美語訓練班第83課:買便宜貨 公司怎麼進行不信任提案
A: 新年快樂同學們! 歡迎大家來到這期的美語訓練班! 我是楊琳!
B: Happy New Year Everyone! 新年快樂! 好，楊琳，快來告訴大家今天都要學什麼?
A: 沒問題! 今天我們要聊聊怎麼買便宜貨，看看公司怎麼進行不信任提案，還要告訴你野蠻駕駛的危險性!
B: Tell me about it. Christmas and New Year is definitely my favorite time of the year, but it's also a time that you have to be extremely careful while driving. All these New Year parties lead to a lot of drunk drivers on the road.
A: True true. 不過這會兒，也有很多便宜貨可以買呀，我最近就成天上網購物，都停不下來!
B: Why am I not surprised? (A: you...) Kidding kidding. Well, we'll talk about how to catch the flash sales later in the show. Now let's go ahead with our first segment learn a word!
Learn A Word 1650 reckless driving
今天我們要學的詞是 reckless driving, reckless is spelled r-e-c-k-l-e-s-s, reckless, driving, d-r-i-v-i-n-g, driving, reckless driving. Reckless driving 野蠻駕駛，危險駕駛。Reckless driving is a leading cause of accidents on the highways of the United States. 危險駕駛是美國高速公路事故的主要原因。Reckless driving carries heavy penalties upon conviction. 一旦定罪，危險駕駛者會受到重罰。Ryan Crocker, the former U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan, pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of reckless driving. 前美國駐阿富汗大使克羅科爾承認危險駕駛，接受了輕度指控。好的，今天我們學習的詞是 reckless driving, reckless driving, reckless driving....
A: So Mike, tell me about your trip back home! Judging from your love handles and double chin, I'm guessing that you must have had a good time...
B: Hey! [A: (laugh) 開玩笑開玩笑!] Yeah, Christmas at home was really nice. I had tons of home made cookies and went on a shopping spree after Christmas! There were a lot of great sales! I got a bunch of video games for a song!
A: For a song? You are not saying you actually sang in the store right? Those poor people....
B: Haha, of course not! Let's check out today's words and idioms and you will know what I mean!
Words and Idioms 802 For a Song
美國習慣用語第八百零二講。我是楊晨。我是 Douglas Johnson。
我一直想買幅油畫，掛在客廳牆上，可是這裏賣的畫兒都特別貴。星期天，我開車路過一個小區，幾家人正在一起賣舊貨。我一眼就看中了一幅特別好看的油畫，賣主讓我開價，我說 50 美元，本以爲根本沒戲，誰知他卻一口答應。在英語裏，我們可以說：
M: For a song. Song is spelled s-o-n-g. For-a-song. For a song.
大家知道，Song 是歌曲的意思。For a song 這個習慣用語的意思就是說買了便宜貨。我最近買的油畫，就可以說，I picked it up FOR A SONG.
眼下，美國的房屋市場特別不景氣，不過，這對買方，卻是一個利好的消息。讓我們聽聽下面的報道。
M: "The recent downturn in the U.S. housing market represents good news for buyers. In states like Florida, you can find expensive properties going FOR A SONG. But you had better take advantage before prices start going up."
這個記者說，[美國房屋市場最近不景氣，這對買房子的人來說卻是個好消息。在佛羅里達這樣的州，本來很貴的房子現在很便宜就能買下來。但是你最好抓住時機，不要等房價再漲上去。]
目前的房屋市場雖然對買方十分有利，可是卻要讓急着賣房子的人吐血了。爲了能讓房子儘快脫手，他們不得不一再降價，還要答應買方不少額外的要求。好的，讓我們再來聽聽上面那段話。
M: "The recent downturn in the U.S. housing market represents good news for buyers. In states like Florida, you can find expensive properties going FOR A SONG. But you had better take advantage before prices start going up."
買了房子還不夠，還得買傢俱。我上個月到朋友 Jenny 家裏去，她讓我猜客房裏那套傢俱多少錢，我怎麼也猜不到。原來是她的鄰居正好要搬家，便宜處理給她的。 She got them for a song.
剛纔我們談到，美國現在的房屋市場是買方市場，對賣方不利。但是在下面這個例子中，買賣雙方似乎對成交的生意都很滿意。讓我們聽聽看。
M: "My cousin is thrilled. He just accepted a marketing job overseas. Since he won't be needing his sports car, he's willing to let me have it FOR A SONG. I'll be paying so little for it, in fact, it's almost like he's giving it away."
