美語訓練班第79課:美國打官司的繁瑣流程 自以爲是
A: 歡迎大家來到這期的美語訓練班! 我是楊琳!
B: 我是Mike! 楊琳，來告訴大家今天都要學什麼?
A: 沒問題! 今天，我們要聊聊怎麼及時行樂，看看在美國打官司的繁瑣流程，還要告訴你怎麼說自以爲是!
B: Eat, drink and be merry! That's my motto in life!
A: Exactly. That's why I end up doing all the work for you!
B: Yeah, as if that's true....
A: 哈哈，不過確實，我覺得好多中國人活得太累了，看歐洲小鎮的人民，多瀟灑! 好了，我們現在先言歸正傳，來進入第一個單元，Learn a word!
Learn A Word 1615 much-needed
今天我們要學的詞是 much-needed. much is spelled m-u-c-h, much, needed is spelled n-e-e-d-e-d, needed, much-needed. much-needed 急需的。The school received a much-need grant to keep its band. 學校得到了一筆急需的補助金，保住了學校的樂隊。It was a much-needed win for our team. 我們球隊太需要這場勝利了。The students can finally get some much-needed sleep after the final exams. 期終考試結束後，學生們終於可以補補覺了。The first presidential debate delivered a much-needed boost for Romney. 總統候選人之間的第一場辯論，對羅姆尼的選戰是一次非常及時的推動。好的，今天我們學習的詞是 much-needed, much-needed, much-needed....
A: 說起much-needed, 我也來造個句。After this long thanksgiving road trip, I definitely will enjoy a much-needed break.
B: I agree. Well I mean, on top of that, I plan to start a much-needed diet so I can get rid of these love handles.
A: You look ok! Just keep going to the gym; I'm sure these holiday weight will be gone in a jiffy.
B: I don't know 楊琳. I think my body has this magic power to hold on to fat. And I have really low self-control over gourmet food, especially with all the Christmas and new year family get-together coming up!
A: 哎呀，節日期間，別這麼悲觀嘛! In my opinion, all the holiday calories will convert into happy mood! Eat, drink and be merry! 及時行樂，回頭的事兒回頭再說嘛!
B: Haha, I like your attitude!
A: 剛纔我說到了及時行樂，在今天的美語怎麼說裏，咱們就來聽聽看這個詞兒要怎麼用!
How to say it in American English
Jessica在北京學漢語，她的中國朋友要是遇到了不知道用美語怎麼說的詞，就會來請教她。今天是方方要問的：及時行樂
Jessica: Fangfang, how was your date last night? I heard he was quite a looker!
FF: 唉，怎麼說呢...這男生長得是不錯，可是話不投機! 我說我愛游泳，他說小心被淹，我說我愛旅遊，他說旅遊就是花錢買罪受!
Jessica: Really? He's a Debbie downer!
FF: Debbie? 他不叫Debbie.
Jessica: No, Debbie downer refers to those who are so negative and always bring down the mood of other people.
FF: 我明白了，說一個人特消極，老說喪氣話打擊別人，就可以用Debbie downer. My date from last night was such a Debbie downer that I went home with a heavy heart!
Jessica: That was no fun! We shouldn't let a Debbie downer ruin our high spirits.
FF: 就是的! 我還是喜歡積極向上，陽光型的! 這種人用美語又怎麼說呢？
Jessica: You can say he has a sunny personality.
FF: 嗯! I want to go out with a man who has a sunny personality. He can cheer me up when I'm moody.
Jessica: I used to date a guy like that! He is the most positive person I've ever known and he always seems so contend.
FF: 可以想像。對人生要求不多，只要及時行樂，這就是我的理想男友的標準! 那及時行樂又怎麼說呢？
Jessica: We say "eat, drink and be merry."
FF: Eat, drink and be merry. 吃，喝，快快樂樂。Gosh! This is my motto in life!
Jessica: It is mine, too!
FF:今天我們學了：陰沉喪氣的人是Debbie downer, 陽光向上的性格是sunny personality, 及時行樂則是to eat, drink and be merry.
