商務英語敲門磚第13期:取消會議

A:I'm truly sorry about this, but we are going to have to cancel tomorrow's meeting.

B:That can't be! You know fully well how important it is. You gave me the green light just two days ago.

A:I know. But there's really nothing that can be done about it. The A/V equipment has been damaged, and can't be fixed on such short time.

B:Mr. Sun is going to hit the roof when he hears about it. These negotiations are tough and this just might push them over the brink.

A:I've told all departments of the cancellation and rescheduled with the client for Friday.

B:I'd better call the client again myself and offer my apologies.

A:Mr. Xia will be out of the office this afternoon. You`ll have to tell him first.

B:I see. I`ll go to his office at once.

我實在很抱歉,我們明天的會議必須取消.
這怎麼可以呢!你很清楚這個會議的重要性.兩天前還說沒問題的.
我知道.但我實在無能爲力.視聽器材受損,無法在一兩天內維修.
夏先生知道這件事會氣得跳腳.這些生意談得很不穩,如此一來可能就砸了.
我已經通知各部門會議要取消,也和客戶改約在星期三.
我最好親自再打通電話向客戶致歉.
夏先生下午會出去.你最好先告訴他.
我知道了.我馬上去他辦公室.

gave me the green light just two days ago.

從字面上的呃意思就可以看出,'give sb/sth the green light'就是給某人開綠燈的意思,也就是允許某人做某事.這個表達法原指交通燈轉綠即表示可以通行.亦可以說成是:give the green light to sb/sth.

The government has decided to give the green light to the plan. 政府已決定爲這項計劃開綠燈.

若要表達"得到許可(做某事)",就可以說'get the green light'.

As soon as we get the green light, we'll start advertising for new staff. 一得到許可,我們就將開始打廣告招募新員工.

. Sun is going to hit the roof when he hears about it.

'hit the roof'就是火冒三丈,勃然大怒的意思.

Everytime I mention Patricia, Sam hits the roof. 每次我提到帕特里夏,薩姆就暴跳如雷.

These negotiations are tough and this just might push them over the brink.

k: if you are on the brink of something, you are almost in a very new, dangerous or exciting situation(...的)邊緣;(...的)初始狀態

on the brink of collapse/war/death/disaster 瀕於崩潰╱戰爭╱死亡╱災難

Scientists are on the brink of making a major new discovery. 科學家很快就會有新的重大發現.

He's pulled the company back from the brink (= he has saved it from disaster). 他使公司起死回生.