YuYan.Biz

Key Phrases:

rain check = 雨票

to let your hair down = “把头发放下去” ; 放松 ; 玩一下

Example Conversation:

Joan: John, congratulations on closing the Smith account.

John: Thank you very much. But now the hard work really begins.

Joan: That’s true John. But, why don’t you let down your hair and come enjoy some beer with us tonight? Let’s celebrate.

John: Hmmm, Joan. That’s a great idea. But I really have to get busy. Tonight, I need to speak with the office in Shanghai; they’ll start work while we are sleeping here in the United States. As such, can I have a rain check?

Joan: A rain check?

John: Yes, a rain check. I’d like to go out for beers with you guys next time if that’s OK.

Joan: That’s fine.

Audio:

Key Phrases:

to put all your eggs in one basket = 孤注一掷 /把所有的鸡蛋放在一个篮子里 / 把所有的宝押在柜台上

It is all or nothing! = 全赢或者全输

Example conversation:

A. Hi. How are you?

B. Very good. And you?

A. Great.

B. Say, did you hear about Mr. Chen?

A. Mr. Chen? The successful Internet entrepreneur?

B. Yes.

A. Didn’t he sell his first company?

B. Yes he did. It was very successful.

A. Wow! That’s great.

B. But now, he is putting all his money and all his resources into his new company.

A. What’s wrong with that?

B. Well, nothing. But he is literally putting all his eggs in one basket.

A. All his eggs in one basket?

B. Yes. Only one product. Focusing on one customer. And one contract. It’s all or nothing!

A. Wow! He really shouldn’t put all his eggs into one basket!

Audio:

Key phrases:

to call it even = 扯平了, 两不相欠, 互不相欠, 两清

To chew on it = 想一想, “慢慢地嚼食物“, 仔细地考虑

Example conversation:

A. Thank you for completing the Web design.

B. My pleasure. Do you like it?

A I certainly do!

B. Well, that’ll be US$500.

A. US$500? But you still owe us US$480 for the Web hosting for your other sites.

B. Oh. I forgot about that.

A. And you’re overdue 60 days.

B. I see.

A. Look, why don’t we just call it even?

B. Call it even?

A. Yeah, you don’t owe me, and we don’t owe you.

B. Hmmm… OK. That sounds fair.

A. Are you sure?

B. Not really.

A. Well, take your time and chew on it.

Audio:

Key Phrases:

to pull an all-nighter = 晚上不睡觉加班/读书

to burn the midnight oil = 晚上不睡觉加班/读书 – 不一定是100%不睡觉的 – 大概是凌晨才睡

Example conversation:

JOHN: Fred, are you ready for tomorrow?

FRED: John, no. We had some major changes at the last minute. Therefore, I am going to have to pull an all-nighter.

JOHN: You’re going to have to pull an all-nighter?

FRED: Yes. I am going to have to burn the midnight oil.

Audio:

Key Phrase:

to pull out all the stops = 拼命地作事情

Example Conversation:

BOSS: John, you’re not working hard enough. I want you to pull out all the stops.

JOHN: But Mr. Smith I am trying my hardest. I am already pulling out all the stops!

BOSS: Are you? Are you working overtime? No. Are you working on the weekends? No. Are you hiring temporary staff? No. OK then! So you are NOT pulling out all the stops! GET BUSY!

JOHN: Yes sir!

Audio:

Key Phrases:

under new management = 在新的经营之下

to make a sales call = 为了业务约会见面

to call on someone = 与某人/单位见面或沟通

Example Conversation:

Boyd: Well, what’s our next stop?

Cindy: Our next stop is Wheeler’s Market. We need to make a sales call.

Boyd: Oh! Look! It says “under new management.”

Cindy: Under new management? What does that mean?

Boyd: Well, I think it means that Mr. Wheeler sold his business to a …. let me look … a “Mr. Patel.”

Cindy So, Mr. Patel is the new manager. That’s what “under new management” means.

Boyd: That’s right. Do you think he’ll buy our product?

Cindy: I think so. Let’s call on the new manager.

Boyd: OK!

Audio:

Key Phrase:

to have your hand in the till = 盗用（挪用）公款

Thanks to Erick for the translation of the key phrase!

Example conversation:

A: Gosh! Did you know (that) Fred in Minneapolis was caught with his hand in the till?

B: Really? How much money did he get?

A: I think he stole over US$1,000,000 over 20 years.

B: Wow! He sure knows how to keep his hand in the till!

to break the ice

Example conversation:

A: John, when we go into this meeting, I want you to tell some of your good jokes to break the ice.

John: OK… Are you sure that wouldn’t be … ah … inappropriate?

A. No… We really need to break the ice to make this sale.

to take a taxi = 搭计程车 ; 搭的士

taxi = 计程车 ; 的士

taxi driver = 的士师傅; 计程车司机

Step on it! = 快点到达! 加油!

Example conversation:

Taxi driver: Where to?

You: 100 Third Avenue, please! And step on it! And if you get there in 20 minutes, I’ll give you a US$20 tip!

budget = 预算

Example conversation:

Boss: Cindy, Boyd, I am going to need those numbers for the budget by Wednesday!

Cindy, Boyd: OK boss.

Boyd: Budget numbers? I thought you were working on those figures?

Cindy: What? No. I did them last year. It is your turn to work on the budgetary numbers.

Boyd: Oh. Yeah. I forgot.