2014年ESL之商务英语 08 Playing Fair in Business

 

Playing Fair in Business

Marcel: Hey, why do you have the file for the Donovan account on your desk? I thought that was Evan’s account. 

Amanda: It is, but I’m about to snatch it from him. He won’t know what hit him. 

Marcel: You’re stealing his account? If you do that, you’d better watch your back. 

Amanda: You’ve got it all wrong. This is payback. Three months ago, when I was on the verge¹ of getting the Moralez account, Evan swooped² in and snagged it. He doesn’t play fair and now neither do I. 

Marcel: This sounds like the beginning of a feud³. 

Amanda: Evan started it. If he wants to play hardball then what’s good for the goose is good for the gander. 

Marcel: You’re not worried that he’ll up the ante and try to do something even more underhanded? 

Amanda: Evan doesn’t scare me. 

Marcel: This could easily escalate⁴. 

Amanda: Like I said, I’m not afraid of Evan. This is business. If you can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen. 

 

Script by Dr. Lucy Tse 

1 verge   

n.边，边缘；v.接近，濒临

参考例句：

• The country's economy is on the verge of collapse.国家的经济已到了崩溃的边缘。
• She was on the verge of bursting into tears.她快要哭出来了。

2 swooped   

俯冲，猛冲( swoop的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The aircraft swooped down over the buildings. 飞机俯冲到那些建筑物上方。
• The hawk swooped down on the rabbit and killed it. 鹰猛地朝兔子扑下来，并把它杀死。

3 feud   

n.长期不和；世仇；v.长期争斗；世代结仇

参考例句：

• How did he start his feud with his neighbor?他是怎样和邻居开始争吵起来的？
• The two tribes were long at feud with each other.这两个部族长期不和。

4 escalate   

v.(使)逐步增长(或发展)，(使)逐步升级

参考例句：

• It would tempt Israel's neighbors to escalate their demands.它将诱使以色列的邻国不断把他们的要求升级。
• Defeat could cause one side or other to escalate the conflict.失败可能会导致其中一方将冲突升级。