第一个是trying to find my feet,意为“我正在努力适应新环境”。其它类似说法还有:
I'm trying to orientate myself.
我在尽力适应。
I'm trying to settle in.
我在努力习惯(新工作/新居等)
I'm learning the ropes.
我正在学习掌握窍门。
下面我们来看一个关于适应新环境的对话,注意里面的习语:
Gordon:US 8, UK 42. ferrare cavallo. heel…(lying on couch &examining a pair of shoes)
戈登:美国码8号、英国码42号、意大利真皮、鞋后跟……(躺在沙发上,反复观看一双皮鞋)
Katherine:Hurry up! you'll be late for work. What are you doing?
凯瑟琳:快点!你快迟到了,你在干什么?
Gordon:I'm a little bit worried about my new job. I'm trying to find my feet.
戈登:我只是有点担心新工作,我正尝试适应新环境。
Katherine:That's the trouble then. You deserve the boot.
凯瑟琳:问题就在这里,你真该被解雇。
Gordon:Why?
戈登:为什么?
Katherine:You work in a shoe shop and if you don't even know where your feet are, then there's no future for you there. Now get a move on before I put my foot in your mouth.
Hold your horses, Sally.Just wait with patience. Or you'll screw it up.
萨利,你要沉住气。就耐心等着吧。否则你会搞砸的。
2.I don't enjoy seeing you twiddling your thumbs.
我不想看你闲得无聊。
细心的人会发现,人闲着没事干的时候往往会坐在一旁玩弄自己的大拇指,这个习语就是表达了这个意思。
What did you do all this morning? I don't enjoy seeing you twiddling your thumbs.
你今天一早上都干嘛了!我不想看你闲得无聊。
idea被毙掉了
shoot down
例句-1:At the meeting this morning they didn't waste time shooting down my idea. They decided the cost of opening the offices was too high and the chances of making a real profit too small.
例句-2:Congress is rushing to finish work on new laws. They're shooting for adjournment in two weeks so all the members can hurry home and start campaigning for the election.
How are you this morning/afternoon/evening? (being more specific may get a more specific answer)
你今天上午/下午/晚上好吗?(问得更具体所得到的答案也可能更具体)
而如果是其他人问你,那么我们可以这样来回答:
I'm great actually—thanks for asking!
我很好,谢谢关心!
I'm alright—a bit tired.
我还好,就是有点累。
Really good, thanks. I'm getting excited for the weekend. (then explain why you're excited)
非常好,谢谢。我正为周末感到兴奋呢。(然后可以解释自己为何兴奋)
Can't complain!
好得没话说!
回答完后还可以问上一句:
How about yourself?
你如何呢?
饭局上和老外轻松交流
谈论很多事情时都需要一个轻松愉快的环境,那么如何在饭局上和老外轻松交流呢?
1. Please pass the salt.
请把盐递给我。
2. If you don't like fish, just set it aside.
你要是不喜欢吃鱼,就把它放到一边。
3.Please excuse me for a moment.
对不起,我离开一下。
4.Excuse me. could I see the menu, please?
打扰一下,我能看一下菜单吗?
5. I'd like to have another helping, thanks.
我想再要一份,谢谢。
6. What a delicious meal! Thank you very mush.
晚餐真棒,非常感谢。
7. Thank you, but I really can't eat another bite.
谢谢,但我一口都吃不下。
8. Cheers! To your health.
为您的健康干杯。
如何和领导沟通
1. 请假
Would it be possible for me to take the day off this Friday?
这个星期五,我是否可以休一天假?
请求休假用take the day off.如果是两天以上就用days off.上司可能会很干脆地答应说 "That'll be ok.",也可能会不悦地回答"Will everything be all right?(一切都安排就绪了吗?)"。这些都要看你平时的工作表现而定。
2. 提议
I think we need to buy a new copier.
我想我们需要买一台新的复印机。
说出这句话之前,必须要说明"Our copying machine has broken down again.(复印机又出毛病了。)"以作为提案的依据。客气一些的提议,可用"suggest"来表达,如"I would suggest we buy a new copier."
3. 表示了解上司的指示
Yes, of course.
是,我知道了。
也可以用"I understand.(我明白了。)",或"Yes, right away.(好的,马上去做。)"对上司说"ok"或 "all right"并不恰当。如果你很忙,应该说"I'm sorry, but I'm busy now. Could I do it later?"
4. 确认上司指示的内容
You did say next Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. didn't you?
您是说在下星期二下午2点,是不是?
任何事都必须确认一下。如果对方是外国人更要如此。上句也可以直截了当地说"let me confirm.(让我确认一下时间和日期。)"
5. 报告商谈结果
I had a feeling he was in favor of the plan.
我觉得他赞成那个计划。
记住"I have a feeling (that)…(我觉得……)",以及"…(that) he was against the plan.(他反对那个计划。)"这两句话,都是非常有用的哦!
如何夸奖同事或朋友
1. He is that rare combination of gifted writer and great newshound, an exceptional journalist with both narrative and investigative skills.
他是天才作家和伟大新闻记者的罕见组合,一个拥有叙述和调查技巧的杰出记者。
gifted:有才华的;有天赋的
exceptional:优越的,杰出的;例外的,独特的,异常的
2. Furiously independent, wise and resourceful in every way, he is an engine of good sense and sound judgment, a tireless worker who insists on fairness and accuracy.
