日期：2010-08-04 11:58:45

礼节美语117讲

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MicroMax公司销售部主管Fred给客户Tom打电话，讨论涨价的事情。Fred要涨25%，Tom嫌太多。

F: I feel your pain, Tom. We are also in hot water these days. The global financial crisis is hitting all of us hard.

T: Is there anyway we could cut costs in other areas? Could we find a new shipping agent?

F: Yes, we could do that. But in the end it still comes down to protecting our bottom line.

对别人表示理解，可以说I feel your pain. 不过，Fred话锋一转说，we are also in hot water. 我们日子也不好过。In the end it still comes down to protecting our bottom line, 归根结底我们还是要保证公司利润。 The bottom line, 意思是赢利。

T: Look, I understand that prices for everything are going up these days. It`s a tough time to be in business. My company had to lay off over 100 employees last summer; but 25% is just too much.

F: You and I go a long way back, Tom. I`ll do everything in my power to be flexible....how about 22%?

T: It`s still too high. Our board of directors is already going to give me a hard time over this. Can you do better?

Tom同意涨价，但不肯接受25%. Fred跟Tom拉关系，you and I go a long way back. 咱俩可是老交情了，然后问Tom22%怎么样。Tom还是嫌多，说董事会会give me a hard time, 绕不了我。

F: Tom, seeing as I`ve known you for over 10 years and because this price increase really came out of the blue, I think I can go down to 20%. But that`s really the best I can do.

T: How about this: I`ll pay 15% more for this shipment. Then for the next order we`ll boost it up to 18%.

F: You certainly know how to drive a hard bargain. Ok....how about 18% for this one and a 21% increase for next time?

T: I think I can do that. Ok....Fred, you`ve got yourself a deal.

Fred降到20%，并表示，that`s really the best I can do. 不能再低了，他肯这样做，是因为the increase really came out of the blue, 这次涨价的要求确实很突然。Tom还是不肯点头。Fred说，you certainly know how to drive a hard bargain, 意思是真会杀价。最后两人同意这批货涨18%，下批货涨21%。 Tom说，Fred, you`ve got yourself a deal, 意思是成交。成交后当然还要寒暄一下。

F: I appreciate your understanding, Tom. And I`m sorry for the trouble this has caused you.

T: Ah, that`s all right. I know it`s not your fault. Prices for everything these days are insane.

F: Still, I appreciate your understanding. Let`s get together for lunch next time you`re in town.

T: Sure thing. And say hi to your lovely wife, Katrina.

F: Will do. Thanks again, Tom.

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日期：2010-08-06 10:44:28

流行美语第341课

李华和Larry在夏威夷渡假，俩人出海钓鱼。今天我们要学两个常用语：off the hook和go overboard.

LH: Larry, 我总算明白你为什么这么喜欢钓鱼了，撒下诱饵，就歇着了。

LL: Yeah, isn`t fishing great? You get to just sit out in the boat and relax all day.

LH: 那好，如果一条鱼都钓不到的话，你可得负责任。

LL: Believe me, Lihua. If we don`t catch anything and have to eat pizza for dinner, I know you won`t let me off the hook.

LH: Let you off the hook? 你是指鱼钩吗？

LL: Right! When you let someone off the hook, you forgive them for doing something wrong, or allow them to escape a difficult situation.

LH: 哦，off the hook就是不用承担责任。 To let someone off the hook意思就是放过某人，就好象是让鱼脱钩了一样。

LL: Exactly. Here is another example: Even though I didn`t do my homework, my teacher let me off the hook because I was sick the day before.

LH: 就是说老师因为体谅到你是因为生病而没做作业，所以决定不追究你。

LL: Yeah. Or remember last year when I forgot your birthday? You still haven`t let me off the hook for that.

LH: Larry, 你居然把我生日忘得一干二净，我当然要记你一辈子。对了，Larry, 我们的船什么时候还啊？

LL: We have it until 2 in the afternoon.

LH: 那可没剩多少时间了。我们稍微晚一点没关系吧？

LL: Actually, I don`t think the rental company will let us off the hook. They said we have to pay an extra fee if we return the boat late.

LH: 这么说，我们就要抓紧时间了。也不知道这些鱼都跑到哪里去了！

LL: I don`t know. The manager of our hotel said this is the best place for fishing. If he was wrong, I`m not going to let him off the hook.

LH: 就是啊，如果害我们白跑一趟的话... Wait! Larry, 好象有鱼咬钩了。

LL: Quick, Lihua, pull it in!

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李华钓到了一条大鱼。

LH: Wow, Larry, 看来我天生就是钓鱼的材料. 你看第一次就战果累累。这就叫不鸣则已，一鸣惊人！

LL: Yeah Lihua, I`m really impressed! You must have a real talent for fishing.

LH: 你觉得，我是不是应该退掉回程的机票，索性留在夏威夷当渔民算了？否则我钓鱼的才华岂不是白白浪费了吗？

LL: Well, it`s only one fish. I wouldn`t go overboard.

LH: Go overboard? 你不会是叫我下到海水里去摸鱼吧？

LL: Actually Lihua, you can say that somebody goes overboard whenever they do or say something excessive.

LH: 哦，to go overboard就是采取过激行动的意思，你是劝我不要意气用事、钓到一条鱼就改行当渔民吗？

LL: Exactly. Here`s another example. When I was looking for a hotel in Hawaii, I know I wanted to stay somewhere nice. But I didn`t want to go overboard and rent a room for $500 per night.

LH: 对，500块钱一晚上的旅馆对我们来说确实太奢侈了。说正经的，Larry, 你估计这条鱼有多重？我猜得有100磅。

LL: It`s a big fish, but I think 100 pounds is going a little overboard. It`s probably 30 pounds.

LH: 反正是够大个儿的。我准备把鱼的头骨带回去做纪念。

LL: Lihua, I think that`s going a little overboard. Why don`t we just take a picture so that you can remember your catch?

LH: 一点也不好玩。要不，我们多照几张照片，寄给当地报社，看他们愿不愿意采访我们。

LL: Lihua, let`s not go overboard. There are probably lots of other people who catch fish this big, so it isn`t really a news story.

LH: 那我起码要寄给我爸妈。好了，咱们快回去吃鱼吧！

LL: But I haven`t caught anything yet! Let`s stay until I catch a fish too.

LH: 要不要我向你传授一下我的经验啊？第一堂课可以免费！

LL: Haha... Thanks Lihua, In return, I will teach you one more vocabulary word: beginner`s luck!

今天李华学了两个常用。一个是off the hook, 意思是逃脱责任。另一个是go overboard, 意思是过份的，过激的。