A: 嗯，這裏說的真對! 我就特別喜歡有sunny personality 的人，跟這種人在一起，整個人也會變得陽光起來!
B: Oh, I get it now! It is my sunny personality that attracts all the people around me! No wonder I'm so popular!
A: OMG....自以爲是大王! 您的自信都流出來了吧....
B: Haha, I'm kidding I'm kidding. But seriously, laugh, and the world laughs with you; weep, and you weep alone. (if you think this is too cheesy change it....)
A: 沒錯! 剛纔我說Mike自以爲是，在今天的words and idioms裏，咱們就來學學這個詞兒用美語怎麼說!
Words and Idioms 993
現在播送美國習慣用語第 993講。我是楊琳。
M: 我是Steve Baragona.
最近我們這正在招聘新的製片人。來面試的人很多，其中有個女的，她的簡歷特別好，但是面試過程不太順利。她不停吹噓自己得了多少多少獎，做過多少獨家訪談，有多少新奇的創意什麼的。所有面試官都認爲她的性格不合適這份工作，這也讓我想到了一句習慣用語，那就是:
M: Full of oneself. Full is spelled of oneself.
如果我們說一個人full of oneself, 意思就是他特別自以爲是。就像上面我提到的這個來面試的人: All the boasting she did led the interviewers to conclude that she was FULL OF HERSELF. 她不停吹噓自己，讓面試官都覺得她特別自大。太自以爲是的人確實很難成爲團隊的一員。下面的例子裏就要談到這樣一個人，我們來聽聽看:
M: "It can't be denied that Donald Trump is extremely successful in the business world. Through his many investments and ownership of luxurious properties, he's worth about $2.9 billion. Still, his critics think he's incredibly FULL OF HIMSELF. Maybe he wouldn't be so great if he weren't conceited?!"
[這段話是說: 無可否認的是，特朗普在商業界確實非常成功。通過各種投資和他所擁有的衆多豪華地產，他的身價已經達到了近29億美元。不過，批評人士仍然認爲他過於高傲自大。或許如果不是這樣的話，他也不會有今天的成功吧？ ]
對啊! 我想很多人都看過特朗普的真人電視秀"學徒"。在節目中，20名年輕男女爭奪爲他工作的機會。如果他們失敗了，他就會告訴他們:"你被解僱了!" 在我看來，這並不是真正的娛樂節目。簡直就是他自我炫耀的機器! 好了，讓我們再來聽聽剛纔那段話:
M: "It can't be denied that Donald Trump is extremely successful in the business world. Through his many investments and ownership of luxurious properties, he's worth about $2.9 billion. Still, his critics think he's incredibly FULL OF HIMSELF. Maybe he wouldn't be so great if he weren't conceited?!"
自大的人當然很讓人討厭，可是世界上也有很多與此相反的人，讓我們來聽聽下面這個例子：
M: "Cheryl and I almost didn't go on a first date. That's because my ex-girlfriend lied about me to her and said that I was FULL OF MYSELF. Luckily, Cheryl didn't listen to her. After meeting me, she decided that I was actually not self-important at all. So we started going out and now are thinking about getting married."
[這段話是說：謝麗兒和我幾乎沒見面，就錯過了彼此。這是因爲我的前女友告訴她說我特別自大。幸好謝麗兒沒有聽她的話。與我見面之後，她覺得我其實並不是那種自我膨脹的人，然後我們開始約會，現在已經開始考慮結婚了。]
幸好這個謝麗兒是個思想開放的人。有些人人云亦云，聽到別人怎麼說就會怎麼做，也就導致了無法改變的刻板印象。幸好上面這對情侶沒有就此錯過! 好的，我們再來聽聽剛纔那段話:
M: "Cheryl and I almost didn't go on a first date. That's because my ex-girlfriend lied about me to her and said that I was FULL OF MYSELF. Luckily, Cheryl didn't listen to her. After meeting me, she decided that I was actually not self-important at all. So we started going out and now are thinking about getting married."
