all in the same boat
to be sharing the same difficult circumstances, often
with others who would normally be competitors
EXAMPLE:
When bad weather discouraged tourists from coming to the popular seacoast resort town, the managers of the different hotels in the town knew they were
all in the same boat and decided to work cooperatively with one another.
參考譯文：
all in the same boat
處于同種境遇（尤指不好的境遇）；同舟共濟
例子：
當(dāng)惡劣天氣使得游客無法來這個的海濱度假小鎮(zhèn)游覽觀光的時候，小鎮(zhèn)上各賓館的經(jīng)營者們意識到他們正遭遇同種困境，于是決定彼此聯(lián)手共度難關(guān)。
armed to the teeth
equipped with everything one needs for action
EXAMPLE:
The worried company president had full financial statements, sales reports, new product ideas, letters of praise from major customers, and proposals for increased growth when he arrived to make his annual report to the hostile board of directors; he was armed to the teeth.
參考譯文：
armed to the teeth
全副武裝
例句：
憂心忡忡的公司老總準(zhǔn)備好所有的財務(wù)報表，銷售報告，新產(chǎn)品開發(fā)方案，大客戶的表揚信和擴大增長的建議書，全副武裝地來到董事會，以便在充滿敵意的董事會成員面前做好他的年度報告。
avant garde
Very modern in style; possibly experimental or self-consciously artistic
FRENCH military term “forward guard,” soldiers who lead an attack
EXAMPLE:
The young employees of the New York advertising agency always wore dramatic, avant garde clothing so their clients would think they were modern and knowledgeable about popular trends.
參考譯文
avant garde
先驅(qū)，前衛(wèi)，先鋒
例句：
在這家紐約廣告公司上班的年輕員工總是穿著夸張而前衛(wèi)，想讓客戶感覺他們很現(xiàn)代，很新潮。
back to square one
An expression used to mean that it is necessary to stop whatever one
has done on a new project and to start again completely.
EXAMPLE:
When our experimental design for a new solar automobile failed totally on the first day of testing, our engineering department knew it was back to square one.
參考譯文
back to square one
問題回到原態(tài)，并沒有解決
例句：
當(dāng)我們研制的新款太陽能驅(qū)動型小車的實驗設(shè)計在第一天試運行就徹底失敗的時候，我們的工程部門意識到他們的工作又要從頭開始了。
bag of tricks
The total skills, knowledge, and often secret abilities that a person has (a traditional reference to a magician's bag).
EXAMPLE:
To be a successful in today's competitive business environment, an executive has to use everything in his bag of tricks.
參考 譯文
bag of tricks
智囊
例句：
要想在如今競爭激烈的商場上獲得成功，企業(yè)管理人員應(yīng)該使出他所有的錦囊妙計。
blow off steam
to release frustration or anger that has been building up; also to celebrate or do something in a loud or noisy way
EXAMPLE:
After a week of negotiations with the union, the workers decided to have a party and blow off steam.
參考譯文
blow off steam
放出多余的蒸汽，發(fā)脾氣，花掉多余的精力
例句：
經(jīng)過與該協(xié)會為期一周的談判后，工人們決定成立黨派，采取實際行動（進行泄憤，可能包括罷工、*等）。
bone of contention
a disagreement, dispute, or argument about something; a strong difference of opinion; a conflict
EXAMPLE:
A bone of contention was the division of powers between the national and provincial governments.
參考譯文
bone of contention
爭論的焦點[主題]，爭端
例句：
爭論的焦點是是中央和省政府之間的權(quán)力分配問題。
bread and butter
the primary or leading means of financial support, existence, or survival
EXAMPLE:
Bicycle manufacturing provides the company's bread and butter.
參考譯文
bread and butter
涂黃油的面包\生計
例句：自行車生產(chǎn)使得這家公司得以維持生計。
20/20 hindsight
Being able to see has already happened; as contrasted with being able to see what will happen in the future. (HUMOROUS, USUALLY SARCASTIC)
EXAMPLE:
When my pompous brother-in-law told me all the business mistakes I made last year, I complimented him on his 20/20 hindsight.
參考譯文
20/20 hindsight
完全的事后之聰，事后諸葛
例句：
當(dāng)我那自大的姐夫（妹夫）指出我去年做生意所犯的所有錯誤時，我對他的事后之聰恭維了幾句。
captain of industry
An important business executive who is an influential leader. SOMETIMES HUMOROUS
EXAMPLE:
When the mayor began eating lunch here regularly, our downtown restaurant became popular with the city’s most illustrious captains of industry.
