"Houston, we have a problem."

readok2009

Meaning: we have a problem... (翻白眼), sort of humorous or what-can-we-do
response to a problem.

Example: John looked at the car. It's dripping fluid like a sieve and
spewing smoke, even with the engine off. He stared for a moment, then
muttered to himself, \"Houston, we have a problem.\"

Origin: You've seen \"Apollo 13\" starring Tom Hanks, right? When the
astronauts noticed there is indeed something not right onboard their space
module, they said:

Swigert: Okay, Houston, we've had a problem here.
Duke: This is Houston. Say again please.
Lovell: Houston, we've had a problem. We've had a main B bus undervolt.'

So technically we've been using it wrong for all these years, but that's
the way we're using that expression now.


Bonus expression: \"leak like a sieve\"

Meaning: it's leaking VERY bad, leaking a LOT

Explanation: a sieve is 筛子, also known as a strainer, to separate the solid
from the liquid. For example, if you cook spaghetti, you would use a sieve
to dump the water and keep the spaghetti.

Thus, to \"leak like a sieve\" means to leak a LOT of fluid, like \"pouring
out\". It's bad.

Example: see above.