1. How am I to know what I'm supposed to do if there's no organization around here?
如果这里那么没有条理,我怎么晓得该做些什么好呢?
2.I want you to stop hogging my desk space, all right?
你不要再占用我的桌子,好吗?
3.Don't talk to me while I'm in the middle of calculation.
我在计算时,别跟我说话。
4.Oh,why did he have to give me this rush job now that it's almost time for my lunch break!
哎,快到午餐休息时间了,他为什么非给我这个急件不可!
5.I know I made a mistake. I just wish he wouldn't keep hammering away at it.
我知道我犯错误了。我真希望他不要一直骂个不停。
6.Doing this mindless work all day is going to drive me crazy。
整天做这种不用动脑筋的工作,会使我发疯的。
7.Why do I have to do all these extra needless little jobs anyway?
不管怎样,为什么我得做所有这些多余的、不必要的琐碎工作?
感谢用语
1.Thanks a million. I really appreciate it.
万分感谢,真的是帮了我大忙啦。
2.I really appreciate what you’ve done for me these days.
我真的很感激这些天来你对我的帮助。
3.It’s very kind of you to help me.
你能帮助我真是太好了。
4.I really don’t know what I would have done without your help.
真不知道没有你的帮助我该怎么办。
5.Thank you for contributing so much to the pleasure of our staying.
感谢您给我们在这里停留期间带来的那么多欢乐。
6.Thank you so much for your generous hospitality.
非常感谢您慷慨的款待。
7.Thank you very much (ever so much) (most sincerely) (indeed)(from the bottom of my heart).
很(非常)(最真诚地)(确实)(衷心)感谢您。
8.It's generous of you to take so much interest in my work( to give me so much of your time) (to show me so much consideration).
承蒙您对我的工作如此操心(为我花费这么多时间)(对我如此关怀)。
9.I want to thank you for your kindness to me and for your compliments.
我要感谢您对我的友爱和问候。
千万不能这样和领导说话
不要命令
总是要避免命令的口气出现。说"give me some time off"你的老板听到后决不会感到高兴。取而代之,礼貌的开始你的请求,例如"I'd like to request some annual leave"或是"I'd appreciate it if you could give me your feedback."
不要在使用"I need"
老是谈论你"need"的会让你显得很霸道并且容易得罪人,因此试着用问讯的口气取而代之。象"could you please...?" and "would you be able to...?" 的短语是表达你的请求的最佳礼貌的方式。
避免假定的情况发生
如果你的老板很酷的话,你可以试试,说 "I'm going to leave a bit early today," 但是最好不要以控制人的语气并假设老板绝对不会为难你"would it be OK if I slipped out a bit early today?"或是 "would you be opposed to my taking off around 4:30?"是请求批准的绝佳的方式。
掌握好指责的尺度
如果你的经理好象把你的申请给忘了,不要指责他或她没有尽责任, "where are those figures i asked for?" 作为简单有效的提醒,你可以只是说,例如"i was wondering if you've had the chance to calculate those figures."这是对你老板善意的提醒他答应的事的好方法。
再试一次
如果你的经理拒绝了你的一项请求,放弃可能是最简单的解决方法。但是,如果你真的非常期望得到某项批准时,清晰的表达你的理由并说"please reconsider my request."
上班迟到
常用理由:
I was tied up with some urgent business.
有急事脱不开身。
My bus was late again.
是的,公共汽车又来迟了。
致歉:
Sorry.
I'm really / awfully / terribly sorry.
I cannot tell you how sorry I am.
Please forgive me. I don't mean that.
Please forgive my carelessness.
Please excuse me. I have to run.
接受道歉:
That's okay.
It's nothing.
It doesn't matter at all.
Never mind.
Don't worry about that.
Just forget it.
常用句型:
I'm really sorry to be late again.
I'm awfully sorry. I didn't realize.
It was wrong of me.
I hope you will excuse me.
I apologize for that.
but I'm afraid I'll have to put off the meeting.
表达自己的观点
提醒对方
我们不得不遗憾地通知您……
We are sorry to inform you that...
我们不得不很遗憾地提醒您……
We very much regret to have to remind you of...
我们请求您对……给予注意。
We invite your attention to... *用于引起别人注意时。attention “注意”。
We would like to call your attention to... 比较礼貌的说法。
我们想提醒您注意……
May we remind you that...?
May we take this occasion to remind you that...? *语气较委婉,“借此机会我想就一问题提醒您的注意”。
我们想指出……
We wish to point out that... *wish to... 虽然缓和了“我认为……”的语气,但是说法仍然比较直接。point out “指出”。
祝贺
我们非常高兴地获悉……
We are delighted to learn that... *用于私人的或和对方很熟的情况下。delight “非常高兴”。
衷心地祝贺你……
Congratulations on your...
We would like to offer our congratulations on your...
同意
我们同意你们关于……的意见。
We agree with you on...
We agree with you on the following issues... (我们同意以下几点。)
我们完全同意您信上所提出的所有问题。
We are in full agreement with the points raised in your letter. *raise 表示“提出质问、异议”。
We are in complete agreement with the points outlined in your letter.
我们非常高兴能有机会……
We are very pleased to have the opportunity to...
We are very pleased to be in a position to... 较绕圈子的说法。
我们非常高兴地……
We will be delighted to...
We will be delighted to meet with you on June 4, 1998. (我们非常高兴地期待着能在1998年6月4日见到您。)