礼节美语115讲
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。
H: I guess one of the biggest questions here is how the general public might perceive these moves. Will we face a backlash for cutting some local jobs and moving some operations abroad?
P: Yes, it`s entirely possible that we will get some negative press over this decision. We will need to do some damage
control and try to explain as best as possible the reasoning behind our decision.
D: I`ll have a chat with our public relations people and brief them on how to respond to media inquires.
Helen担心公司业务外包，裁减员工，会引起社会反响，face a backlash。Pete也表示，媒体很可能会有负面报道， negative press, 因此要尽量控制不良影响， do some damage control。执行总裁 Dave表示，会和公关部门讨论，告诉他们如何回答媒体的问询。
P: The logic is pretty simple; either we make some needed cuts or the company risks going under and even more jobs will be lost.
D: We also want to be responsible players here. Let`s offer job counseling and let`s be reasonably generous with severance packages.
H: The companies that we plan on contracting to work for us have all been vetted by an independent auditor, right?
D: Yes, and they all passed with flying colors.
Pete表示，公司重组理由很简单，不裁员公司就可能破产，the company risks going under。Dave建议为遣散员工提供就业咨询，job counseling，遣散费也多给点，be generous with severance packages. Severance packages是遣散员工时给的补贴。Helen问，外包公司是否都已经通过了独立审计单位的审查， vet，是审查的意思。Dave表示，审查结果非常好，to pass with flying colors，意思是成功通过考查。
D: The law says sub-contracted firms must follow some basic guidelines such as no child labor, equal pay for men and women, etc. If they`re not up to snuff, they have a certain number of days to rectify the situation. Otherwise, we have to find another firm.
H: So it`s decided then. All in favor of outsourcing accounting and web maintenance please raise your hand.
P: Looks like it`s a unanimous decision.
D: Thank you all for understanding. I`ll write up a memo explaining this decision to everyone and send it out in a couple of days.
H and P: Sounds good.
D: All right, then. This meeting is adjourned.
Dave表示，法律规定，如果分包公司达不到基本要求，if they`re not up to snuff, 必须在特定时间内改正to rectify the situation。 Up to snuff, snuff, 意思是合格的，符合标准的。
最后三人举手表决，同意将财会和网站管理业务外包。It`s a unanimous decision. 决定一致通过。Dave准备写一份备忘录，几天后宣布。
流行美语第339课
李华和Larry在夏威夷渡假。俩人今天去冲浪。今天我们要学两个常用语：make light of something和in over one`s head.
LH: Larry, 我早就想学冲浪了，听说夏威夷是世界上最适合冲浪的地方。
LL: Really? I`ve also heard that the waters have big sharks. Are you sure you wouldn`t rather build sand castles?
LH: 在海边用沙子堆城堡？哈，Larry, 你是不是害怕了？放心，鲨鱼看见咱俩，一定会选择我。
LL: I wouldn`t make light of the situation, Lihua. There really are sharks!
LH: Make light of the situation? 那是什么意思啊？
LL: You can say that you make light of a situation when you joke about something that is actually very serious.
LH: 哦， to make light of 一件事情就是拿正经事当儿戏。那你是说海水里真的有鲨鱼，我不应该拿咱俩谁的肉更香开玩笑喽？
LL: Right! Now, Lihua, you`re a good swimmer, right? The ocean is pretty strong here.
LH: 我以前上中学的时候还是游泳校队的呢。这点海浪难不倒我，Larry, 你怎么今天好象特别的婆婆妈妈。
LL: Well, I just wouldn`t make light of the fact that the currents can be very dangerous.
LH: 看，这么多孩子在水里玩，如果你有什么事，他们一定会去救你的。
LL: Haha, very funny. You know, you can also say that you take something lightly when you don`t treat it as seriously as you should.
LH: 哦，就是不把正经事当回事儿的意思。Larry, 我是来渡假的，不是来学英语的，咱们还是赶快下水吧！
LL: Wait! First we should put on some sunscreen. Getting a sun burn is really unhealthy, so we don`t want to take that lightly.
LH: 对对对，被太阳晒脱皮可非同小可。
LL: Yeah, we shouldn`t take skin cancer lightly, so I always try not to get a tan.
LH: 怎么样，现在可以让教练带我们下水了吧？
LL: Sure. You go in first and make sure the sharks aren`t hungry. I`ll follow once I know it`s safe.
LH: 真够绅士的。
******
李华和Larry结束了冲浪课程，回到岸上。
LH: Wow, Larry, 太过瘾了。我准备辞掉工作，留下来做职业冲浪运动员。
LL: Not me. I think half the water in the ocean went up my nose.
LH: 别灰心，只要坚持练习，一定会熟能生巧，到时候，别人看到你冲浪就会惊呼，WOW...
LL: I don`t know, Lihua. I think I might be in over my head.
LH: 你说什么？In over your head? 你意思是站在深水里，水快要没过头了吗？
LL: Right! You can say that you are in over your head when you are facing a challenge that you aren`t able to handle.
LH: 哦，我明白了，in over one`s head意思是太难了，难以驾驭。你是说自己学不会冲浪吗？
LL: Right. For another example, in college, I once tried to take a physics class, but I soon realized I was in over my head because I`m really bad at math.
LH: 这我太能理解了，我数学也不好，所以物理课一直是我的弱项。你说Larry, 咱们明天到底干嘛？去爬山如何？
LL: You want to hike on one of the volcanoes?
LH: 当然了，如果能在上面宿营就更棒了。
LL: Well Lihua, neither of us is an experienced hiker. I don`t want to go far out in the forest and realize we are in over our heads.
LH: 要不找个导游？对了，Larry, 我有个更好的主意。我们可以骑车环岛游！
LL: I don`t know....I`m not in good shape, and that is a really long bike ride. I think I would be in over my head.
LH: 那你说，咱们干点什么才能不让你in over your head呢？
LL: Well you know, our hotel offers an all-day massage and spa treatment. I think I could handle that.
LH: 什么，你想一整天都待在旅馆里，休息按摩？那我们来夏威夷干嘛？我公寓旁边就有按摩院啊。
LL: Well, it`s important to rest on vacation. I don`t take relaxation lightly.
LH: 我有个折中方案，既好玩，又不会太累。
LL: Really? What`s that?
LH: Sailing! 坐船出海去。
今天李华学了两个常用语。一个是make light of, 意思是不认真，当儿戏。另一个是in over one`s head, 意思是太难。