Although public investment has risen , it remains paltry .

虽然公共投资增加了，但它仍然微不足道。

Bilateral trade between the neighbours is paltry .

这两个邻国之间的双边贸易额少得可怜。

John mccain , mr obama 's rival for the presidency , wants to suspend america 's relatively paltry tax on petrol , to secure lower prices for angry drivers .

奥巴马竞选总统的对手麦凯恩希望取消美国相对琐碎的石油税以向那些愤怒的司机保证较低的油价。

The appetite for gold arises partly from the paltry , uncertain returns from more conventional investments .

黄金需求部分来自回报微薄、不确定性高和相对传统的投资市场。

But such safe alternatives as bonds or money market accounts offer only paltry returns .

但像债券和货币市场账户这类安全的替代投资的回报率都微不足道。