這個人說，[我表兄剛剛接受了一份新工作，要到國外去做市場營銷，他高興極了。但是他這一走，跑車就沒用了，所以想要賣給我。他開的價格簡直就等於白送，算是讓我撿了個便宜。]
我們家附近，每個週末都有跳蚤市場、古董拍賣、或是二手貨的出售。只要有時間，I can find lots of good stuff FOR A SONG. 新年的時候，我痛下決心，要開始鍛鍊身體，結果正趕上一家體育用品商店大減價，I got a treadmill for a song. 我買了一臺特別便宜的跑步機。
不過，有時候買便宜貨也要小心。我的一個朋友最近就買了一臺價格特別便宜的 HD DVD 高清晰度 DVD播放器。She got it for a song. 不過，HD DVD 這種格式已經過時了，再便宜的機器，今後恐怕也派不上用場了。好的，讓我們再聽一下上面的例句。
M: "My cousin is thrilled. He just accepted a marketing job overseas. Since he won't be needing his sports car, he's willing to let me have it FOR A SONG. I'll be paying so little for it, in fact, it's almost like he's giving it away."
For a Song 這個習慣用語可以追溯到十六世紀晚期。最早的時候，For a Song 是指給街頭藝人的便士，也就是幾個小錢的意思。
便宜貨一般很少有人拒絕，但畢竟不如免費來的好。我們的美國習慣用語節目不僅能教給大家習慣用語的使用，還會告訴大家它們的歷史淵源，聽衆們唯一要做的，就是按時坐到收音機旁，收聽我們的節目。好的，這次[美國習慣用語]就到此結束。我是楊晨，我是 Douglas Johnson。這次節目的製作人是胡小玲。謝謝各位的收聽。
M: Until next time.
M: This has been Words and Idioms.
A: 原來for a song就是便宜貨! 爲什麼是唱首歌呢?
B: Originally, inns would give performers free rooms for the night if they would perform for the other customers. So we say they got to stay for "a song and a dance".
A: Interesting! Now with all the after New Year sales, a lot of things are being sold for a song!
B: Yep, now is the best time to shop since a lot of stores are getting rid of all the extra stock they have left over from the holidays. It's perfect timing for you! You can get a lot of gifts for your family back in China for great prices!
A: Yep. But I have this lingering feeling that I might accidentally forget to get a gift for somebody. 我可怕少給誰買了什麼....
B: Well I mean, you also need to think about those people who work with you everyday and provide you with great someone who's currently sitting next to you!
A: Dream on friend. 我剛纔提到了個詞， lingering, 咱們來聽聽今天的learn a word, 來學學這個詞兒要怎麼用!
Learn A Word 1651 lingering
今天我們要學的詞是 lingering, lingering is spelled l-i-n-g-e-r-i-n-g, lingering. Lingering 形容詞，持久的，揮之不去的。Despite what he said, I still have a lingering doubt about his real intentions. 儘管他說得好聽，可我還是對他的真實目的持懷疑態度。颶風桑迪已經過去幾個星期了，然而，The lingering damage from the storm is still weighing on the U.S. economy. 風暴造成的破壞依然給美國經濟帶來持續壓力。Former U.S. President George HW Bush was hospitalized last week for treatment of a lingering cough. 美國前總統老布什因爲咳嗽遲遲不好，上星期住院接受治療。好的，今天我們學習的詞是 lingering, lingering, lingering....
B: Speaking of lingering, even after Christmas, I'm still having this lingering desire for sweets....
A: 't you just finish being on a diet? Be careful Mike, if you keep eating cookies and cake like this, you will have to rebuild you body from the ground up...
B: I know I know. I guess in America January is the hardest month to deal with. You come back from the holiday vacation and it's freezing I want to do is eat and sleep....
A: I thought that's your all-time hobby! 哈哈，好了不開玩笑了，我剛纔提到了from the ground up, 再來聽聽今天的words and idioms, 來學學這個習慣用語的用法!
Words and Idioms 803 From the Ground Up
美國習慣用語第八百零三講。我是楊晨。我是 Douglas Johnson。
我剛剛打電話約堂兄 Jimmy 週末來吃飯。我伯父以前是開乾洗店的，Jimmy 從小就在店裏幫忙，什麼都幹，後來伯父退休了，就把店交給了他。說到這兒，讓我想起了一個美國習慣用語，叫 From the ground up.
M: From the ground up. Ground is spelled g-r-o-u-n-d.
From-the-ground-up. From the ground up.
大家都知道，ground 是地面的意思。From the ground up 這個習慣用語的意思就是從頭開始，或是全部的，徹底的。剛纔說到，我堂兄 Jimmy 從小就在乾洗店裏幫工，從頭開始，學會了這個行當的方方面面，我們可以說 He learned it from the ground up.