今天我們學習的習慣用語是full of oneself, 意思是自以爲是。好的，這次[美國習慣用語]就到此結束，我是楊琳，我是Steve Baragona。謝謝各位的收聽。
A: I really don't want to deal with those people who're full of themselves. I remember I used to have a co-worker who's always bragging about how he is the best at doing everything, it's so annoying!
B: I know. Winston Churchill once said "Attitude is little thing that makes a big difference."
A: Yeah, exactly. Now you know how hard my life is since I have to deal with e I can get some compensation out of this....
B: 楊琳，seriously, I'm so going to sue you based on these emotional damages!
A: Don't you know it's illegal to threat to sue someone if you don't mean to actually do it? 不過啊，在今天的business etiquette裏，Barry的公司就真被人家起訴了! 咱們來聽聽他們要怎麼應對吧!
禮節美語A Lawsuit I
Barry 召集公司同事開會，有個壞消息要宣佈。
Barry: Well, folks...I'm afraid I have some bad news. Our lawyers told me this morning that we are being sued.
Chris: Sued? Who's suing us?
Susan: And on what grounds?
B: An Australian man named John Smith alleged that his microwave exploded while he was using it last year. Mr. Smith suffered injuries and he wants compensation.
C: How much compensation does he want?
B: His lawyers are asking for two million dollars.
S: Two million! That's insane!
Barry 說，公司被告了，We are being sued. sued is spelled s-u-e-d, sued, 是控告、起訴的意思。Susan問，起訴罪名是什麼，on what grounds? grounds 在這裏是理由、根據的意思。Barry說，原告是一個澳大利亞人，被微波爐炸傷，索賠兩百萬美元，Susan覺得 That's insane! 這簡直是瘋了!
C: This is how the game is played. They ask for millions but it's usually a negotiating tactic.
B: Yeah, Chris is probably right. The figure of two million dollars is a place to begin bargaining from. They are probably hoping to settle the case quickly.
S: But Barry, we don't manufacture microwave ovens! How in the world are we responsible for an accident like this?
B: We might not manufacture microwaves, but our company does make a heat-sensing component that is part of many microwaves. Maybe Chris can shed some light on this, Chris?
Chris說，對方要價兩百萬只是一種談判策略， a negotiating tactic。Barry也覺得對方希望 settle the case quickly，儘快了結案子。可是，公司不生產微波爐，爲什麼要爲微波爐爆炸賠錢呢？Barry 請 Chris 給大家解釋一下，shed some light on this. Chris 說，
C: If I'm not mistaken, you're referring to our company's sensor chips. They are small chips that help control how heat is regulated.
S: So our chip made the microwave blow up?
C: Not exactly. The chip might have malfunctioned, but I doubt it. We test those products very rigorously and our quality control is strong. I don't think we are responsible for the explosion.
S: I don't believe the sensor could cause an explosion. We are innocent! This lawsuit is totally without merit!
原來，他們公司生產的 sensor chip 感應芯片是微波爐的感熱部件。不過Chris說，公司質檢很嚴格，所以芯片應該和微波爐爆炸無關。這麼說，This lawsuit is totally without merit, 這樁訴訟完全就是無理取鬧。那麼，公司要如何應對這樁官司呢？我們下次繼續聽。
A: 公司被別人告了，要求賠償200萬美金，Barry說，這只是 a negotiating tactic 談判策略，肯定不用陪這麼多錢，但是他希望能settle the case quickly 儘快了結案子。 Chris說，This lawsuit is totally without merit 這樁訴訟完全就是無理取鬧。無端端被人告，真是太鬱悶了!
B: Yeah, it's never pleasant to get involve in a lawsuit. Not only you have to prepare tons of paperwork, the lawyer fee is also , I always feel like lawyers are more interested in winning an argument then actually finding out the truth, so you never know what's going to happen.
A: 可不是嘛! 不過說起來，上次我停車拿到了罰單，還去法庭上訴了呢! 結果錢就拿回來啦! 還不錯!
B: Yeah, but those cases are totally different. Let's continue to listen and find out how the company is going to deal with this lawsuit!
禮節美語A Lawsuit II
公司被人狀告索賠，同事們在討論如何應對。
S: So how does this work? What will we have to do?
