Bumper to bumper
Meaning: Extremely heavy traffic where cars are so close together they're nearly touching bumpers.
Bumper-to-bumper traffic is the American commuter's nightmare. The phrase paints a vivid picture of an endless line of cars packed so tightly that each vehicle's front bumper is nearly touching the rear bumper of the car ahead. It also appears in car warranties — a 'bumper-to-bumper warranty' covers everything.
Examples
- It was bumper to bumper on the 405 this morning. 今早405号公路上车挤车,堵成一片。Esta mañana la 405 estaba parachoques con parachoques.今朝の405号線は数珠つなぎだった。오늘 아침 405번 고속도로가 꼬리에 꼬리를 물었어.
- We sat in bumper-to-bumper traffic for two hours. 我们在车挤车的堵车里坐了两个小时。Estuvimos dos horas metidos en un tráfico de parachoques con parachoques.2時間もノロノロ渋滞に座ってたよ。2시간 동안 꽉 막힌 차 속에 앉아 있었어.
- The new car comes with a five-year bumper-to-bumper warranty. 这辆新车提供五年全车质保。El coche nuevo viene con una garantía integral de cinco años.この新車には5年間のバンパー・トゥ・バンパー保証がついてくる。이 새 차에는 5년 범퍼 투 범퍼 보증이 포함되어 있어.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: traffic, commuting, car warranties
Tone: frustrated, descriptive
✓ Do Say
- Traffic is bumper to bumper from here to downtown.从这里到市中心一路堵得水泄不通。El tráfico está parachoques con parachoques desde aquí hasta el centro.ここからダウンタウンまでずっと数珠つなぎだよ。여기서 시내까지 꼬리에 꼬리를 물고 있어.
- It was bumper-to-bumper the whole way.一路上都是车挤车。Fue parachoques con parachoques todo el camino.道中ずっとノロノロ渋滞だった。내내 범퍼 투 범퍼였어.
✗ Don't Say
- Don't use for moderate traffic — bumper to bumper means barely moving不要用来形容一般的堵车——bumper to bumper意味着几乎走不动No lo uses para tráfico moderado: bumper to bumper significa que apenas se avanza普通の渋滞には使わない——bumper to bumperはほとんど動けない状態を意味する보통 수준의 교통량에는 사용하지 말 것 — 범퍼 투 범퍼는 거의 움직이지 않는 상태를 뜻한다
Origin & History
American English from the mid-20th century, describing the physical proximity of cars in heavy traffic. The bumper — the horizontal bar at the front and rear of a car — became the measuring unit for how packed the road was.
Cultural Context
Era: Mid-20th century
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
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