在美國曆史上，中西部地區的開拓是一段很有意思的篇章。讓我們聽聽下面這段記載。
M: "Back in the 1860s, the U.S. government offered land in the Midwest to anyone willing to settle there. Adventurous pioneers came pouring in and began to build communities FROM THE GROUND UP. Soon towns and cities developed where none had existed."
[十九世紀六十年代的時候，美國政府宣佈，凡是願意去中西部地區定居的人都可以得到土地，大批有冒險精神的開拓者因此蜂擁而至，他們從無到有，開始興建社區。大小城鎮拔地而起。]
這些分得政府公有土地的定居移民在美國曆史上被稱作 Homesteaders. 對於這些人來說，那可是一個絕好的機會。如果你也生活在那個年代，你會象他們一樣，自願去墾荒嗎？現代人恐怕很難想象當時的艱苦。好的，讓我們再來聽聽上面那段話。
M: "Back in the 1860s, the U.S. government offered land in the Midwest to anyone willing to settle there. Adventurous pioneers came pouring in and began to build communities FROM THE GROUND UP. Soon towns and cities developed where none had existed."
很多時候，一切從頭開始確實需要很大的勇氣。我的一個朋友在中國學的是中文專業，她跟隨丈夫來美國之後，不僅很快就學好了英語，而且還在短短三年的時間裏，拿到了一個電腦的碩士學位。She learned it from the ground up. 實在令人敬佩。
剛纔我們講到美國人是如何從無到有，開發中西部地區的。在後來人眼裏，那可是歷史上的壯舉。在下面這個例子裏，我們要看看，什麼事情能讓一位公司主管感到如此地氣餒。
M: "I don't know what my assistant finds so difficult. All I asked her to do was make a few revisions to the employee handbook. It's not like she has to create the whole thing FROM THE GROUND UP!"
這位公司主管說，[真不明白我的助手爲什麼會覺得我交給她的工作那麼難。我只不過是讓她對僱員手冊進行一些修改，又不是要她從頭寫起！]
我前兩天跟一個當會計的朋友吃飯。她跟我抱怨說，她們公司準備啓用一套全新的財會作業程序。老闆要求她必須在兩天的時間內，掌握新的票據系統。She has to learn it from the ground up.
不過另一方面，我也經常會想，當個企業家一定特別棒，可以發明一件產品，然後開一家公司，把這件產品推向市場。事業成功的若干年後，回首往事，你會看到自己白手起家 from the ground up 創造的一切。好了，不白日做夢了，還是讓我們再聽一下上面的例句吧。
M: "I don't know what my assistant finds so difficult. All I asked her to do was make a few revisions to the employee handbook. It's not like she has to create the whole thing FROM THE GROUND UP!"
大家肯定已經猜到了， from the ground up 這個習慣用語是從蓋房子打地基來的。對於那些剛剛開始收聽美國習慣用語的聽衆，或者是那些英語初級水平的聽衆，I am happy to help you FROM THE GROUND UP. 我很願意幫助你從頭學起。好的，這次[美國習慣用語]就到此結束。我是楊晨，我是 Douglas Johnson。這次節目的製作人是胡小玲。謝謝各位的收聽。
M: Until next time.
M: This has been Words and Idioms.
A: From the ground up, 從頭開始，白手起家。現在很多留學生都回國創業，It must be so hard to start a company from the ground up!
B: That's for sure. Starting a company is just the first step. There's tons of things to deal with in running a company. I think having a solid management team is the most important thing. If they are not good enough, they will pull the rest of the company down.
A: In that case, you can always have a Vote of No Confidence and change the management. 在今天的Business Etiquette裏，公司董事會成員 David 和Ken 就在談論這個話題，咱們一起來聽聽吧!
禮節美語 Vote of No Confidence I
公司董事會成員 David 找 Ken 談話，顯得很神祕。
David: Hey, Ken...I need to talk to you.
K: 's up?
D: Can we step into the conference room? This is a more private conversation.
K: Sure...
D: Ok...I'm just going to lay it all out on the table: What do you think of Vincent's management style?
K: Well, Vincent has only been CEO for a couple of years and ... ...
D: I don't want to put you on the spot. Here's what I'm getting at: I don't think Vincent is the man for the job.
原來，David 找 Ken 談話，是因爲覺得公司首席執行官 Vincent is not the man for the job. 不稱職。David 說，I don't want to put you on the spot. 意思是我不是故意爲難你。to put someone on the spot 意思是讓某人回答很難回答的問題。David 在上面那段話裏還說 I'm just going to lay it all out on the table. 我就直截了當說吧。to lay something out 是講清楚；on the table 意思是放在桌面上討論。Ken 問 David 爲什麼覺得 Vincent 不稱職。
K: Really? And what led you to this conclusion?
D: As I see it, he lacks the proper vision. His style is more about survival, and he's not taking the company anywhere. He's treading water instead of swimming.
