商务礼节美语第66期:Birthday Bucks(2)

　　Sarah向原来的同事 Amanda 诉苦，说刚换了新工作，就赶上三个人过生日，都要凑份子，感觉心理很不平衡。Amanda 劝她说，
A: If I were you, I would just bite the bullet¹ and hand over the money. First impressions are important and it's not worth getting a reputation² for being a Scrooge. Think about it this way: when your birthday comes around, you'll have at least one card and cake to look forward to.
S: A Scrooge is someone who is stingy with his money even though he has plenty, right? I wouldn't want my colleagues³ to think I am refusing to contribute⁴ to the pool even though I can, but this would put me way over my weekly budget.
Amanda建议Sarah硬着头皮凑份子， Bite the bullet 意思是硬着头皮接受自己不愿意做的事情。她说，first impressions are important, 第一印象很重要，不能为了这点钱给别人留下“守财奴”的印象。 It's not worth getting a reputation for being a Scrooge. Scrooge is spelled s-c-r-o-o-g-e, scrooge 意思是讨厌的守财奴。Sarah 说自己不是不肯出钱，contribute to the pool, 这里的pool, p-o-o-l, pool 指的是大家凑的钱，可如果出钱，一星期的预算就会超出很多。
A: What about a compromise⁵? Maybe you could sit down privately⁶ with the person in charge of collecting the money and explain that coming from a smaller department you've never had to deal with so many birthdays at once. Offer to give her five dollars for each birthday instead, and promise that you will make your famous brownies for the celebration⁷.
S: That sounds like a good plan. I hope they understand where I'm coming from and don't hold it against me.
Amanda建议Sarah去找负责收钱的同事商量，try to make a compromise. 看能不能找到一个居中的妥协方案，把份子钱从十块减少到五块，但同时保证烤自己拿手的蛋糕，来庆祝同事的生日。Sarah觉得这个办法不错，希望同事能 understand where I'm coming from. 意思是能明白和理解我的本意，don't hold it against me 不要记恨我。
A: I'm sure they will understand. Lots of people have been in the same position before. And, maybe once you get to know them better, ten dollars won't seem like such a big deal anymore.
S: Thanks so much for your advice, I feel a lot better about the situation.
A: You're welcome. Let's make sure we keep in touch, Sarah!
S: Sure, I'll talk to you again soon and let you know how it goes. Enjoy your lunch!
Amanda 叫Sarah放心，一定有很多人遇到过这种情形，lots of people have been in the same position before. 她还说，等Sarah和同事们熟了以后，凑十块钱的份子钱可能也就没什么大不了的了。

1 bullet   

n.枪弹，子弹

参考例句：

• The bullet wound in his shoulder was opened up for treatment.切开他肩上的枪伤进行治疗。
• The bullet missed me by a hair's s breadth.那颗子弹差一点就打中了我。

2 reputation   

n.名誉，声誉，声望，信誉

参考例句：

• We are very anxious to keep up the reputation of the firm.我们对于保持公司的名誉非常急切。
• He has not too good a reputation in the matter of honesty.就诚实而言，他的名声不太好。

3 colleagues   

n.同事，同僚( colleague的名词复数 )；同人

参考例句：

• He wanted to confer with his colleagues before reaching a decision. 他想与他的同事先商议一下再作出决定。
• She is held in high esteem by her colleagues. 她深受同事的敬重。

4 contribute   

vt.有助于，捐助，投稿；vi.出力，捐献，投稿

参考例句：

• The rich will be asked to contribute money;the strong to contribute labour.有钱出钱，有力出力。
• The three sons also contribute to the family business.这3个儿子也为家族事业做出了贡献。

5 compromise   

n.妥协；妥协方案；vt.损害；vi.妥协，让步

参考例句：

• The spokesman made it clear that no compromise was yet in sight.发言人表明，目前还不会妥协。
• The probable outcome of the talks is a compromise.会谈的结果很可能是妥协。

6 privately   

adv.以私人的身份，悄悄地，私下地

参考例句：

• Some ministers admit privately that unemployment could continue to rise.一些部长私下承认失业率可能继续升高。
• The man privately admits that his motive is profits.那人私下承认他的动机是为了牟利。

7 celebration   

n.庆祝，庆祝会；典礼

参考例句：

• The celebration passed off successfully.庆祝活动圆满结束。
• The celebration of Christmas is a custom.庆祝圣诞节是一种习俗。