口语进阶Lesson01|美国常用idioms及表达方式

　　访问学者、博士后初到美国，在沟通和交流方面往往会遇到各种问题，正如中国有各种成语谚语，美国人日常生活中也有很多常用俗语和词组搭配。提前掌握这些知识点可以让各位学者更容易理解美国人的日常对话，融入当地工作生活环境。知识人网整理相关情景对话，介绍美国人常用惯用语（idiom）及表达方式，希望能对大家有所帮助。

　　GOURMET INTERNATIONAL GETS NEW COMPETITION

　　Mark, Ron, and Ron work at Gourmet International, a small food company specializing in ethnic frozen foods. Mark, a marketing manager at the company, tells his boss Ron and his co−worker Ron that Grand Foods, a large food company, is going to start competing with them in the frozen Chinese meals market. Mark got this information from an ex−girlfriend. Ron tells Mark to call her back and see if she can give more details.

　　Mark:       I just found out that Grand Foods is planning to come out with a line of gourmet frozen Chinese meals.

　　Ron: It was only a matter of time before a big company decided to enter the market.

　　Mark:       That's true. We've been making money hand over fist with our frozen Chinese meals for the past two years!

　　Ron: They're going to eat our lunch!

　　Mark:       Our dinner, too.

　　Ron: Let's not push the panic button yet. Mark, how did you get this information?

　　Mark:       I have my sources.

　　Ron: Out with it! Who told you?

　　Mark:       An ex−girlfriend. She's the head honcho at Shop−Well.

　　Ron: Call her back and see what else she can tell us. We need to get this information by hook or by crook.

　　Mark:       She's my ex※.   It's very awkward!

　　Ron: Sometimes you have to leave your comfort zone.

　　Mark:       I'll call her tomorrow, but this is not in my job description.

　　Ron: Don't worry about your job description. If you drag your feet on this, you're not even going to have a job! Call her back right now.

　　※ex − a former spouse or romantic partner (short for ex−husband, ex−wife, ex−girlfriend or ex−boyfriend)

　　IDIOMS & EXPRESSIONS

　　(to) come out with – 说出；推出（产品）

　　Ex: She sometimes comes out with the most extraordinary remarks. 她有时说起话来语惊四座。

　　(to be) only a matter of time before – 只是时间的问题（表示某事件必然会发生）

　　Ex: It is only a matter of time before everything is settled. 事情都会解决的，这是迟早的问题。

　　Note: 也可以说 it's just a matter of time before 或者 it's only a matter of time until

　　(to) enter the market – 进入市场

　　Ex: Apple entered the market for cell phones in 2OO7 with the iPhone. 苹果公司2007年开始进入手机市场。

　　(to) make money hand over fist – 大把大把地赚钱

　　Ex: You are gonna make money hand over fist. 我们就要赚大钱了。

　　Note: (to) lose money hand over fist 大把赔钱

　　(to) eat one’s lunch – 蚕食…的市场份额

　　Ex： Our competitor's new cell phone offers more features than ours at a cheaper price. If we don't act quickly, they're going to eat our lunch. 我们对手的新款手机有更强大的功能，而且比我们的还便宜，如果我们不当机立断，他们将会蚕食我们的市场份额。

　　(to) push the panic button – 惊恐，恐慌

　　Ex:  Don't push the panic button. Time is enough. 别紧张，时间多的是。

　　I have my sources –我有我的渠道

　　（come）Out with it –说出来！

　　Ex：Why are you hesitating? Come out with it. 你为什么犹豫？说吧。

　　head honcho – 老板，负责人

　　Ex: Ken Calman, head honcho of the World Health Organization. 肯•卡尔曼是世界卫生组织的负责人。

　　by hook or by crook –不择手段，无论如何

　　Ex: We will get the work done this week by hook or by crook.无论如何，我们必须在本周内完成这项工作。

　　(to) leave (or get out of) one’s comfort zone – 走出舒适区

　　Ex: Michael doesn't like speaking in front of groups, so he'll have to leave his comfort zone to make a speech at the annual meeting. 迈克不喜欢在公众面前说话，这次公司年会发言，他必须走出自己的舒适区舒适区。

　　This is not in my job description – 职责所在

　　Ex: I can't believe I'm cleaning everybody's desk. This is not in my job description! 真是难以置信，我竟然要给所有人擦桌子，那不属于我的工作范畴呀。

　　(to) drag one’s feet – 拖延；耽搁

　　Ex: You'd better stop dragging your feet and start working on your homework. Otherwise, you're not going to have it done tonight.你最好抓紧时间做作业，不然你今晚都完不成。

　　PRACTICE THE IDIOMS

　　Choose the best substitute for the phrase or sentence in bold:

　　1) Drive the man to the airport at 6 a.m. tomorrow? This is not in my job description!

　　a) I'll do it gladly.

　　b) That's beyond my usual responsibility.

　　c) That's just part of my job.

　　2) Who's the head honcho of the sales department?

　　a) head assistant

　　b) manager

　　c) person in charge

　　3) Please don’t drag your feet in getting me the sales reports.

　　a) take your time

　　b) don't rush

　　c) don't delay

　　4) Mark's company is making money hand over fist by offering low−cost games online.

　　a) losing a lot of money

　　b) making a lot of money

　　c) making a little money

　　5) The police know who the robber is. It’s only a matter of time before the police find him.

　　a) The police need to find out who he is.

　　b) The police will definitely find him.

　　c) The police may be able to find him.

　　6) The president was determined to stay in power by hook or by crook.

　　a) by any means  possible

　　b) by stealing the  election

　　c) by following the rules

　　7) Starting a new business usually requires one to leave his comfort zone.

　　a) find a place where one feel safest

　　b) be uncomfortable for a long time

　　c) leave one’s feeling of safety and take a risk

　　8) Many small newspapers say that the website is eating their lunch by offering free classified advertisements.

　　a) hurting their business

　　b) helping their business

　　c) giving people a good deal

　　9) Our best sales manager just announced he's leaving the company, but let’s not push the panic button yet.

　　a) let's keep calm and come up with a plan

　　b) let's panic in a few days

　　c) let's not worry about it at all

　　10) Who broke my vase while I was on vacation? Out with it!

　　a) Get out!

　　b) Tell me!

　　c) Go back in!

　　ANSWERS: 1. B; 2. C; 3. C; 4. B; 5. B; 6. A; 7. C; 8. A; 9. A; 1O. B