商务礼节美语第142期:支出账目(下)

　　公司开会讨论支出账目，经理Tim和会计部主任John告诉大家，要紧缩开支，首先从员工可报销的账目下手。Tim说，
Tim: I'm not going to sugarcoat it: we'll have to cut back on our expenses or we'll have to cut back on staff, something I'd rather not do.
M: But we still have discretionary spending money, right?
T: Sure. You can spend half of the $300 on whatever you want without providing a receipt¹.
经理Tim说，我不想粉饰太平，sugarcoat it. 实际情况是，不减少开支，就得裁员。 Mike问，是不是还有discretionary spending money, 可以随便支配的钱。答案是，三百块里一半的开销都可以不交收据。
S: What other ways can we help cut costs?
T: Well, if it's a flight of less than four hours, we're going to ask you to fly economy class. For long distance flights you can still use business class.
J: And we need to talk about client² dinners. I know you have to take the client to a nice place. I know you can't take them to McDonald's.
T: But...the five Michelin star A+1 Golden Steakhouse? That's pushing it. I see a $265 claim here for a business dinner for two. That's got to come down.
Tim说，今后凡是不到四个小时的短途飞行，一律改为经济舱。John补充说，请客户吃饭，虽然不能去麦当劳，但两个人吃牛排花265块，则未免有些过份。That's pushing it.
S: Actually, I've been doing more Internet research before I take clients³ to business meals. I've found you can save a lot of money by choosing an interesting, special place that isn't necessarily⁴ expensive.
T: Right! Say, "I know this little place..." and take them somewhere cool, but not at $265 a pop!
Shannon建议，不用带客户去太贵的地方吃饭，可以带他们去一些更有意思，但并不贵的餐馆。Tim赞成，说最好是take them somewhere cool, but not at $265 a pop. A pop是每次花多少钱的意思。
M: Another thing: stay out of the hotel bar! It's outrageous⁵ what they charge for a couple of cocktails⁶! Go find a bar down the street to meet at. It's got more character and it's substantially cheaper.
J: Yes, good thinking.
M: And it goes without saying, the hotel room's "adult" movies are not business expenses.
(Laughter)
T: No, they most certainly aren't! Thanks guys! I appreciate your understanding.
Mike补充说，旅馆酒吧太贵。最好能出去找个酒吧见面。不仅便宜，而且It's got more character. 还更有个性。Mike 搞笑道，It goes without saying不用说，旅馆的成人电影是不能报销的。

1 receipt   

n.收据，收条；收到，接到

参考例句：

• We are in receipt of your letter of the 10th.我们收到了您十日的来函。
• I asked for a receipt.我要一张收据。

2 client   

n.委托人，当事人，顾客

参考例句：

• She can't come to the telephone;she's serving a client.她不能来接电话，她正在接待一位顾客。
• The lawyer produced a clever defence of his client.律师机智地为委托人辩护。

3 clients   

n.顾客( client的名词复数 )；当事人；诉讼委托人；[计算机]客户端

参考例句：

• a lawyer with many famous clients 拥有许多著名委托人的律师
• She understood the importance of establishing a close rapport with clients. 她懂得与客户建立密切和谐的关系的重要性。

4 necessarily   

adv.必要地，必需地；必定地，必然地

参考例句：

• More work does not necessarily call for more men.增加工作量不一定就要增添人员。
• A voter must necessarily be no younger than eighteen.选民必须在18岁以上。

5 outrageous   

adj.无理的，令人不能容忍的

参考例句：

• Her outrageous behaviour at the party offended everyone.她在聚会上的无礼行为触怒了每一个人。
• Charges for local telephone calls are particularly outrageous.本地电话资费贵得出奇。

6 cocktails   

n.鸡尾酒( cocktail的名词复数 )；餐前开胃菜；混合物

参考例句：

• Come about 4 o'clock. We'll have cocktails and grill steaks. 请四点钟左右来，我们喝鸡尾酒，吃烤牛排。 来自辞典例句
• Cocktails were a nasty American habit. 喝鸡尾酒是讨厌的美国习惯。 来自辞典例句