B: A lawyer will stop by next week and take statements from each of us.
S: What kind of statement are they looking for?
B: It will probably be just a basic statement about what you know about our company's heat sensors. They will want to know if you had any knowledge of a cover-up of defective products.
Barry說，下週律師會來提取證詞，看看 if you had any knowledge of a cover-up of defective products. 員工是否知道公司有掩蓋問題產品的行爲。cover-up 意思是掩蓋。defective 意思是有缺陷。
S: I don't know anything about sensors! I'm an accountant!
B: Then that's exactly what you tell them. Just stick to the truth.
C: I'll start preparing our test records and compiling data about our products.
S: Why do you need to do that?
B: We need to prove that we are not liable. Let's give Mr. Smith's lawyers access to our internal memos and quality control data. We have nothing to hide.
跟律師談話，要據實以告, stick to the truth, 因爲 we have nothing to hide. 我們沒什麼好隱瞞的。 Barry還說，公司會允許原告律師查看公司內部備忘錄和質檢數據。To give someone access to something 意思是允許某人接觸某物。
S: Does this mean I will have to testify in court?
B: That's very possible. We might all be called as witnesses.
S: What should I tell them?
B: Just answer all the questions truthfully. We stand by our products and we're proud of our company.
C: They will probably question me more because I'm the engineer. I'm going to have to do some homework and brush up on my knowledge.
Barry 說，大家都有可能要出庭作證。 Chris 是工程師，說自己要 do some homework， 準備一下，and brush up on my knowledge，溫習一下相關的業務知識。
S: But what if we lose? If we have to make such a big payout, we might go bankrupt!
B: Hold your horses! First, we won't if we do, our lawyers will appeal the verdict.
S: But the other side can appeal too!
B: Yes, that's true. But eventually this case will come to a conclusion and no more appeals are allowed. Who knows? We might even counter-sue them for making false allegations.
C: Sounds like a plan.
Susan 擔心，如果官司打輸，就要make a big payout，賠很多錢，導致公司破產。Barry勸她說： Hold your horses! 彆着急! 就算輸了也可以appeal the verdict, 上訴。公司甚至可以counter-sue， 反訴原告，罪名是making false allegations 誣告。
A: 律師下週會來取證，Barry說，我們要stick to the truth, 據實相告，因爲we have nothing to hide, 沒什麼可隱瞞的。Chris是公司的工程師，他準備brush up on his knowledge, 溫習一下相關的業務知識。Barry說，即使第一次打輸了，也可以appeal the verdict上訴。看來，身正不怕影子歪! 公司沒做什麼錯事，所以也不怕來個訴訟!
aLarry
B: Yeah, normally big companies will have lawyers to deal with such things. It happens on a daily basis. Maybe I can ask my friend to represent me when I decide to sue you....
A: if you have such a friend...好了，節目快結束了，我們最後再來學個詞兒！
Learn A Word 1619 disposable
今天我們要學的詞是disposable. Disposable is spelled d-i-s-p-o-s-a-b-l-e, disposable. Disposable意思是可以任意處理的。The Boulder City Council approved a proposal that would charge a 20-cent fee on all disposable grocery bags. 博德爾市政委員會批准了一項對所有一次性購物袋收繳20美分的提案。日本一家化學場發生爆炸停產，這家工廠的產品是一次性尿布的重要元素。The shutdown of production triggered widespread fear about a global disposable diapers shortage. 工廠停產讓外界擔心，一次性尿布可能會出現全球範圍內的短缺。最新報告說，A double-income family has to save all its disposable income for about 29 years to buy a new home in Taipei. 一個有兩份收入的家庭，要把可支配收入全部攢下來，29年後才能在臺北買一棟新房子。今天我們學習的詞是disposable, disposable, disposable....
A: I know exactly the word that I can use to describe you: disposable, very disposable.
B: (say something....)
A: 哈哈， 好了同學們，這次節目時間就到這裏了。 如果你有什麼建議，或者想提什麼問題，請發電子郵件到.
B: Tune in next time for American English Mosaic!
A: See you next time!
