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LESSON 01 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'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.(
失败）
Bob:
Well then I'll go back to the drawing board.
Peter: It's too late for that. You're
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 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!
About to---ready to; on the verge
of;
马上就要，即将
We are about to
start.
我们正准备出发。
After all---despite
everything; after everything has been considered;
the fact is;
毕
竟，
怎
么说
I'll have to go to my aunt's funeral
---she was my own flesh and blood after
all.
我得参加我姑姑的葬礼－－她是我的亲人那。
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.
我们的咖啡已经喝完了，但至少我们还有茶。
(to) break the news---to
make something known;
告之
(to)
cost
an
arm
and
a
leg---to
be
very
expensive;
宰人，代价过高例句
A
college
education in America
costs an arm and a leg.
大学教育在美国很昂贵。
Dead-
end job---
a job that won’t lead to
anything else;
无前途或无希望的工作
(let’s) face it
----accept a
difficult reality;
面对现实吧
(to) give one the creeps---to create a
feeling of disgust or horror;
吓人，使惊慌，使人<
/p>
毛骨悚然
This old house gives me
the creeps.
这栋旧房子让我毛骨悚然。
(to) go back to the drawing board---to
start a task over because the last try failed; to
start again from the beginning;
< br>从头开始
(
尤指失败之后
)
(to) go belly-up---to go bankrupt;
破产
(to) give
someone the ax---to fire
someone;
解雇某人
(to)
lose one’s temper
---to become very
angry;
发火
(to)
make up one’s mind
---to reach a
decision; to decide;
决定，打定主意
No point in----
no reason to;
it’s not worth (doing
sth);
没有意义，不值得
There’s no
point in worrying about things you
can’t change.
担心自己无法改变的事情是没有意义的。
(to) put up with---to endure without
complaint;
忍受
Real
flop or flop---a failure;
失败
(to) save the day---to prevent a
disaster or misfortune;
反败为胜
;
挽救了大局，扭转
局势
As sharp as tack---very intelligent;1.
漂亮的，时髦的
2.
聪明的
(to) talk
over---to discuss;
讨论
LESSON 02 BOB RETURNS HOME WITH BAD
NEWS
Bob tells his wife Susan that he
lost his job. Susan suggests that he start his own
business.
Susan: What's the
matter, dear?
Bob: Susan, I got canned
today at work.
Susan: But Bob, you were
Peter's right-hand man!
Bob: Yes, and
he stabbed me in the back.
Susan: Keep
your chin up. Maybe he'll change his mind and take
you back.
Bob: When pigs fly! Once he
makes up his mind, he never changes it. Besides, I
told
him off.
Susan: Look on
the bright side: you won't have to set eyes on
Peter ever again.
Bob: Thank goodness
for that!
Susan: Hang in there. I'm
sure you won't be out of work for long
Bob: In the meantime, we'll have to
live from hand to mouth.
Susan: Don't
get too stressed out, Bob. We'll make ends meet.
Bob: I can always get a job at
McDonald's as a last resort.
Susan: I
don't think they're hiring right now.
Bob: If worse comes to worst, we can
sell our home and move into a tent.
Susan: Let's think big! Maybe you can
start your own business.
Bob: Easier
said than done!
Easier said than done
---more difficult than you think
说起来容易做起来难
You want to clime Mount Everest? Easier
said than done!
(to) get
canned---
to lose one’s job; to get
fired;
After Chris got
canned, it took him a year to find a new job!
(to) hang in there---to persevere; to
not give up ](
面对逆境
)
坚持不懈，
坚持不屈不挠，
坚持下去，拿出勇气，不泄气，
不胆怯
Hang in there, Don! Your
invention will soon be a success.
If
worse comes to worst---in the worst case; if
absolutely necessary;
到了万不得已
的时候
,
实在不行的话
;
(to) keep
one’s chin up
---to stay positive
气馁，不灰心；坚决；勇敢
Last
resort---if there are no other alternatives left;
the last solution for getting out of a
difficulty
最后一着，最后一手；最后的解决措施
(to) live from hand to mouth---to
barely have enough money to survive
仅能糊口，半
饥半饱；只能顾眼前
(to)
look
on
the
bright
side
---to
be
optimistic;
to
think
about
the
positive
part
or
aspect of a situation
多从好的方面想
(to) make
ends meet---
to manage one’s money so as
to have enough to live on;
收
支相抵，量入为出；靠微薄收入生活，勉强维持生计
Out
of work---unemployed; not working
失业
,
无工作
Right-hand man---the most helpful
assistant or employee;
得力助手
(to) set eyes on---to look at; to see
for the first time
瞧见，看，看见，看到
(to)
stab someone in the back---to betray someone
暗箭伤害某人，背后中伤某人，
加害某人；对某人背信弃义；背后诽谤某人
(to) be stressed out---
under severe strain; very anxious
饱受压力
(to) tell
off---to scold
责备，斥责，责骂，数说
(<
/p>
某人的过错
)
：
(to) think big---to set high goals
好高骛远，野心勃勃
When
pigs fly!---never
除非猪会飞；决不可能；决不