K: Well, I confess I've had my doubts about his abilities before. It seems he mainly got the job because his famous aunt pulled some strings.
David 覺得 Vincent 缺乏遠見，lacks the proper vision. 只能維持現狀，不能推動發展，就好像在水裏，He's treading water instead of swimming. 光是原地踩水，不向前遊。Ken說，Vincent 擔任CEO, 靠的是自己姑姑的關係，His aunt pulled some strings. to pull some strings 意思是動用關係。
D: I've been with this firm for 26 years and I'd hate to see it go down the drain due to poor leadership skills.
K: Me too. But what can we do? This isn't a reality TV can't just vote him out.
D: Yes and can't ask for a show of hands on who thinks he should be fired, but we can introduce a vote of no confidence at the next board meeting.
K: Interesting idea. You might be on to something.
David 說，自己在公司已經26年了，不想看着公司go down the drain就這麼垮掉。to go down the drain 是失敗，白費的意思。David 覺得，雖然這不是電視真人秀 reality TV show，不能讓大家表決把他趕下臺，a show of hands 是舉手表決的意思，但是可以在下個董事會上提出一份 a vote of no confidence 不信任提案。
A: David找Ken談話，因爲他覺得公司首席執行官Vincent is not the man for the job, 不稱職，他覺得Vincent lacks the proper vision, 缺乏遠見，自己已經在公司這麼多年了，不想看着公司垮掉go down the drain, 所以想提出一份vote of no confidence不信任提案。
B: Yeah, seems like Vincent doesn't have strong leadership skills. It's definitely difficult to work under someone who doesn't know how to lead.
A: In your mind, what kind of person is cut out to be a leader?
B: Well, they need to be certain and decisive, and they need to be able to inspire and motivate people. Overall, they need to be a coach.
A: do I have the feeling that you are talking about me?
B: Riighttt.(sarcastically) Well, David and Ken are still talking about how to deal with this thorny situation, let's continue!
禮節美語 Vote of No Confidence II
公司董事 David 和 Ken談話，覺得公司CEO Vincent 不稱職。David說，
David: One of Vincent's biggest problems is his tendency to micro-manage everything. He sticks his nose into everything instead of leaving the day-to-day decisions to the guys who know what they're doing.
K: That's true. He also seems rather uncertain and indecisive about many things.
D: need a leader who can inspire us. The CEO needs to be a coach, not a referee. You everyone is cut out to be a leader.
K: I think one of the primary skills a leader needs is the ability to listen.
David 覺得 Vincent 最大的問題之一是喜歡 micro-manage 管得太細。He sticks his nose into everything. 不論什麼事他都要插手，to stick one's nose into something 意思是插手某事。Ken 也說，Vincent 在很多問題上優柔寡斷，而且不會聽取意見。David 還說，not everyone is cut out to be a leader. 不是人人都能當領導的。to be cut out for something 意思是適合做某事。
D: Vincent is terrible at that. He frequently seems to completely misunderstand what we're trying to get across. Just between you and me, I've spoken to a few other board members and they say if there is a vote of no confidence, they'll vote "no."
K: But will Vincent be forced to resign if there is such a vote?
D: it will do one of two things: one, it will serve as a wake-up call and he might change his style - or two: he might step down if he realizes he's lost the support of the board.
David 已經跟其他一些董事會成員打過招呼，他們都表示，如果有不信任案，他們會投不信任票。這樣可能會有兩種結果，it will either serve as a wake-up call. 要麼會給Vincent 敲響警鐘，讓他自覺改變管理風格，要麼會讓 Vincent 意識到，自己已經失去董事會的支持，自覺下臺。
K: Shouldn't we try to find a way to give him a chance to avoid embarrassment?
D: Yes we should. I'll be writing him a private letter next week and expressing our thoughts on the matter. I'd appreciate it if you would sign the letter as well.
K: , I guess that's the best way. We'll give him a chance to either improve or resign.
D: And if he rejects those options, we'll try a vote of no confidence.
K: Ok, David....I'm on board. Let's give it a shot.
Ken 建議 give him a chance to avoid embarrassment 設法避免讓 Vincent 難堪，David 表示贊同，決定先給 Vincent 寫封私人信件，闡述他們的意見，希望 Ken 能在上面聯署。Ken 承認，這可能是最好的方式，說，I'm on board. 算我一個，Let's give it a shot. 咱們試試看。
A: So, to give you a chance to avoid you buy me two boxes of chocolate, I would consider withdrawing my vote of no confidence against you....
B: You wouldn't know good leadership if it came up and bite you on the.....
A:哈哈， 好了同學們，這次節目時間就到這裏了。
B: Tune in next time for American English Mosaic!
A: See you next time!
