Lesson1 - BOB’S DAY AT WORK

LESSON 1 : BOB’S DAY AT WORK


Bob works as a manager in a furniture store. Peter, his boss, is not happy about sales. Bob's new advertising campaign hasn't helped. Peter decides to fire him.

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 are about to go belly up.

Bob: I'm sorry to hear that. I though 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: It's too late for that. You are fired!

Bob: What? You're giving me the ax?

Peter: Yes, I 've already found a new manager. She is as sharp as a tack.

Bob: Can't we even talk this over? After all, I've been working here for ten years!

Peter: There is 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:
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About to – ready to; on the verge of

After all – despite everything; When everything has been considered; the fact is


At least – anyway; the good thing is that …

(to) break the news – to make something known

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

Dead-end job – a job that won’t lead to anything else

(Let’s) face it – accept a difficult reality

(to)give one the creeps – to create a feeling of disgust or horror

(to)go back to the drawing board – to start a task over because the last try failed; to start again from the beginning

(to) go belly-up – to go bankrupt

(to) give someone the ax – to fire someone

(to) lose one’s tempter – to become very angry

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

No point in – no reason to ; it’s not worth(doing something)

(to) put up with – to endure without complaint

Real flop or flop – a failure

(to) save the day – to prevent a disaster or midfortune

(as) sharp as a tack – very intelligent

(to) talk over – to discuss

Top dollar – the highest end of a price range; a lot of money


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I got training material from YuGong's blog, and text file from BJ#2's blog.

Thanks all and I have typed the idioms by myself.

And now I can give it a shot.

Hope I can read 2 or 3 articles per week since I don't like work too hard
:-)

所有跟帖： 

• 天泽园的声音真好听。喜欢这个系列，学地道的美语，充满了生活气息。 -紫君- ♀ (0 bytes) () 08/04/2009 postreply 17:14:58

• 谢谢紫君! 也欢迎提意见! -天泽园- ♀ (0 bytes) () 08/04/2009 postreply 17:17:34

• MY GOD, HOW HORRIBLE YOUR VOICE IS -是八- ♂ (0 bytes) () 08/04/2009 postreply 20:42:56

• 是八先生您好，想必您的声音一定是播音员的水准。晚安。 -紫君- ♀ (0 bytes) () 08/04/2009 postreply 20:51:33

• :~~) Thank You, 紫君! -天泽园- ♀ (0 bytes) () 08/04/2009 postreply 20:59:13

• 天泽园, my pleasure. Good night and sweet dream. -紫君- ♀ (0 bytes) () 08/04/2009 postreply 21:08:43

• Wow, what a nice surprise to hear the beautiful 天泽之音 again! -YuGong- ♂ (0 bytes) () 08/04/2009 postreply 20:52:45

• Thanks YuGong for your encouragement :-) ! -天泽园- ♀ (0 bytes) () 08/04/2009 postreply 21:02:05

• Tian, you bet. That's what friends are for!? -YuGong- ♂ (0 bytes) () 08/04/2009 postreply 21:16:53

• Thank You, My friend! Thanks for the support! -天泽园- ♀ (0 bytes) () 08/04/2009 postreply 21:21:46

• Good work! Keep going. -eyeyey- ♀ (0 bytes) () 08/04/2009 postreply 21:30:43

• Thanks eyeyey,miss you! Thanks for the encouragement! -天泽园- ♀ (46 bytes) () 08/04/2009 postreply 21:44:50

• 谢谢天泽园的朗读！ -娃娃女- ♀ (0 bytes) () 08/04/2009 postreply 22:12:27

• 谢谢,娃娃! 喜欢你甜美的ID! -天泽园- ♀ (0 bytes) () 08/04/2009 postreply 22:56:12

• 又听到读书声了。我这两天忙，过两天，跟进。 -任我为- ♂ (0 bytes) () 08/05/2009 postreply 04:06:15

• 谢谢鼓励,期待你的朗读! -天泽园- ♀ (0 bytes) () 08/05/2009 postreply 07:36:47

• 加油! -楚江- ♀ (0 bytes) () 08/05/2009 postreply 08:25:01

• 谢谢楚江! -天泽园- ♀ (0 bytes) () 08/05/2009 postreply 08:38:06

• 回复：Lesson1 - BOB’S DAY AT WORK -kenchow31- ♂ (34 bytes) () 08/06/2009 postreply 08:59:11

• What did you mean? Do you have any suggestions? -天泽园- ♀ (0 bytes) () 08/06/2009 postreply 20:21:10