參考譯文：
captain of industry
大企業(yè)之首腦
例句：
自市長時常來這里用餐開始，我們這個市區(qū)餐館隨著本市杰出的大企業(yè)首腦的頻頻光顧而聲名鵲起。
fair shake
A reasonable chance to succeed.
EXAMPLE:
Although he was a little loud and vain, which troubled all of us a bit, we decided to give the new employee a fair shake before criticizing his behavior.
參考譯文
a fair shake
<美口>公平待遇，均等機會
例句：
雖然這個新員工說話大聲大氣又有些自負，我們大家都有點煩他，但我們還是決定在批評他之前先給他一個改過的機會。
a far cry from
A great distance from (OFTEN FIGURATIVE)
EXAMPLE:
After reading the resort's colorful brochure we had expected a luxury hotel, but the shabby old hotel was a far cry from our expectations.
參考譯文
a far cry from
相去甚遠（一般帶有比喻的含義）
例句：
看了該景點的精美小冊子上的介紹后，我們還以為這里的賓館很豪華，結(jié)果發(fā)現(xiàn)這里的賓館破舊簡陋，跟我們想象中的相去甚遠。
burn the midnight oil
to work hard very late into the night--and as if working only by the light of an oil lamp
EXAMPLE:
The manager had so much work piling up on her desk that she knew she was going to have to burn the midnight oil to finish it.
參考譯文
burn the midnight oil
開夜車
例句：
經(jīng)理桌上堆滿了要看的資料，她知道今晚又得開夜車了。
business is picking up
business is increasing, getting better after a slow sales period as more orders, products, or services are now being sold
EXAMPLE:
After a year of poor sales, the automobile industry is receiving many orders for its new cars, and all the employees are happy to see that business is picking up.
參考譯文
business is picking up
經(jīng)濟復(fù)蘇；經(jīng)營好轉(zhuǎn)
例句：
一年多來汽車業(yè)生意慘淡，但近來訂單頻頻增多，員工們看到經(jīng)營逐漸好轉(zhuǎn)都很開心。
cream of the crop
the best, very best, or best ever of something--the top choice or pick
EXAMPLE:
At the art auction, Van Gogh's paintings were considered to be the cream of the crop and received the highest bids.
參考譯文
cream of the crop
出類拔萃；好的，佳的人或物；佳選擇
例句：
在藝術(shù)品拍賣會上，梵高的油畫被認(rèn)為是出眾的，拍賣價格也高。
cream of the crop
“莊稼里的奶油”？
“莊稼里的奶油”？好奇怪-奶油怎么能從莊稼里來呢？
可以肯定的是，奶油是從牛奶中提煉出來，與莊稼并無聯(lián)系。而cream of the crop其實就是the best of the crop（好的莊稼）。下面，就讓我們看看cream如何與best搭上關(guān)系的。
古往今來，牛奶一直都被人們認(rèn)為是富有營養(yǎng)寶貴的食品。對于西方人而言，牛奶更是每天不可或缺的能量來源。因此，從牛奶中提煉出的奶油便被認(rèn)為是食品中的精華，用作比喻，可以指事物的精髓部分。這樣一來，用cream表示the best of sth.不是就很容易理解了嗎？
需要說明的是，隨著時代的發(fā)展，cream of crop的意義越來越廣泛。今天，它不僅用來表示the best of the crop，更可以用來形容一個群體中出類拔萃的人物，比如同一屆學(xué)生中的佼佼者，同一時期政治舞臺上的風(fēng)云人物，或同一級別士兵中的優(yōu)秀分子等等。順便提醒一句：這個詞組的動詞要用單數(shù)形式。
cut and dried
in accordance or agreement with a standard formula, exact method, guidelines, or procedure; routine
EXAMPLE:
During the 19th and early 20th century only males performed in the Peking Opera and the ways to become an actor were cut and dried.
參考譯文
cut and dried
事先準(zhǔn)備好的；事先決定的；枯燥無味的；單調(diào)的
例句：
在19世紀(jì)和20世紀(jì)早期，只有男子參與京劇表演，且演員都是按固定程序挑選出來的。
feel the pinch
a financially difficult, tight, strained, or squeezed circumstance or situation
EXAMPLE:
Experiencing little demand for its products, the company began to feel the pinch.
參考譯文
feel the pinch
財政困難；經(jīng)濟拮據(jù)；感到壓力
例句：
由于產(chǎn)品需求很小，該公司開始面臨資金短缺。
To bring home the bacon
to earn an income to support one's household
Example:
In addition to studying for his MBA, the young husband had to bring home the bacon for his sick wife and two infant children.
