时差N小时 承受极大压力

If you love your job, part of the reason may be that you freely chose the work that you do. You were not forced to do it. But imagine a situation during wartime in which there were some soldiers or guards with guns standing¹ above you, forcing you to do that same job. Suddenly it would not be pleasurable work anymore.

如果你热爱工作，原因之一可能是你可以按照自己的意愿来选择工作，而不是被迫的。但是，想象一下这种场景，一些战士或警卫拿着枪站在你面前，强迫你做同样的事情。忽然间，这份工作变得不再有趣。

The fear that you might be harmed if you did not work quickly and efficiently² would be very stressful. There would be a sense of danger as you worked below the level where the gunmen were standing. Working "under the gun" of a watchful³ and hostile master would make anyone nervous. Thus, although no one we can see nearby may have an actual gun, we use this idiom in any work situation where the workers are put under strong pressure to perform quickly and efficiently.

如果你不快速而有效率地工作，你就会被伤害，这种恐惧会压得你喘不过气来。当持枪的人站在你面前，而你的工作却处于平均水平以下，就会产生一种危机感。在警惕和充满敌意的主人枪下干活，会使任何人感到紧张。因此，虽然我们周围所看到的人没有一把真枪，但是我们可以用这个惯用词来描述这种工作环境：工人被强大的压力驱使着快速高效地工作着。

1 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

2 efficiently   

adv.高效率地，有能力地

参考例句：

• The worker oils the machine to operate it more efficiently.工人给机器上油以使机器运转更有效。
• Local authorities have to learn to allocate resources efficiently.地方政府必须学会有效地分配资源。

3 watchful   

adj.注意的，警惕的

参考例句：

• The children played under the watchful eye of their father.孩子们在父亲的小心照看下玩耍。
• It is important that health organizations remain watchful.卫生组织保持警惕是极为重要的。