Lesson 01 Bob's Day at Work
鲍勃的工作日
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 decided to fire him.
鲍勃在一家家具店当经理。他的老板皮特对销售业绩不满意。鲍勃的新广告活动也没让销售业绩有何起色。皮特决定解雇他。
Peter:Bob, I have to break the news , but our sales were down again last month.
鲍勃，我不得不宣布这个坏消息，上个月我们的销售额又下降了
Bob:Down again, Peter?
又下降了吗，皮特？
Peter:Yeah. These days, everybody's shopping at our competition, Honest Abe's Furniture Store.
对啊，这些天大家都在我们的竞争对手“诚实的亚伯家具店”那儿买家私。
Bob:But everything in there costs an arm and a leg!
但他们家的东西都非常贵啊。
Peter:That's true. They do charge top dollar.
没错，他们的售价确实很高。
Bob:And their salespeople are very strange. They really give me the creeps!
而且他们的销售员也非常奇怪。他们让我毛骨悚然。
Peter:Well, they must be doing something right over there. Meanwhile, we're about to go belly-up.
哎呀，人家的策略是对的啦。而我们呢，就快要破产了。
Bob:I'm sorry to hear that. I thought my new advertising campaign would save the day.
听到这个消息我真难过。我以为我的新广告可以让我们挽救局面的。
Peter: Let's face it: your advertising campaign was a real flop.
你的广告实在很失败，面对这个现实吧。
Bob:Well then I'll go back to the drawing board.
那我重新做个计划。
Peter:It's too late for that. You're fired!
太迟了，你被解雇了。
Bob:What? You're giving me the ax?
什么？你要解雇我？
Peter:Yes. I've already found a new manager. She's as sharp as a tack.
对。我已经物色了一个新经理。她非常厉害。
Bob:Can't we even talk this over? After all, I've been working here for 10 years!
我们不能再谈谈？不管怎样，我在这里工作了10年了。
Peter:There's no point in arguing, Bob. I've already made up my mind.
鲍勃，再争辩下去也没有意义了，我已经决定了。
Bob:Oh well, at least I won't have to put up with your non-sense anymore! Good-bye to you and good-bye to this dead-end job.
那好吧，至少我不必再忍受你的无知了。拜拜了，你嘞；拜拜了，这没有前途的工作！
Peter:Please leave before I lose my temper!
在我发火前，你赶紧走！
笔记：
* About to: ready to; on the verge of;马上就要，即将
* After all: despite everything; after everything has been considered; the fact is; 毕竟，怎么说
* At least: anyway; the good thing is that; 至少
* (to) break the news: to make something known; 宣布消息
* (to) cost an arm and a leg: to be very expensive; 宰人，代价过高
* 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，使人毛骨悚然；起鸡皮疙瘩
* (to) go back to the drawing board: to start a task over because the last try failed; to start again from the beginning;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
* (to) put up with: to endure without complaint;忍受；容忍
* 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; 厉害；精明
* (to) talk over: to discuss;讨论