Lesson 1

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 have 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.

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!

break the news  宣布消息 告诉坏消息

costs an arm and a leg 贵得要命

top dollar付 （最）高的价钱

give sb the creeps 让人感到恐怖，让人浑身起鸡皮疙瘩

about to go belly-up 即将要破产

save the day 转危为安，反败为胜

Let’s face it面对现实吧

real flop真失败，彻彻底底的失败

go back to the drawing board  从头做起，重新开始

give sb the ax炒某人鱿鱼

sharp as a tack聪明的，衣着整洁时髦的

talk this over  好好地再谈一谈，商量商量

After all毕竟

no point in  做某事毫无意义

make up one’s mind 做决定

at least 至少

put up with忍受，容忍

dead-end job没有前途的工作

lose one’s temper发火，发脾气

[此贴子已经被作者于2008-11-25 23:33:57编辑过]

我会不断的补充有关成语和表达式的中文解释的，如果不明白的，也可以提出来，大家一起讨论。

哦，你加了注释，明白很多了~~

ax是什么意思？

advertising campaign 可以说是营销方案？

ax  n. 斧子 vt. 用斧砍

give sb the ax  炒某人鱿鱼（记忆方法：从名单上砍了，就是解雇了）

advertising campaign  广告宣传活动

campaign  n. 战役,运动,活动   v. 参加活动,参加竞选

例：奥巴马的2008总统竞选运动

      Obama 2008 Presidential Campaign

marketing plans  营销方案

例：The general manager gave us an overview of the company's marketing plans for the coming year. 
      总经理扼要介绍了公司明年的销售计划。
 

哦~谢谢~

继续~

Lesson 2

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!

What’s the matter  怎么了

got canned  被解职了

right-hand man  得力助手

stab sb in the back  在背后捅某人一刀，出卖某人

Keep one’s chin up 别灰心

change one’s mind  改变主意

When pigs fly  永无可能，绝无可能

makes up one’s mind  做决定

told sb off  斥责某人，回绝某人

Look on the bright side  对事物抱乐观态度，往好处想

set eyes on   看见，望见

Thank goodness  谢天谢地

Hang in there  坚持，忍耐一下

out of work  失业，下岗

live from hand to mouth  糊口度日，勉强度日

stressed out 紧张的，有压力的

make ends meet 量入为出，使收支平衡

last resort  最后一着

worse comes to worst  每况愈下，情况糟得不能再糟

think big 野心勃勃，好高鹜远

Easier said than done  说来容易做时难

[此贴子已经被作者于2008-11-26 23:56:42编辑过]

When pigs fly!=猪乸会上树？哈哈。。。

哈哈，老外也和我们用猪来形容某事情不现实，广东人说“XX靠的住，猪乸会上树”，老外是说“猪都会飞天”，和我们中文说的“太阳打西边出来”一样。

例如：

Marry him?! When pigs fly!
跟他结婚？！除非太阳从西边出来！

其他的，就不用了吧？有那些不明白的么？我觉得主要是这些idioms有时比较难明和比较重要，所以专门用黑体标出来，其他的都是比较简单的了，毕竟是口语嘛。

Lesson 3

TED’S DAY AT SCHOOL

Ted tells his parents he did poorly on his chemistry test. They tell him he needs to get serious and study more.

Susan:     How was your day at school today, Ted?

Ted:        Bad. I had a chemistry test, and I blew it!

Susan:     Maybe if you didn’t cut class so often, you’d do better.

Bob:        That’s right, son. Stop slacking off and start hitting the books!

Ted:        But I can’t stand chemistry class. Besides, it’s a lost cause. That class is way over my head.

Susan:     You need to buckle down.

Ted:        When I’m a famous musician, people won’t give a hoot about my knowledge of atoms and molecules

Bob:        That’s beside the point.

Susan:     We know you have your heart set on going to New York University.

Bob:        And you don’t stand a chance of getting in there with such poor grades!

blew it （感情）吹了，坏事了，考砸了

cut class  旷课，逃课

slack off  放松，释放

hit the books  读书，准备功课

can’t stand  不能容忍

lost cause  注定要失败的努力（或行动）

over one’s head  超出某人的承担能力，超出某人的理解范围

buckle down  倾全力,开始认真从事

give a hoot  介意(计较)

beside the point  不切正题，无关紧要

have one’s heart set on  向往，渴望，一心想要做

stand a chance  很可能，有希望

那些单词不认识啊？说出来，大家一起学习嘛。

Lesson 4

NICOLE’S DAY AT SCHOOL

Nicole tells her mother Susan about her successful presentation at school. Her brother Ted overhears and interrupts the conversation.

Susan:    How was your day at school today, Nicole?

Nicole:    It was great, Mon. I gave a presentation on Hillary Clinton in government class. Afterwards, my teacher paid me a compliment.

Susan:    What did she say?

Nicole:    She said my presentation was head and shoulders above the others.

Susan:    Way to go!

Nicole:    She also said I should go into politics, just like Hillary.

Ted:       You’re go gung ho about school. It drives me crazy.

Nicole:    Ted, don’t butt in! You’re just jealous.

Ted:        Right. You hit the nail on the head. I’m green with envy.

Nicole:    Would you just shut up? You’re on thin ice with me right now.

