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第五十集：Reality bites 残酷的现实

Episode 191018 / 18 Oct 2019

本集内容简介

Tip Top 贸易公司参加了塑料产品国际会议，除了从会议上带回来了奖项，好像还带回来了坏消息！这究竟是怎么回事？看视频，学习在一个公司裁员时常用的语言。

听力挑战 – 问题

Anna 向 Denise 表示安慰时说：“Do you want my shoulder to cry on?” 这是什么意思？

文字稿

Denise
Morning, everyone. How did you get on at the conference?

Tom
Oh hi, Denise. Yeah it was… it was OK.

Anna
What do you mean 'OK'? It was great. We made some new contacts and we won an award – Best Plastic Innovation of the Year, for our Imperial Lemon.

Denise
Oh, that's wonderful. Ah… wish I'd been there.

Tom
Maybe next year, eh?

Narrator
Maybe? 欢迎大家回到 Tip Top 贸易公司的办公室。大家都在分享昨天获奖的好消息呢，不过，你还记得昨天 Paul 和美国大老板 Mr Socrates 谈话的事儿吗？今天 Paul 就有坏消息要宣布了，不过到底是回什么事儿呢？请注意地听。

Paul
Morning, everyone.

Anna
Hi, Paul. Everything OK?

Paul
Yes, fine. Well done for winning Employee of the Year! I hope you can continue to be a great employee. Excuse me.

Denise
Hmm, he sounded odd. What did he mean?

Tom
Probably just run out of biscuits!

Anna
He's obviously got something on his mind.

Paul
Denise, could I have a word with you in my office, please?

Denise
Of course. I'll bring my notepad and pen, shall I?

Tom
What's that all about? Anyway, now we're alone, I wanted to see what you're doing tonight… are you free?

Anna
Sorry, Tom. I'm seeing Dave tonight. He's offered to fix something on my computer at home.

Tom
Oh, has he now?

Denise
All the years I've worked here – why me? Why now?

Anna
Denise, what’s up?

Denise
Paul says he needs to move the furniture around and he has to let me go. He says he can't afford me any more.

Anna
That's terrible… but where's he letting you go to? And what furniture is he moving?

Narrator
No, Anna! 如果有人说他们在 “moving the furniture”，那就是婉转地说他们正在进行调整，变动。 如果他们说 “they have to let you go”，意思就是他们不想再要你了，换句话说，你就是被解雇了：They’re sacking you!

Anna
Sacking you? Oh, that is serious. Denise, I'm really sorry to hear this. But why does Paul want to 'move the furniture' around?

Denise
He says it's because of the tough economic situation. My role is no longer needed.

Tom
Hey, that's not true. You make a great cup of tea, Denise. I've got a good mind to smash Paul's bourbons into tiny crumbs. Grrr.

Anna
Calm down, Tom. Now, Denise, when did Paul say you had to go?

Denise
He's given me seven days' notice.

Narrator
“A notice period” 就是雇主给被裁员职工的通知期。

Denise
I never thought I would be facing redundancy… not now… not at my age.

Anna
Redundancy?

Narrator
没错，如果某人对你说 “they are facing redundancy” 面临裁员，换句话说就是工作保不住了。哎，可怜的 Denise 需要有人安慰安慰啊。

Anna
Yes. Denise, do you want my shoulder to cry on?

Denise
Oh, thanks.

Tom
Urgh! Err… Denise, I’ve just made some tea. Would you like a cup?

Denise
Oh, yes, please.

Tom
Here you go. You know, Denise, you've got to think positively. You'll get another job… and let's face it, you didn't like working here anyway… you always looked so miserable.

Narrator
我觉得 Tom 的这番话不会对 Denise 有任何的安慰和鼓励。失去工作可是件痛苦的事儿，往往突如其来，令人措手不及。下面我们一起来听听 Paul 和 Denise 面谈裁员消息时使用的几个短语。

We’ve got to move the furniture around.
I’m afraid I’ve got to let you go.
I’m giving you seven days’ notice.

Narrator
这里还有几个与裁员有关的短语：

Facing redundancy. 面临裁员。
Getting the sack. 被炒鱿鱼了，被解雇了。
Terminating your employment. 把你解雇了。
Leaving the company. 离开公司。

Denise
Right, well, I might as well start clearing out my desk.

Tom
Yeah, it's a real shame. Any chance I could have your stapler?

Anna
Tom, you could be a bit more sympathetic.

Tom
Oh right.

Paul
Erm… Tom, Anna. Could I have a word in my office, please?

Tom
Oh no. This is it. It's my turn to get the chop!

Denise
Ha, you might not need my stapler after all!

Narrator
哎呀！看来形势不妙哇。Tom 和 Anna 会不会也被砍掉啊？我是说会不会也被解雇啊？嗯，估计下期节目就能见个分晓。

听力挑战 – 答案

“A shoulder to cry on” 的意思是 “给人安慰的人，可以向其倾诉的对象”。 

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