BEC商務英語培訓:實用短語及情景對話練習
BEC商務英語大家瞭解多少呢?對於專業學習這項知識的人來說可能更爲熟悉一些,商務英語考試中也有一些常用的實用性短語,大家都知道多少呢?下面就是BEC商務英語實用短語及情景對話練習,正在備戰這項考試的人們趕快練起來吧!
1、at one’s wits end 智窮計盡
wit的意思是“穎悟力,智力,理解力”。該習語的意思是“處在智力的末端”,意即“智窮計盡”了。例如:I’m at my wit’s end with this problem. 我對這個問題真是束手無策。
A: I am at my wits’ end.
我已經智窮計盡了
B: What’s the matter?
怎麼啦?
A: If the bank won’t lend us the money, we’ll be stuck.
如果銀行不肯給我們貸款,我們就寸步難行了。
B: Don’t worry. you.can ask Mary for help.
彆着急。你可以請瑪麗幫幫忙。
2.at sixes and sevens 亂七八糟;意見不一
該習語一般認爲源於擲色子,原爲賭博行話。據說在中世紀時,色子面上的最高點數是7,如想求得13點,即一個色子6點,一個色子7點,這談何容易,只有那些心煩意亂或處於思想混亂狀態下的人才會下此賭注,一試賭贏。該習語最初表示“漫不經心地下賭注”,後來轉而表示“心煩意亂”,最後又引申出“亂七八糟”、“意見不一”等意思。
A: You have loused up the whole business; it’s at sixes and sevens.
整個買賣讓你弄得亂七八糟。
B: The dice is cast. It’s incurable.
一切都成了定局,沒救了。
A: I feel so terrible.
糟透了。
B: Me too. We just went to a lot of trouble for nothing.
我也這麼想,一切都白忙了。
3.back to square one 退回起點;從頭再來
該習語源自擲色子游戲。當擲出某個特定的號碼時要受罰,於是還要重新再擲。該習語即指“無所進展,退回起點”,進而“從頭再來”。例如:I’m back to square one with the work.(我的工作又得從頭做起。)
A: Have you finished designing that office building?
那座辦公樓設計好了嗎?
B: We are back to square one now.
我們正在重新設計。
A: Back to square one? What’s the matter?
重新設計?怎麼回事?
B: We’ve worked out the plan, but it’s been decided that we must use cheaper material. So we have to redesign it.
本來我們都已經設計好了,但現在決定使用便宜點的材料,所以只得從頭再來。
4.back to the drawing board 從頭開始,失敗後另起爐竈
drawing board指“畫板”。該習語直議爲“(退)回到畫板前”,引申爲“從頭開始。失敗後另起爐竈”。
A: How is Jim recently?
吉姆近況如何?
B: Very well. Since he was back to the drawing board, he’s been very successful.
非常好。自從他失敗以後另起爐竈,就一直很成功。
A: I know he will get back on his feet sooner or later.
我知道他遲早會東山再起的。
5.ballpark figure 近似數,大致正確的估計
ballpark一詞本指“棒球場”,引申爲“活動領域”,在此爲形容詞,表示“大致正確的,八九不離十的”。此類常用短語還有in the right ballpark“大致正確,差不多”。Ballpark figure 指大致不錯的近似數。
A: What price is this building?
這棟樓的成本是多少?
B: It’s $1,00,000, just a ballpark figure.
一百萬美元,這只是個大概數。
A: So much? It must have been in excess of our budget.
這麼多!肯定超出了預算了。
B: So. We go on or stop it now?
那現在是幹下去還是停下來?
A: Of course build it. Let’s think of some ways to raise money.
當然要幹下去,我們想法去籌些錢。
6.bang for the buck 貨真價實
buck在美國俚語中是“美元”的意思。有這樣一個短語,bigger bang for a buck,它的意思是“花錢取得更大效果”。Bang原是表示巨大聲響的擬聲詞,這裏引申爲“效果”。
A: Listen! It’s mid-summer now. What do we need them for?
嘿,現在已經是仲夏了,我們要這些東西幹什麼?
B: They may come in handy. Besides, these items can be true bang for the buck.
會有用得着它們的時候,再說這些東西是貨真價實的呀。
A: True bang for the buck? They’re enough for ten years’ use.
貨真價實?都夠用10年的了。
B: Stop getting on my nerves! I’m not doing something for nothing!
