最新美語流行語手冊-實(shí)用商務(wù)篇(1)1

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A Handbook of New American Buzz Words – Words for Business
    1.a buyer’s market 買方市場
    market在這里是“行情”的意思。買方市場是有利于購買者的行情。與之相對的是a seller’s market(賣方市場)。
    A: Have you bought the house? 你已買房子了嗎?
    B: I don’t know how to choose it. There are a lot of apartments on sale. 我不知道該怎么辦,那么多房子,眼都挑花了。
    A: It is a buyer’s market, you know. 現(xiàn)在是買方市場嘛!
    2.a country mile 一段很長的距離
    該習(xí)語多用在美國口語中,名詞country有“農(nóng)場”的意思。在美國,由于科技比較發(fā)達(dá),農(nóng)場往往都很大。這些農(nóng)場總能給人以遼闊、遙遠(yuǎn)之感。故該習(xí)語用country來指“距離之遠(yuǎn)”。
    A: Is the house close to the central city? 那房子靠著市中心嗎?
    B: It is a country mile from the Central Park. But it won’t be a problem since you drive. 離中央公園遠(yuǎn)著呢??杉热荒汩_車這就不成問題了。
    A: The distance is not really a problem. The real problem is whether I can afford it. 遠(yuǎn)近到不是問題,問題是我是不是買得起。
    B: Don’t worry about it. It’s a real bargain. 不用擔(dān)心,很便宜的。
    3.a drug on the market 滯銷商品,滯銷貨,供應(yīng)過剩的商品
    drug 的本義是“麻醉藥品”,而麻醉藥品是不能在市場上公開出售的,因此該詞常常用來指“滯銷貨”。
    A: The things my son bought home were usually a drug on the market for adults. 我兒子買回來的東西在咱們眼里都是賣不出去的。
    B: That’s not abnormal for a youngster. Young people all seems to be crazy about such things. 這對年輕來說沒什么不正常的。年輕人看起來對這些東西都非常感興趣。
    A: The real problem is that he’s suing my money for them. 問題是他那我的錢去買的呀。
    B: He’s your son, after all. Who else’s money do you suppose him to use? 他畢竟是你的兒子呀。你想讓他拿誰的錢去買呢
    4.a fair shake 公平的待遇
    shake 在口語中有“處置、對待”的意思。當(dāng)fair的意思為“公平的”時(shí),這個(gè)短語的意思是“順利的、有意的”時(shí),它的意思就是“好機(jī)會”。
    A: Bob, can you ever make a thing right? 鮑勃,你就不能做對一件事嗎?
    B: Yes, I can and I am doing the right thing. 我能,而且我現(xiàn)在干的就是對的。
    A: You should go and see how Allan handles it. 你真該去看看阿倫是怎么干活的。
    B: It’s that Allen again! Why can’t you ever think of giving me a fair shake? 又是阿倫!你怎么就不能對我公平點(diǎn)?
    5.a fat chance 微小的機(jī)會
    fat本是“很多”的意思,但在這里用了反意,表示“微小的機(jī)會”;表示同樣意義的短語還有a fat lot,指“很少”。
    A: What do you think of his plan? 你覺得他的方案如何?
    B: I have a feeling that is it doomed to fail. 我感覺它注定要失敗。
    A: Why don’t you vote against him? 干嗎不投票否決他的提議?
    B: It’s a fat chance of voting out his suggestion. 這不大可能。
    6.a going concern 贏利企業(yè)
    concern 在該習(xí)語中作名詞,意思是“商行,企業(yè)”;go指“上漲。增漲”。A going concern是指活躍或繁榮的企業(yè)或機(jī)構(gòu)等,意即“贏利企業(yè),正在前進(jìn)的企業(yè)“。
    A: What’s your overseas branch factory going? 你海外的分廠進(jìn)展如何?
    B: Not very good at first. It has been two years before it becomes a going concern. 開始不太理想,直到兩年以后才開始贏利。
    A: Once you break the ice, it will be better and better. 一旦打開局面,肯定會越來越好的。
    B: I hope so. 但愿如此。
    7.a leap in the dark 冒險(xiǎn)舉動(dòng)
    leap的意思是“跳,跳躍”。在黑暗中跳躍確實(shí)是一種冒險(xiǎn)的舉動(dòng),因此該詞組引申為“瞎闖,冒險(xiǎn)舉動(dòng)”。例如: His move to America was a leap in the dark.(他遷居美洲是件冒險(xiǎn)的事。)
    A: Are you sure you can make profits out of the investment? 你確信這次投資一定能獲利嗎?
    B: I am not sure. It’s only a leap in the dark. 我也沒有把握。這只是一次冒險(xiǎn)。
    A: And it’s the only chance for you to lead your company out of difficulties, isn’t it? 而且這也是你帶領(lǐng)公司走出困境的的機(jī)會,是嗎?
    B: Yeah. So I have to have a try. 是的。所以我必須一試