參考譯文
To bring home the bacon
成功；謀生
例句：
這個年輕的丈夫在攻讀工商管理碩士的同時還要維持體弱多病的妻子和兩個還在襁褓的孩子的生活。
To build a better mousetrap
to develop a new and improved product
Example:
Some technology companies make the mistake of focusing on building a better mousetrap rather than focusing on the needs of their customers.
參考譯文
To build a better mousetrap
開發(fā)新產(chǎn)品，改善產(chǎn)品
例句：
一些科技公司錯誤地將工作重心放在開發(fā)、改善產(chǎn)品之上；實際上，真正的重點應(yīng)該是消費者需求。
Rule of 72
a common formula used to determine the years needed for money to double at compound interest; divide 72 by the interest rate to get the number of years
EXAMPLE:
According to the rule of 72, $10,000 invested at 6 per cent interest doubles to $20,000 in twelve years.
參考譯文
the rule of 72
72法則
72法則是一種計算財富倍增所需的時間的簡單算式。72為分子，投資報酬率為分母，兩者相除即為財富倍增所需的時間。舉例來說：小王目前手頭有一百萬元，他急于知道當(dāng)他投資某平均年報酬為12%的共同基金時，要經(jīng)過多久一百萬才可以變成兩百萬。依照72法則，小王可以將72除以12后，得到的答案6。也就是六年后，小王的資產(chǎn)可以從一百萬變成兩百萬。同理可得，當(dāng)所投資的基金年平均報酬為8%時，則須九年的時間（72/8=9），一百萬才能變成兩百萬。
例句：
根據(jù)72法則，1萬美元的投資，如果利率為6%，經(jīng)過12年本息將達到2萬元。
to face the music
to take the consequences for one’s actions, usually unpleasant consequences
EXAMPLE:
The sales manager had made all his successful sales representatives so angry that they all quit last week, and so he had to return to meet his boss at headquarters and face the music.
參考譯文
to face the music
勇于承擔(dān)責(zé)任；臨危不懼
例句：
由于觸怒了手下所有的資深銷售代表，使得他們在上周紛紛辭職，這位銷售經(jīng)理不得不返回總部與老板見面并承擔(dān)一切責(zé)任。
to get the pink slip
to get fired, or to get laid off (traditionally, an official
notice of termination was printed on pink paper.
EXAMPLE:
When the XYZ company’s sales fell in half for the second
year in row, many of its employees got the pink slip.
參考譯文
to get the pink slip
接到辭職信；被辭退；下崗
例句：
當(dāng)XYZ公司銷售額連續(xù)兩年以50%的速度銳減，很多員工都被辭退了。
to go the extra mile
to make an extra effort in making a deal or providing service (from the Biblical proverb "if someone asks you to walk one mile, walk two miles")
EXAMPLE:
In order to provide the best customer service our computer systems company always went the extra mile and provided free installation and user training at the customer’s worksite.
參考譯文
to go the extra mile
多付出代價; 多努力一點
例句：
為了給客戶提供好的服務(wù)，我們的電腦系統(tǒng)公司總是有求必應(yīng)，在客戶所在地提供免費安裝和用戶培訓(xùn)服務(wù)。
to go belly-up
in business, to collapse; to go out of business ("belly" means stomach, so going belly-up means to turn on your back and float like a dead fish)
EXAMPLE:
My brother's company went belly-up last month when its revenues were far below its monthly debts, so now he’s looking for a job.
參考譯文
to go belly-up
(口語) (車子等)四腳朝天；(公司的)倒閉
例句：我兄弟的公司由于入不敷出于上月倒閉了，所以他現(xiàn)在在尋找新工作。
to have the inside track
to have a special advantage that helps you win (in a race on a circular racecourse the track closest to the middle is called the “inside track” and is shorter than outer tracks)
EXAMPLE:
Because Mr. Jones had worked in our industry for 20 years and knew all the customers and their particular needs, he had the inside track on getting the job as Vice President of Sales at our company.
參考譯文
to have the inside track
占明顯的優(yōu)勢
例句：瓊斯先生在業(yè)內(nèi)工作了20年，對客戶情況和他們的特殊需求了如指掌，因此他在競爭我們公司銷售副總裁一職中占有明顯的優(yōu)勢。
to hit the nail on the head
to say or to understand the heart of a problem, issue or idea
EXAMPLE:
The intelligent company president listened carefully to our department's concerns and when he spoke we knew he understood the issues exactly; he really hit the nail on the head.
參考譯文
to hit the nail on the head
說得中肯，打中要害；一語道破
才智過人的公司總裁認(rèn)真傾聽了我們部門的匯報，他的回答一針見血，可以肯定他非常清楚我們提及的事情。