別煩我了,我可不是沒事找事。
7.be brassed off doing 厭煩於… ,對 … 滿腹牢騷
brass作名詞指“黃銅”,作動詞指“鍍黃銅於 … ”,而brassed off是俚語,意思是“厭煩,不滿,牢騷滿腹”。
A: I am awfully sorry that I have kept you waiting.
真是很抱歉讓您久等了。
B: To tell you the truth, I am really brassed off waiting.
說實話,我最討厭等人。
A: Sorry. I had something urgent to deal with just when I was to leave.
對不起,我正要來的時候又有急事要處理。
B: You should have told me earlier.
你應該早點告訴我。
A: It was too late to inform you.
通知你已經來不及了。
8.be catty 愛搬弄是非的;愛誹謗人的
英語中,cat給人的聯想總是不太愉快,如cattish的意思是“狡猾的、惡意的、偷偷摸摸的”。cat在英語中可用來指“惡意傷人的女人,包藏禍心的女人”,因此catty就有了誹謗的含義。
A: I thought you would cooperate.
我原以爲你會跟我合作呢。
B: Well, I’m too busy to be catty and poke my nose into things that do not matter much to me.
我可不願意搬弄是非去管那些跟我沒關係的閒事。
A: How do you know that he won’t do something against yourself?
你怎麼知道他不會做出什麼對你不利的事呢?
B: You do seem to have a glib tongue.
你真能胡攪蠻纏。
9.be down in the dumps 垂頭喪氣,神情沮喪
the dumps在非正規的口語表達方式中的意思是“憂鬱”或“沮喪”。be down in the dumps常指“悶悶不樂”或“打不起精神”,也可引申爲“垂頭喪氣,精神沮喪”。
A: You’re down in the dumps. What’s happened?
你看上去沮喪不堪。出什麼事了?
B: I had a quarrel with our boss’s secretary. She’s been on her high horse these days.
我和老闆的祕書吵了一架。這幾天她總是盛氣凌人。
A: Maybe she was only taking it out on you. Secretaries have a lot of pressure, too.
也許她僅僅是向你發泄。祕書的壓力也很大。
B: But she jumped down my throat for no reason at all. I could not put up with her.
但她無理由地斥責我,我無法容忍。
10.be in a jam 陷入困境
jam指“擁擠,阻塞”。該習語的字母意思爲“在擁擠之中”,引申爲“陷入困難的處境”。例如:She is in a bit of jam about money. (她的手頭有點拮据。)
A: Mike told me that his business was in a jam and he was in urgent need of money. He wanted to borrow some money from me. 邁克告訴我他的生意陷入困境,急需用錢。他想向我借錢。
B: Don’t lend money to him. He’s always lying. 別借錢給他。他總是說慌。
A: But I think he is really in difficulty this time. 但這一次我看他是真的遇上困難了。
11.be in full swing 正在全力進行,處於活躍階段
in full swing的意思是“活躍”。該習語的意思即引申爲“處於(工作的)全面展開、進行階段”。例如:The building project is in full swing.(這個建築工程正處在全力進行之中。)
A: I hear your company in expanding its business.
我聽說你們公司正在擴展生意。
B: Yeah. We’re setting up a new factory now and the work on it is in full swing. The project will be completed in three months.
是的,我們正在新建一個工廠。工程正處於全面施工階段,三個月內就可以完工了。
12.be in high gear 全力進行
gear指“齒輪,傳動裝置”,high gear的意思是汽車的“高速檔”。該習語字面意思爲“機器正處在高速檔(快速運轉)”,實際指“事物正處在全力進行當中”。
A: By the way, how is your business going? Is it proceeding smoothly?
哎,你的生意最近如何?進展還順利嗎?
B: Yes, it’s in high gear.
一切都在全力進行。
13.be itching for a chance to do 很想找個機會試一試
形容詞itching的意思是“渴望的”,be itching to do意爲“渴望做某事”;for a chance指“找機會”,因此整個習語的意思即爲“渴望得到機會試做某事”。
A: I am itching for a chance to cooperate with Mike. I hear he’s a very competent person.
我很想找機會和邁克合作一次。聽說他特別能幹。
B: Everyone who has worked with him will have a deep impression on that point.
是的。每個和他一起工作的人都對此深有體會。
這些內容大家學會多少了呢?切記不要覺得自己學得夠多了,學無止境,哪有夠多這一說法。備考BEC是商務英語考試的朋友們,大家覺得自己準備得如何了呢?千萬不要掉以輕心哦!還想了解哪些知識,不妨來這裏和我們一起學習吧。