Bobs Day At Work

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Bobs Day At Work

Peter:

Bob, I hate to break the news, but our sales were down again last month.

Bob:

Down again, Peter?

Peter:

Yeah. These days, everybody’s shopping at our competition, Honest Abe’s Furniture Store.

Bob:

But everything in there costs an arm and a leg!

Peter:

That’s true. They do charge top dollar.

Bob:

And their salespeople are very strange. They really give me the creeps!

Peter:

Well, they must be doing something right over there. Meanwhile, we’re about to go belly-up.

Bob:

I’m sorry to hear that. I thought my new advertising campaign would save the day.

Peter:

Let’s face it: your advertising campaign was a real flop.

Bob:

Well then I’ll go back to the drawing board.

Peter:

Bob:

It’s too late for that. You’re fired!

What? You’re giving me the ax?

Peter:

Yes. I’ve already found a new manager. She’s as sharp as a tack.

Bob:

Can’t we even talk this over? After all, I’ve been working here for 10 years!

Peter:

There’s no point in arguing, Bob. I’ve already made up my mind.

Bob:

Oh well, at least I won’t have to put up with your nonsense anymore! Good-bye to you and good-bye to this dead-end job.

Peter:

Please leave before I lose my temper!

Idioms – Lesson 1

about to – ready to; on the verge of
準備…；瀕於…

after all – despite everything; when everything has been considered
畢竟；總算 ；不管怎麼說

at least – anyway; the good thing is that...
無論如何；

(to) break the news – to make something known
宣佈消息

(to) cost an arm and a leg – to be very expensive
十分昂貴

dead-end job – a job that won’t lead to anything else
沒有前途的工作

(let’s) face it – accept a difficult reality
接受(困难的)现实(状况)

(to) give one the creeps – to create a feeling of disgust or horror
使人產生噁心或恐怖之感

(to) go back to the drawing board – to start a task over because the last try failed; to start again from the beginning
由於上次嘗試失敗而重新開始某項任務；從頭開始

(to) go belly-up – to go bankrupt
破產

(to) give someone the ax – to fire someone
解雇某人

(to) lose one’s temper – to become very angry
勃然大怒

(to) make up one’s mind – to reach a decision; to decide
下定決心

no point in – no reason to; it’s not worth (doing something)
沒有理由…；不值得（做某事）

(to) put up with – to endure without complaint
毫無怨言地忍受

real flop or flop – a failure
失敗

(to) save the day – to prevent a disaster or misfortune
防止發生災難或不幸

(as) sharp as a tack – very intelligent
非常聰明；有鑽勁

(to) talk over – to discuss
討論

top dollar – the highest end of a price range; a lot of money
以最昂貴的價格；一大筆錢

所有跟帖： 

• Happy Mother's Day! -活着乐着- ♀ (0 bytes) () 05/10/2009 postreply 15:02:24

• This is lesson 1 from 'Speak English Like an American', -活着乐着- ♀ (138 bytes) () 05/10/2009 postreply 15:04:45

• congratlations for a new start - well read -billnet- ♂ (61 bytes) () 05/10/2009 postreply 19:09:11

• Hi billnet, thanks for listening! Bad thing can be turned into g -活着乐着- ♀ (0 bytes) () 05/11/2009 postreply 06:29:13

• you bet, he will eventually cheer up -billnet- ♂ (0 bytes) () 05/11/2009 postreply 07:47:37

• Good read! -eyeyey- ♀ (281 bytes) () 05/11/2009 postreply 13:37:17