商务英语口语 Lesson 20《Speak Business Engl...

Lesson 20 IDIOMS英文释义

• up to one's old tricks: repeating the same behavior as before (usually annoying, dishonest, or sneaky behavior)
• EXAMPLE: Our boss is up to his old tricks. This is the third time we've gone out to lunch and he's forgotten his wallet back at the office.
• brownie points: credit for doing a good deed or for giving someone a compliment (usually a boss or teacher)
• EXAMPLE: Sara scored brownie points with her boss by volunteering to organize the company's holiday party.
• ORIGIN: The junior branch of the Girl Scouts is called the Brownies. Brownies earn credit to then earn a badge by doing good deeds and tasks. When applied to adults, the meaning is sarcastic.
• yes-man: an employee who always agrees with the boss or does whatever the boss says
• EXAMPLE: Don't expect Larry to argue with the boss. He's a yes man.
• brown-noser:  somebody who's always trying to win favor with those in authority, like bosses or teachers
• EXAMPLE: Jim told Amanda she was the best boss he ever had? What a brown-noser!
• (to) kiss up to (someone): to try to win favor with someone by flattering them
• EXAMPLE: Don is always kissing up to the boss. He'll probably get promoted soon.
• talk about: that's an example of...
• EXAMPLE: Sharon told everybody that Carla was having an affair with her boss. Talk about spreading nasty rumors!
• (to) butter up: to say nice things to somebody, hoping that they'll do something nice for you in the future; to compliment too much
• EXAMPLE: Sam is trying to get promoted by buttering up his boss. His co-workers don't like his behavior.
• at one's expense: at a cost to
• EXAMPLE: If you blame the project failure on us, you'll look Better, but at our expense.
• NOTE: There is also the related expression "at one's own expense," meaning to pay the cost oneself. Example: Fred wanted the job so badly, he was willing to fly to Atlanta for the interview at his own expense.
• out for oneself: selfish; just concerned with oneself and one's own success; not caring about what happens to other people
• EXAMPLE: I'm not surprised that Jessica took all the credit for the success of the ad campaign. She's just out for herself.
• dog-eat-dog world: a cruel and aggressive world in which people just look out for themselves
• EXAMPLE: Your company fired you shortly after you had a heart attack? Well, it's certainly a dog-eat-dog world!
• ORIGIN: This expression dates back to the 1500's. Wild dogs were observed fighting aggressively over a piece of food. The connection was made that people, like dogs, often compete aggressively to get what they want.
• (to) get ahead: to get promoted; to advance in one's career
• EXAMPLE: If you want to get ahead in investment banking, be prepared to work long hours!
• (to) climb the corporate ladder: advance in one's career; the process of getting promoted and making it to senior management
• EXAMPLE: You want to climb the corporate ladder? It helps to be productive and to look good in front of your boss.
• (to) look at oneself in the mirror: to face oneself
• EXAMPLE: After firing so many employees, I don't know how Beth can even look at herself in the mirror.
• no wonder: it's not surprising that
• EXAMPLE: No wonder Randy hasn't been promoted in 10 years. He just sits in his office surfing the Internet all day.
• (to) talk behind someone's back:  to gossip about somebody; to say negative things about somebody who's not around
• EXAMPLE: Please don't talk behind my back. If you have something to say to me, say it to my face.
• the walls have ears:  you never know when somebody might be listening to your "private" conversation
• EXAMPLE: Don't complain about the boss while we're in the office. Remember, the walls have ears!
• (to) think twice: to think more carefully before doing something in the future; to not repeat a mistake one has made
• EXAMPLE: Jane didn't even thank you for your Christmas gift? You should think twice before giving her a gift next year!
• Chill out!:  Relax! Don't worry!
• EXAMPLE: Chill out! Your presentation to the CEO will go fine.
• likely story:  that's not true; I find that hard to believe
• EXAMPLE: When Jim and Jenny were caught kissing each other m the conference room, they said it would never happen again. That's a likely story!
• I wasn't born yesterday!:  I'm not stupid; I'm not naive
• EXAMPLE: I just got an e-mail from a company promising to send me $10 million next year if I send them $10,000 now. Too bad for them I wasn't born yesterday!