LESSON 1 : BOB’S DAY AT WORK
Bob works as a manager in a furniture store. Peter, his boss, is not happy about sales. Bob's new advertising campaign hasn't helped. Peter decides to fire him.
Peter: Bob, I hate to break the news. But our sales were down again last month.
Bob: Down again, Peter?
Peter: Yeah, these days, everybody's shopping at our competition, Honest Abe's Furniture store.
Bob: But everything in there costs an arm and a leg.
Peter: That's true. They do charge top dollar.
Bob: And their salespeople are very strange. They really give me the creeps.
Peter: Well, they must be doing something right over there. Meanwhile, we are about to go belly up.
Bob: I'm sorry to hear that. I though my new advertising campaign would save the day.
Peter: Let's face it: your advertising campaign was a real flop!
Bob: Well then I'll go back to the drawing board.
Peter: It's too late for that. You are fired!
Bob: What? You're giving me the ax?
Peter: Yes, I 've already found a new manager. She is as sharp as a tack.
Bob: Can't we even talk this over? After all, I've been working here for ten years!
Peter: There is no point in arguing, Bob. I've already made up my mind.
Bob: Oh well, at least I won't have to put up with your nonsense anymore! Good-bye to you and good-bye to this dead-end job.
Peter: Please leave before I lose my temper!
Idioms:
About to – ready to; on the verge of
After all – despite everything; When everything has been considered; the fact is
At least – anyway; the good thing is that …
(to) break the news – to make something known
(to) cost an arm and a leg – to be very expensive
Dead-end job – a job that won’t lead to anything else
(Let’s) face it – accept a difficult reality
(to)give one the creeps – to create a feeling of disgust or horror
(to)go back to the drawing board – to start a task over because the last try failed; to start again from the beginning
(to) go belly-up – to go bankrupt
(to) give someone the ax – to fire someone
(to) lose one’s tempter – to become very angry
(to) make up one’s mind – to reach a decision; to decide
No point in – no reason to ; it’s not worth(doing something)
(to) put up with – to endure without complaint
Real flop or flop – a failure
(to) save the day – to prevent a disaster or midfortune
(as) sharp as a tack – very intelligent
(to) talk over – to discuss
Top dollar – the highest end of a price range; a lot of money
====================================================================
I got training material from YuGong's blog, and text file from BJ#2's blog.
Thanks all and I have typed the idioms by myself.
And now I can give it a shot.
Hope I can read 2 or 3 articles per week. I don't like work too hard!
