像美國人一樣說英語第1期:Bob’s day at work
鮑勃是一家傢俱店的經理，而他的老闆皮特對店裏的銷售情況不太滿意。由於鮑勃新的廣告宣傳沒起到什麼作用，所以皮特打算開除他。下面我們來看一下這對"主僕"之間的對話。
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 is shopping at our competition, Honest Abe’s Furniture Store.
Bob: But everything there costs an arm and a leg.
Peter: That’s true. They do charge top dollar.
Bob: And their sales people 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 am sorry to hear that. I thought my new advertising campaign would save the world!
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’s 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’s no point in arguing, Bob. I’ve already made up my mind.
Bob: Oh well, at least I don’t have to put up with your nonsense any more! Good-bye to you and good-bye to this dead-end job!
Peter: Please leave before I lose my temper!
About to---ready to; on the verge of;馬上就要，即將
We are about to start.
我們正準備出發。
After all---despite everything; after everything has been considered; the fact is; 畢竟，怎麼說
I'll have to go to my aunt's funeral---she was my own flesh and blood after all.
我得參加我姑姑的葬禮－－她是我的親人那。
At least---anyway; the good thing is that; 至少
例句We’ve run out of coffee, but at least we still have tea.
我們的咖啡已經喝完了，但至少我們還有茶。
(to) break the news---to make something known; 告之
(to) cost an arm and a leg---to be very expensive; 宰人，代價過高
例句A college education in America costs an arm and a leg.
大學教育在美國很昂貴。
Dead-end job---a job that won’t lead to anything else; 無前途或無希望的工作
(let’s) face it----accept a difficult reality;面對現實吧
(to) give one the creeps---to create a feeling of disgust or horror;嚇人，使驚慌，使人毛骨悚然
This old house gives me the creeps.
這棟舊房子讓我毛骨悚然。
(to) go back to the drawing board---to start a task over because the last try failed; to start again from the beginning;從頭開始(尤指失敗之後)
(to) go belly-up---to go bankrupt; 破產
(to) give someone the ax---to fire someone;解僱某人
(to) lose one’s temper---to become very angry; 發火
(to) make up one’s mind---to reach a decision; to decide;決定，打定主意
No point in----no reason to; it’s not worth (doing sth);沒有意義，不值得
There’s no point in worrying about things you can’t change.
擔心自己無法改變的事情是沒有意義的。
(to) put up with---to endure without complaint;忍受
Real flop or flop---a failure; 失敗
(to) save the day---to prevent a disaster or misfortune; 反敗爲勝;挽救了大局，扭轉局勢
As sharp as tack---very intelligent;
(to) talk over---to discuss;討論
