先看一句锦言名句：
We're all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the star.
身在井隅，心向璀璨。
——奥斯卡·王尔德《温德密尔夫人的扇子》
in the gutter原始含义：在排水沟；引申含义：处境艰难，困难潦倒，一文不名
gutter /ˈɡʌtər/
n.
（人行道旁的）排水沟，路旁排水沟，阴沟；（屋檐的）雨水槽，檐沟，天沟；（流水冲成的）沟；（地滚球球道两边的）槽；<口>贫民窟，贫困地区；<印>（书等）左右两页中间的空白，订口；一文不名，穷困潦倒；恶劣的社会环境，社会最底层的恶劣环境；道德沦落的社会最低阶层
v.
流，淌，（蜡烛）淌蜡，融流；开沟（或排水边沟、槽等）于；约束，管住；（火焰）趋于熄灭，忽明忽暗，摇曳不定；形成沟
adj.
贫贱的，下流的，粗俗的；迎合低级趣味的，黄色下流的；耸人听闻的
Did you fix the gutter?
你修过排水槽了吗？
There's a cigarette packet thrown into the gutter.
阴沟里有个香烟盒。
He installed rain gutters and downspouts.
他安装了雨水檐沟和排水管。
The gutter was choked with debris.
排水道被垃圾堵住了。
I took away the leaves in the gutters.
我清除了排水沟中的树叶。
Instead of ending up in jail or in the gutter he was remarkably successful.
结果他非但没有锒铛入狱或是穷困潦倒，反而功成名就。
——《柯林斯高阶英汉双解学习词典》
He picked her out of the gutter and made her a great lady.他使她脱离贫苦生活，并成为贵妇。
For twenty five years I've said that Tom would end in the gutter.
二十五年来，我一直说汤姆终会沦落街头。
"You'll end up in the gutter" his father warned.
而他的父亲则警告他：那样“你最终会沦为一个穷人”。
No matter how much I try to get out of the gutter.
无论我多么努力地要走出贫民窟。
be born in the gutter 出身贫苦
Lying in the gutter 低落的状态
end up in the gutter 落魄而死
She rose from the gutter to become a great star.
她是在贫民区成长起来的大明星。