李華開始在圖書館打工,但是她告訴Larry她擔(dān)心自己不能勝任這份工作。今天李華會學(xué)到兩個(gè)常用語:learn the ropes和put a lid on it。
LH: 我實(shí)在搞不清楚怎么用圖書館的電腦系統(tǒng)。我好怕我會做錯(cuò)什么事情。
LL: Don't worry, Li Hua. You'll figure it out. It takes a little while to learn the ropes at a new job.
LH: Larry, 你在說什么啊?To learn the ropes? 我是在圖書館工作,又不是在體育館里呢。我干嗎要學(xué)習(xí)拉繩索。再說,圖書館里也沒有繩索啊?
LL: No (laughing). "To learn the ropes" is an expression. It means to learn how to do something, especially something related to work.
LH: 噢,to learn the ropes就是學(xué)會怎么做某件事,特別是指跟工作有關(guān)的事。這個(gè)用法好奇怪噢。你知道這個(gè)常用語是怎么來的嗎?
LL: The expression is related to sailing. When sailors first started working on a boat, they had to learn which ropes were attached to which sails.
LH: 原來這是從航海而來。沒錯(cuò),這水手一開始學(xué)必須學(xué)會哪條繩索是控制哪個(gè)風(fēng)帆的。我也希望我能趕快學(xué)會圖書館的一套工作,不然我可能要被開除了!
LL: Don't worry, Li Hua. Everyone needs some time to learn the ropes at a new job. I'm sure your boss knows that.
LH: 對,每個(gè)人到一個(gè)新的工作崗位都需要時(shí)間才能熟悉自己的工作??墒俏艺嫦氡憩F(xiàn)好一些,不讓我老板失望。
LL: I'm sure you won't. When I started my most recent job, it took me about three weeks to learn the ropes.
LH: 你花了三個(gè)星期才學(xué)會你現(xiàn)在的工作啊?那你在那三個(gè)星期里有沒有犯錯(cuò)呢?
LL: Of course, but no one minded because they knew that I was still learning the ropes.
LH: 你的同事真好。他們知道你是新人,所以你犯錯(cuò),他們都很包容。那如果你現(xiàn)在還犯錯(cuò),他們會怎么樣?
LL: I don't have that excuse anymore, but my boss is still relatively understanding. He knows that everyone makes mistakes from time to time.
LH: 你現(xiàn)在再犯錯(cuò)誤就沒有借口了??墒牵愕睦习逭婧?,很能理解工作人員。我希望我的老板也能如此。不過,謝謝你的安慰,Larry!
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LH: 今天有個(gè)人來圖書館拿他訂的書,可是書還沒到。他對我好兇噢。我嚇的都不知道該怎么辦才好。
LL: I would have told him to put a lid on it. After all, it's not your fault.
LH: Put a lid on it? Lid那不是蓋子的意思嗎?我要他蓋蓋子做什么?
LL: Telling someone to "put a lid on it" is the same as telling him or her to shut up.
LH: 什么!Put a lid on it就是叫人閉嘴?我可不能那樣做,那是很不禮貌的!
LL: Well, it sounds as though he was being really rude to you.
LH: 他雖然對我沒禮貌,但我可不能學(xué)他那樣。我是在那兒工作的,我可不能叫他閉嘴。
LL: Yeah, you're probably right. It wouldn't be very professional to tell the guy to put a lid on it.
LH: 我啊,只希望那個(gè)家伙再也別來圖書館了!
LL: If he does, you can give me a call and I'll come over and tell him to put a lid on it myself.
LH: 你別擔(dān)心我啦。那個(gè)人要是再來找麻煩,我就直接找我的老板去和他談嘍!
LL: That's a good idea.
今天李華學(xué)到兩個(gè)常用語。一個(gè)是learn the ropes,就是學(xué)習(xí),掌握訣竅的意思,通常是指工作方面的事。另一個(gè)常用語是put a lid on it,這是叫人閉嘴的意思。