LL: Oh, Lihua, don’t worry. We both know Lijia is very hard working, and she enjoys what she’s studying. She shouldn’t have a problem keeping her full ride scholarship.
LH: 我毕竟是姐姐，有义务督促她努力学习，千万不能丢掉奖学金。
LL: You’re such a good example Li Hua, because you got a full ride scholarship for your PhD program, right?
LH: 多亏有这份全额奖学金，我才能继续念书呢。今年六月论文答辩一过，我就正式毕业了。Once I receive my PhD degree, my full ride will end. 我得抓紧时间，赶紧找到工作。
******
LL: Lihua, I know the economy is pretty bad right now, but I don’t think you should rush to find a job. You’ve been working so hard on your PhD. - I think you deserve take some time off and just chill out.
LH: 给自己放假？现在就业市场这么不好，失业的人比新就业的人还多，我可不敢掉以轻心！再说了，现在天气越来越暖和，How can I chill out if it’s hot outside? 大热天，怎么能凉快呢！
LL: No, Lihua, chill out means to relax. It has nothing to do with the temperature outside.
LH: 我明白了。你的意思是说，我毕业以后应该好好放松一下自己。你觉得这样能行吗？
LL: Of course I think it’s a good idea to chill out. A lot of students take some time off after graduation to unwind. Some even travel for the entire summer and go backpacking through Europe.
LH: 有人用整整一个夏天去旅行，太过瘾了。不过，我恐怕走到半路，我就口袋空空了。Larry, 你说我该怎样去chill out呢？
LL: I think we could both chill out for a week and drive down to Virginia Beach to lounge on the sand and swim in the ocean with some friends.
LH: 不用写论文，不用准备面试，沉浸在阳光和海水中，还有温暖的沙滩，太美了。
LL: My uncle lives nearby, we could all stay at his house for a few nights.
LH: Oh Larry, chilling out sounds like so much fun! 从海边回来，我还可以到纽约去找李佳，chill out some more!
今天李华学了两个常用语。一个是full ride, 意思是全额奖学金。另一个是chill out，意思是放松放松。
礼节美语052讲
陈豪在北京的ABC美国公司工作，他兴冲冲地打电话给美国同事Amy。
(Office ambience)
A：Good Afternoon, this is Amy.
C：你好，Amy, 我是陈豪，你现在有几分钟的时间吗？
A：Yes. I was just about to start a new project, but it can wait.
C：我有好消息告诉你。
A：What is it?
C：我升职了，要到销售部去。
A：Oh, That’s wonderful. Tell me about it.
C：我的上司觉得我到公司以来，社交能力大有长进，所以决定把我调到销售部去。
A：How do you feel about that?
C：当然高兴了，不过也有点紧张。
A：I agree that it is always a bit scary when you start a totally new job, working with people and processes that you don’t know.
C：Amy, 我想一上来就让他们对我刮目相看，你能不能告诉我，应该怎么做啊？
A：First of all, I would be careful about how I’d impress them.
C：你这话是什么意思啊？我得让他们看看，我非常了解销售部的作业流程。这样他们才会觉得我是合适的人选。
A：My advice to you is to go slowly at first. Understand that there may be people in that department who think they should have gotten the job instead of you.
C：对呀，那我怎么做才既能让别人觉得我确实很有能力，又不得罪人呢？
A：Ask intelligent questions about projects and processes. Let your co-workers share their knowledge and experience with you.
C：可如果我问一大堆问题，别人会不会觉得我不胜任呢？
A：Not at all. Listening to other people is the best way to learn what you don’t know and how to do your job well. The other benefit is that you will get to know your colleagues.
C：好了，我不能再耽误你时间了，过几天有问题我再来向你咨询。
A：That sounds good.
******
两天后，陈豪Amy一起吃午饭。
A：How do you like your new job?
C：挺好的，我适应得很快。同事们也都很帮忙。
A：I’m glad to hear that you are getting off to such a good start.
C：但是也有一、两个人，让我觉得有些不自在。
A：What’s going on with them?
C：他们好像是故意的，没完没了地给我讲办公室的各种小道消息。我真不知道拿他们怎么办好。
A：The best way to deal with those people is to tell them that you feel you need to spend your time learning your job.
C：如果他们不听劝告呢？
A：As we Americans say, "Let it go in one ear and out the other."
C：好主意！我们中国人也说一个耳朵进，一个耳朵出。
流行美语第291课
Larry跟李华一起开高速，去李华亲戚家过周末，由李华开车。今天我们要学两个常用语： take the fall和tough it out.
LH: Larry, 今天路可真不好开，我有一种不好的预感。
LL: What do you mean? Are you talking about your relatives, or are you referring to the possibility of an accident?
LH: 快别说“出事”这个字，多不吉利！不过，我还真有点儿怕，更何况，这辆车不在我的名下。
LL: If there’s an accident, I may have to take the fall, Lihua.
LH: 什么叫take the fall?
LL: When someone ’takes the fall’ for something, they are accepting responsibility for another person’s mistake.
LH: 哦，take the fall原来是替别人承担责任的意思。
LL: Yes. For example, if a company has a bad performance, the CEO may take the fall - basically accepting responsibility and making himself the center of the blame, so that the company can continue.
LH: 这么说，如果真出了车祸，你就要替我承担责任了？
LL: That’s right, Li Hua. I’ll take the fall for you. This is my car, after all. It’s registered in my name. So, I’ll HAVE to take the fall!
LH: 我看咱们还是停下来，由你开好了，否则真出了事，要你替我背黑锅，那多过意不去！
LL: Hey, don’t worry. Let’s drive for a little longer, because I want to take a nap. I worked really late yesterday, remember?
LH: 我怎么会忘！哪天咱们有了孩子，你这个工作狂要是整天不在家，I will have to take the fall.
LL: Don’t worry - you wouldn’t have to take the fall for that. I’d be a responsible father and tell them myself, and I would accept full responsibility!
LH: 说真的，Larry, 什么样的情况下你愿意替我背黑锅呢？
LL: OK, let me think. If you made your father angry, I would take the fall.
LH: 那不算，我爸本来就不太喜欢你！
LL: I know. So I have nothing to lose if I take the fall for you for this! Hahah!
******
LH: 还有一英里就可以下高速了，天好象也要放晴了。
LL: Yeah, it appears to be that way. We should be at your relatives’ house in a few minutes.
LH: 哎呀！Whoa (车打转).... (轮胎刹轧声，汽车打火声) 不好，车熄火了。
LL: Let me take a look. Oh wow. Total engine failure. Let’s see. You know what? We could just tough it out and walk to your relatives’ place.
LH: 什么？走去我亲戚家？你疯了吧？还有你说的tough it out, 那是什么意思啊？
LL: Tough it out means to complete a task under difficult circumstances. For example, we need to complete our journey to your relatives’ house. But because the car is broken down, we have to walk outside in the cold to finish the journey.
LH: 可你还是没有说明白什么叫tough it out 啊。
LL: It’s cold, and it will take longer, and we have to exert more strength to do it. Because of this, it’s tough - so we call it ’toughing it out.’
LH: 你要做硬汉，可以自己去tough it out. 我可不愿意。
LL: If you stay in the car, two things can happen: you can get even colder because there is no heat, and something bad could happen to you. It’s dangerous to be alone off the highway.
LH: 你是说会有坏人？那我只好跟你一起走了。
LL: I think it’s our only choice. If we tough it out together, we can get to your relatives’ house in about 15 minutes. We can get some exercise!