Bob tells his wife Susan that he lost his job. Susan suggests that he start his own business.
鮑勃告訴妻子蘇珊他丟了工作。蘇珊建議他自己創業。
Susan: What's the matter, dear? 發生什麼了，親愛的？
Bob: Susan, I
got canned today at work. 我被炒魷魚了。
Susan: But Bob, you were Peter's
right-hand man! 但你是Peter的左膀右臂啊！
Bob: Yes, and he
stabbed me in the back. 他暗箭傷人。Susan: Keep your chin up. Maybe he'll
change his mind and take you back. 別灰心。說不定他會改變主意叫你回去。
Bob: When pigs fly! Once he
makes up his mind, he never changes it. Besides, I
told him off. 那時絕對不可能的。一旦他做了決定，他從不改變。另外，我還指責了他。
Susan: Look on the bright side: you won't have to
set eyes on Peter ever again. 往好處想，你再也不用見到他了。
Bob: Thank goodness for that! 那還真是謝天謝地。
Susan: Hang in there. I'm sure you won't be
out of work for long. 別放棄，我相信你不會失業很長時間。
Bob: In the meantime, we'll have to
live from hand to mouth. 在此期間，我們只能勉強餬口了。
Susan: Don't get too
stressed out, Bob. We'll
make ends meet. 別太有壓力。我們會量入為出的。
Bob: I can always get a job at McDonald's
as a last resort. 要是萬不得已，我隨時都可以在麥當勞打工。
Susan: I don't think they're hiring right now. 他們現在可能沒有在招人。
Bob: If
worse comes to worst, we can sell our home and move into a tent. 要是真的實在不行，我們可以賣掉房子，住在帳篷裡。
Susan: Let's
think big! Maybe you can start your own business. 我們可以往大了想，有點野心。你也可以開始自己創業。
Bob: Easier said than done! 說起來容易做起來難啊。to change one's opinion or decisionEXAMPLE 1: Brandon wasn't going to take a vacation this year, but then he
changed his mind and went to Bora Bora for two weeks.EXAMPLE 2: Why aren't you applying to medical school this year? Did you
change your mind about becoming a doctor?more difficult than you think
EXAMPLE 1: You want to climb Mount Everest?
Easier said than done!EXAMPLE 2: Moving into a new home is
easier said than done.to lose one's job; to get firedEXAMPLE 1: After Chris
got canned, it took him a year to find a new job.EXAMPLE 2: Lisa is a lousy secretary. She deserves to
get canned!SYNONYMS: to get sacked; to be given the axto persevere; to not give up
EXAMPLE 1: I know you're four games behind, but you can still win the tennis match. Just
hang in there!EXAMPLE 2:
Hang in there, Don! Your invention will soon be a success.in the worst case; if absolutely necessary
萬不得已, 如果最壞的事情發生；如果發生最糟的情況EXAMPLE 1: Ted's car isn't running well.
If worse comes to worst, he can take the bus to school.EXAMPLE 2: I know you're running out of money.
If worse comes to worst, you can always sell some of your jewelry.EXAMPLE 1: Even when he was unemployed and homeless, Bill managed to
keep his chin up.EXAMPLE 2:
Keep your chin up! You'll find your lost dog soon.if there are no other alternatives left; the last solution for getting out of a difficultyEXAMPLE 1: David was locked out of his house. He knew that as a
last resort, he could always break a window.EXAMPLE 2: I don't like taking medicine. I'll only take it as a
last resort.
(to) live from hand to mouth
to barely have enough money to survive
EXAMPLE 1: Jenny was earning $5 an hour working at the store. She was really
living from hand to mouth.EXAMPLE 2: George is really poor. He
lives from hand to mouth.
(to) look on the bright side
to be optimistic; to think about the positive part or aspect of a situation
EXAMPLE 1: Leo was upset that his soccer game was canceled. His mother said, "
Look on the bright side, now you can stay home and watch TV."EXAMPLE 2: You lost your job?
Look on the bright side, now you'll have more free time!to manage one's money so as to have enough to live on; to be okay financially
EXAMPLE 1: Kimberly wasn't able to
make ends meet so she had to ask her parents to pay her rent.EXAMPLE 2: If you can't
make ends meet, you'll need to start spending less.to reach a decision; to decide
EXAMPLE 1: Stephanie couldn't
make up her mind whether to attend Harvard or Stanford. Finally, she chose Stanford.EXAMPLE 2: Do you want an omelette or fried eggs? You'll need to
make up your mind quickly because the waitress is coming.EXAMPLE 1: Gary was
out of work for a year before finding a new job.EXAMPLE 2: Bob is
out of work. Do you know anybody who might want to hire him?the most helpful assistant or employee
EXAMPLE 1: Juan's
right-hand man helps him make all of his decisions.EXAMPLE 2: When Jack Thompson retired as president of his company, his
right-hand man took over.to look at; to see for the first time
EXAMPLE 1: Ted was in love from the moment he
set eyes on Amber.EXAMPLE 2: Susan knew from the moment she
set eyes on Ted's friend Lucas that he would be trouble.
(to) stab someone in the back
EXAMPLE 1: Jill and Heather were friends, until Heather
stabbed Jill in the back by stealing her boyfriend.EXAMPLE 2: You're firing me after all I've done for this company? You're really
stabbing me in the back!under severe strain; very anxious
EXAMPLE 1: Al is so
stressed out about his job that he can't sleep at night.EXAMPLE 2: You've been so
stressed out lately. You really need to take a long vacation!to scold; to tell someone in strong words what one really thinks
EXAMPLE 1: When Ted showed up for chemistry class a half an hour late, his teacher really
told him off.EXAMPLE 2: Patty is going to
tell off the plumber because the pipes he said he fixed are still leaking.I'm grateful; I'm relieved
EXAMPLE 1: When Ted came home at 4 a.m. last Sunday, his mother said, "
Thank goodness you're home! I was so worried about you."EXAMPLE 2:
Thank goodness you didn't go to California on Monday. It rained there every day this week.EXAMPLE 1: Why run for Governor of New York?
Think big: run for President of the United States!EXAMPLE 2: Ken and Sandra hope to sell their house for $3 million dollars. They always
think big.EXAMPLE 1:
What's the matter, Bob? You don't look very happy.EXAMPLE 2: Oscar looks very pale.
What's the matter with him?EXAMPLE 1: Will Ted teach Nicole how to play the guitar?
When pigs fly!EXAMPLE 2: Sure, I'll give you my new laptop.
When pigs fly!SYNONYMS: when hell freezes over; never in a million years
「像美國人一樣說英語」Bob's day at work
算我一個/死機/關機/沮喪/載入(史冊)
萬分感謝/沒那麼走運/人越多越熱鬧/你可別開玩笑了/沒門/沒什麼大不了的
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