crunching

1. vt. & vi. 嘎吱嘎吱地咬嚼 crush (food) noisily with teeth
2. vi. 嘎吱作响 make a noise like the sound of sth being crushed

1. [S]嘎吱的响声 a crunching sound
2. [S]需要作出重要决策的困难时刻 a difficult moment when sth important must be decided

credit crunch 信贷紧缩；信贷危机（等于credit crisis）

crunch time关键时刻；关键时间

1. The frozen snow crunched under our feet.
   冻结的雪在我们的脚下嘎吱作响。
2. The wheels crunched the gravel.
   车轮碾在碎石上嘎吱嘎吱地响。

1. There was a crunch as he bit the apple.
   在他咬苹果时，发出嘎扎一响。
2. He was caught in a financial crunch.
   他陷入财政危机。
3. We are today facing a serious credit crunch.
   我们今日正面对严重的信贷困难。
4. When it comes to the crunch they will support us.
   到紧要关头他们会支持我们的。
5. He always says he'll help, but when it comes to the crunch, he does nothing.
   他口口声声说他一定帮忙，然而事到临头他什麽也不帮。