商务礼节美语第74期:权力争夺(3)

　　David跟Sandra聊天，谈到办公室里的勾心斗角是难以避免的，所以只能想办法面对。Sandra 说，
S: Maybe I need to toughen up. You know that old saying: If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen."
D: Maybe...but have you tried talking to Tim about this?
S: No...I'm not really a confrontational² person.
D: Well, who don't you give it a shot. Use unemotional language and just be very clear and firm about how you feel. Tell him about the things you like about his work ethic³ and then tell him the areas you don't like.
老话说，If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen. 意思是如果承受不了压力，就索性不要干。David 问 Sandra 有没有试着找 Tim 谈谈。Sandra 说自己不喜欢跟别人对抗。confrontation¹ is spelled c-o-n-f-r-o-n-t-a-t-i-o-n, confrontation 是对抗的意思，变成形容词就是 confrontational. David 建议 Sandra 不妨找 Tim 谈一下试试看，give it a shot. 告诉 Tim 自己很赞赏他的 work ethic 工作态度，但是同时也把对他不满的地方告诉他。
S: That's a pretty good idea.
D: And remember...it takes two to tango. You can't have a power struggle without two people, at least two people. You can choose to participate or not.
S: You make some good points.
D: The next time Tim cuts you down in a meeting, don't react. Just let his comments hang there and people will see how petty he's being.
David 补充说，it takes two to tango. tango is spelled t-a-n-g-o, tango. It takes two to tango 就是中文里说的一个巴掌拍不响，还有另外一种说法是 it takes two to make a quarrel. 也是这个意思。David 建议，下次 Tim 再故意贬低 Sandra, 最好不去理他。这里说的 cut someone down 有贬低某人的意思，后面还可以加 to size, to cut someone down to size. David 说，just let his comments hang there 意思是不要去接他的话碴儿，这样别人就会看出他是多么的狭隘，小心眼。
S: I guess I have to remember that all of us are human and humans have egos⁵ and will lash⁶ out when threatened.
D: That's right! Sometimes I think our office is pretty much like the zoo. We're just office apes!
S: That's a funny thought! Thanks for your advice, David. I feel better already.
D: You're very welcome! See you tomorrow!
Sandra 也说，人都有 ego⁴, ego 是自我，自大的意思，在感到自身受到威胁的情况下，就会 lash out, lash out意思是求助于口头或是肢体上的攻击。Sandra最后对David表示感谢，说自己跟David谈了这么一会儿，I feel better already. 我已经感觉好多了。

1 confrontation   

n.对抗，对峙，冲突

参考例句：

• We can't risk another confrontation with the union.我们不能冒再次同工会对抗的危险。
• After years of confrontation,they finally have achieved a modus vivendi.在对抗很长时间后，他们最后达成安宁生存的非正式协议。

2 confrontational   

adj.挑衅的；对抗的

参考例句：

• Fans love rappers partly because they strike such a confrontational pose. 乐迷热爱这些饶舌艺人一定程度上是因为他们所采取的那种战斗姿态。 来自互联网
• You prefer a non confrontational approach when it comes to resolving disputes. 面对争端，你不喜欢采用对抗性的手段来解决。 来自互联网

3 ethic   

n.道德标准，行为准则

参考例句：

• They instilled the work ethic into their children.他们在孩子们的心中注入了职业道德的理念。
• The connotation of education ethic is rooted in human nature's mobility.教育伦理的内涵根源于人本性的变动性。

4 ego   

n.自我，自己，自尊

参考例句：

• He is absolute ego in all thing.在所有的事情上他都绝对自我。
• She has been on an ego trip since she sang on television.她上电视台唱过歌之后就一直自吹自擂。

5 egos   

自我，自尊，自负( ego的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Their egos are so easily bruised. 他们的自尊心很容易受到伤害。
• The belief in it issues from the puerile egos of inferior men. 这种信仰是下等人幼稚的自私意识中产生的。

6 lash   

v.系牢；鞭打；猛烈抨击；n.鞭打；眼睫毛

参考例句：

• He received a lash of her hand on his cheek.他突然被她打了一记耳光。
• With a lash of its tail the tiger leaped at her.老虎把尾巴一甩朝她扑过来。