5000美元。他说领取者必须在美国境内花费那笔钱。批评者毫不留情地（pulled no punches）指控特朗普贿赂选民，而这是违法的。

　　另一些人则形容特朗普提议的派钱为「直升机撒钱」（helicopter money）的一种。习语helicopter money是指用派钱的方式去刺激疲弱的经济。香港政府曾在2020年新冠肺炎疫情期间，给予每名香港永久居民一万港元的「飞来横财」（helicopter money）。总统特朗普和拜登都曾在疫情期间给美国人「直升机撒钱」（helicopter money）。但批评派5000美元的人则指，即使特朗普的伊朗战争推高了燃油和食物价格，美国经济也毋须这样刺激。他们说，派钱反而会恶化通胀和美国债务。

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　　Michael Chugani褚简宁
　　中译：七刻