礼节美语114讲
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公司执行总裁Dave召集董事会成员Helen和Pete开会，讨论业务外包和公司重组。
Dave: I`ve called this meeting to discuss a very important decision we need to make. In the interest of cost saving, it`s been suggested that we outsource some of our operations.
Helen: I have a lot of concerns about this idea. What exactly are we talking about, here?
D: Well in my view there are benefits to outsourcing for both our company and for our customers. In our case, the cost savings are impressive. And from the customers` perspective, outsourcing means we can expand services at no additional cost to them.
执行总裁Dave说，开会是要讨论为节省开支、将部分业务外包的问题，to outsource some of our operations. Helen表示有顾虑。 Dave解释说，外包对公司和客户都有利，既可以为公司省钱，也可以增加客户服务，at no additional cost而不必增加任何成本。
Pete: Can you give us an example of exactly which divisions you`d outsource?
D: I`d say accounting is a good place to start. It would mean that we would axe around 100 jobs but we`d be able to save up to a quarter million dollars a year.
H: Where are you thinking of moving the accounting department to?
D: We have a great offer from an Indian company. They handle a lot of big clients and have a solid reputation.
Pete希望了解外包的业务范围。Dave表示，可以从财务开始， accounting is a good place to start，这就意味着to axe裁员100人，但是每年可以节省25万美元。他们看中了一家印度公司。They handle a lot of big clients and have a solid reputation. 很多大公司都找他们，信誉很不错。
P: Should we consider outsourcing customer relations? Many corporations are using Indian call centers, right?
D: Yes...that has become a trend. But in our case, I`d recommend we do not switch to a call service overseas because many companies have experienced difficulties with accents and culture. It`s created a backlash that I`d like to avoid.
H: But we could move our email customer service center overseas.
D: Yes, absolutely. We can also consider moving the development and managing of our web site to a firm in China. They have a great track record and their prices are very competitive.
Pete提出，很多公司都把客户服务，customer relations外包给印度呼叫中心。 Dave承认，that has become a trend. 这已经成了一种潮流，但是因为口音和文化的关系，出现了backlash，负面的反弹，所以不准备把客户服务外包到海外去。
Helen提议把电子邮件服务外包出去。 Dave同意，并表示，考虑把网站的开发和管理外包给一家中国公司，they have a great track record and their prices are very competitive. 因为他们的业绩一贯不错，价格也很有竞争力。
流行美语第338课
李华和Larry开车去机场准备坐飞机去夏威夷渡假。今天我们要学两个常用语：a far cry和steer clear.
LH: Boy, Larry, 这次假期真是让我望眼欲穿。前段时间每时每刻都在忙，你好长时间没有带我出去玩了，你简直是失职...
LL: What do you mean? Last month we went to the movies. That was fun, wasn`t it?
LH: 拜托，Larry, 带我去看变形金刚就能过关了吗？看两场电影，跟去夏威夷渡假相比，简直就是天壤之别。
LL: I guess you`re right. Watching a movie is definitely a far cry from taking a vacation in Hawaii.
LH: A far cry? 这就要哭啊？我是在跟你开玩笑呢！
LL: Actually, Lihua, when you say that something is a far cry from something else, it means that those two things are totally different.
LH: 哦，我明白了，说一件事情是a far cry from另外一件事情，就是说二者大相径庭。这么说，你也承认，看电影远远比不上去夏威夷好玩喽？
LL: Exactly. But I have to say, I`m really excited for this vacation too. I`ve heard that Hawaii is really beautiful.
LH: 咱们攒钱去夏威夷是绝对正确的，虽说贵了点，可是物有所值，比随便找个小沙滩晒太阳强多了。
LL: I agree. The small and crowded beaches near my house are definitely a far cry from the huge, beautiful beaches in Hawaii.
LH: 那当然了，别忘了，光是从旧金山到夏威夷，就要坐六个小时的飞机呢！对了，你不会为了给我个惊喜，订的是头等舱吧？
LL: Are you kidding? I don`t even have enough money to buy peanuts. I`m still a far cry from being able to afford first class tickets.
LH: 哎，经济舱也凑合了。哈，我知道，那你一定是把钱都花在了五星级的酒店上...
LL: Well ... the place we`re staying might be a far cry from a luxury, five-star hotel.
LH: 不是五星的？那也没关系，四星我也将就了... 要不，最少也得是个三星吧？
LL: Don`t worry, Lihua, we have a really nice tent to camp out on the beach!
LH：Larry, 你最好是在开玩笑，要我露宿沙滩，那我现在就买张机票回家去。
LL: Don`t worry, I`m just kidding. We have a good hotel.
LH: 哈！我说说罢了，你还当真了。You are still a far cry from being a comedian. 你离喜剧演员的标准还差得远呢！
******
Larry和李华坐了一天飞机，总算到了夏威夷。
LH: 夏威夷，我来了！Larry, 我们直奔海滩怎么样？
LL: Yeah, Hawaii is going to be great! I can`t wait to get to the beach and spend all day sleeping in the sand.
LH: Larry, 我警告你，来夏威夷可不是为了睡觉，我们每天的行程可都是排得满满的。
LL: Well, Lihua, I think the main purpose of vacation is to relax. Let`s steer clear of all those tiring activities.
LH: Steer clear? 难道说夏威夷也堵车，所以开车一定要小心吗？
LL: Actually, to steer clear of something means you should avoid it. For example, whenever I travel, I steer clear of the food people sell on the street because I don`t want to get sick.
LH: 没错，出门在外千万不能乱吃东西，否则食物中毒，整个假期就全泡汤了。对了，Larry, 我们的旅馆在市中心还是郊区？
LL: I always steer clear of the crowded and noisy cities when I go on vacation. Our hotel is in a very secluded and quiet area.
LH: Sounds great. 我们坐出租车去吗？
LL: We should probably steer clear of taxis during our vacation because they are so expensive. Let`s take the bus.
LH: 可是Larry, 我带了四个大皮箱呢...
LL: Well Lihua, you know that I always try to steer clear of doing anything to upset you. We can take a cab this ONE time.
LH: 算你聪明，作为奖励，在我们的日程正式开始之前，我批准你在沙滩上睡一小觉，不过记住，只有十分钟。
LL: A ten minute nap? Well that`s a far cry from a fair deal, but I guess I`ll take it. What is the first activity we`re doing?
LH: 冲浪！
今天李华学了两个常用语。一个是a far cry from something， 意思是大相径庭。另一个是steer clear, 意思是避免。