Ted:       Oh no! Look at me. I’m shaking in my shoes!

paid sb a compliment  恭维了某人一番

head and shoulders above  远远胜过(大大高出)

Way to go  就该这么做，对了，太棒了！

go into  进入，参加；开始从事；研究，调查

gung ho  同心协力的, 强烈的, 雄心壮志的，非常热心的，非常兴奋的

drives sb crazy  让某人疯狂

butt in  插嘴，插手，干涉

hit the nail on the head  一针见血，十分中肯

green with envy  十分妒忌

shut up  闭嘴

on thin ice with  如履薄冰，处于危险状态

shake in one’s shoes  害怕的发抖

哦，我查了

head and shoulders =head & shoulders 海飞丝？

呵呵。。。。。。

嗯，这句话，我也不是十分的确定，我觉得整句话是“我在GOV管理课堂上做了一个关于希拉里.克林顿的演说”。

这个的确是海飞丝的英文名，不过海飞丝是音译

在这里，give presentation on 是固定搭配，指关于什么方面报告、陈述。

当然，也有人用give presentation about，不过这样用的往往都是中国人，哈哈。

验明身份了，偶绝对的中国人啊~哈哈。。。

哈哈，我们都是中国人。

这两天忙，没有来得及录入和整理，马上就补上。

Lesson 5

TED GOES OUT FOR THE EVENING

Ted leaves to go visit his girlfriend Amber. Ted’s mother Susan says she doesn’t really like Amber. She wishes him a good time anyway.

Ted:       See you later, Mom!

Susan:    Where are you going, Ted?

Ted:       I told Amber I’d drop by.

Susan:    What are you two going to do?

Ted:       Maybe go to the movies or to a party. Our plans are still up in the air.

Susan:     Why don’t you invite her over here?

Ted:        I don’t want to hang around here. Dad is really down in the dumps.

Susan:     Is Amber the girl with the nose ring and the purple hair?

Ted:        Yeah. I’m crazy about her!

Susan:     Don’t take this the wrong way, but she’s not exactly my cup of tea.

Ted:        Take it easy, Mom. We’re not about to get married. We just enjoy hanging out together.

Susan:     I guess there’s no accounting for taste. Have a good time.

Ted:        Don’t worry. We’ll have a blast!

Susan:     (under her breath)That’s what I’m afraid of!

drop by  非正式访问（顺便来访）

up in the air  悬而未决的

hang around  闲荡（徘徊，逗留）

down in the dumps  气馁，沮丧

crazy about  着迷的，狂热的，热衷于

take this the wrong way 误会某人的意思

cup of tea  喜爱的人或事物, 命运

Take it easy  别着急，放心好了

about to  即将，刚要

hang out  过把隐

there’s no accounting for taste  人和人的口味是不一样的

Have a good time  玩得高兴，过得愉快

have a blast  玩个尽兴

under her breath  低声悄语地（小声地）

[此贴子已经被作者于2008-12-4 12:48:23编辑过]

Lesson 6

SUSAN STAYS HOME AND BAKES COOKIES

Susan decides to cheer up her husband. Bob loves her homemade cookies. Nicole suggests she start a cookie business.

Susan:     Bob, I baked cookies for you.

Bob:        That was so nice of you, dear. You’ve got a heart of gold!

Susan:     Go ahead and pig out!

Bob:        These are delicious!

Susan:     I thought they might cheer you up. You’re been in a bad mood lately.

Bob:        I guess I have been a little on edge. But these cookies are just what the doctor ordered!

Nicole:    Do I smell cookies?

Susan:     Yes, Nicole. Help yourself.

Nicole:    Yum-yum.* These are out of this world. You could go into business selling these!

Bob:        You could call them Susan’s Scrumptious Cookies. You’d make a bundle.

Susan:     Good thinking!

Nicole:    Don’t forget to give me credit for the idea after you’re rich and famous!

Susan:    You Know I always give credit where credit is due!

*Yum-yum: this is said when something is delicious. You can also say “mmm, mmm” or “mmm-mmm, good”

Scrumptious Cookies 美味曲奇

heart of gold  高尚的道德品质（宽厚仁慈的性格）

Go ahead  前进；去吧，干吧

pig out  狼吞虎咽地吃，大吃特吃

cheer you up  让你舒畅些，让你高兴起来

in a bad mood  心情不好

on edge  直立着（紧张不安，急切）

just what the doctor ordered  正是大夫说的（对症下药） 正合我的心意

Help yourself  （招待客人用语）请随便用... 

of this world  人世所无，只应天上有，太棒了，好极了

go into business  从事商业

make a bundle  大捞一笔

Good thinking   好见解

give sb credit  承认某人的功劳

give credit where credit is due  归功于有功者

Lesson 7

SUSAN HIRES BOB TO RUN HER BUSINESS

Susan stays up all night thinking about her cookies business. In the morning, she discusses it with Bob. Bob agrees to work for her.

Bob:        You’re up bright and early this morning, Susan.

Susan:     I didn’t sleep a wink. I was awake all night thinking about the new business.

Bob:        Running your own business is lots of work. Are you prepared to work like a dog?

Susan:    No. But I am prepared to hire you to run the business.

Bob:        You want me to run a cookie business? Fat chance!

Susan:     Why not?

Bob:       I don’t have a clue about making cookies. I don’t even know how to turn the oven on!

Susan:     I’ll give you a crash course.

Bob:        Do I have to do the baking?

Susan:     No. You’ll just manage the business side.

Bob:        Needless to say. I have mixed feelings about working for you.

Susan:     I’ll be nice. I promise you’ll be a happy camper.

Bob:        Okay. Let’s give it a shot. Boss!

bright and early  清早，一大早

didn’t sleep a wink  无法成眠

work like a dog  拼命工作

Fat chance  机会渺茫，不可能

don’t have a clue  不知道

crash course  速成班

Needless to say  不用说

mixed feelings  忧喜参半的情绪，爱恨交杂

happy camper  快乐的人，感到满足的人

Let’s give it a shot  试试看吧

楼主很专业