口语进阶04 | 美国常用idioms及表达方式

　　访问学者、博士后初到美国，在沟通和交流方面往往会遇到各种问题，正如中国有各种成语谚语，美国人日常生活中也有很多常用俗语和词组搭配。提前掌握这些知识点可以让各位学者更容易理解美国人的日常对话，融入当地工作生活环境。知识人网整理相关情景对话，介绍美国人常用惯用语（idiom）及表达方式，希望能对大家有所帮助。请看Lesson 04：

　　Lesson 04

　　Chatting on the phone

　　Mark calls Cindy back to see if he can find out what Grand foods is planning with their Frozen Chinese meals. Cindy gives him some information, but tells him that if he wants more, they will need to meet.

　　Mark: Hi, Cindy. I was just wondering if you have any more information about Grand Foods.

　　Cindy: Mark, how are you?

　　Mark: Fine, but I don't have time for small talk right now. I've got a meeting in five minutes.

　　Cindy: Well, let me get right to the point then. Grand Foods is planning to roll out two new products: Moo Shu Pork and Princess Chicken.

　　Mark: That's interesting. What else can you tell me?

　　Cindy: They're buying Fu Dong Foods, a food company in China.

　　Mark: Thanks. I'll talk to you later.

　　Cindy: I've dug up more, too.

　　Mark:I'm all ears.

　　Cindy:It's going to cost you!

　　Mark: What? Now you're going to charge me for the information? You must be pulling my leg!

　　Cindy: I'm not asking for money. I was just going to suggest that we get together.

　　Mark: Well, I guess I can swing by your office later.

　　Cindy: My office? Ha! I'm offering you important information. The least you can do is take me out to dinner on Saturday night.

　　Mark: I'm booked solid this weekend.

　　Cindy: Okay, then, I guess I'll just hang onto this information. It's no skin off my nose.

　　IDIOMS & EXPRESSIONS

　　small talk – 闲谈（非正式谈话）

　　Example: I made some small talk with our company's CEO at the holiday party. 在假日派对上，我和我们的总裁闲聊了几句。

　　(to) get right to the point – 开门见山、直入正题

　　Example: Let me get right to the point. If we don't come up with a plan to increase our sales, we're going to go out of business. 让我开门见山地说吧。如果我们不想办法提高我们的销量，那我们就要关门大吉了。

　　(to) roll out – 推出（新产品、新服务或者新项目活动）

　　Example: Starbucks announced plans to roll out a new line of coffee drinks. 星巴克宣布计划推出新系列咖啡饮品。

　　(to) dig up – 挖出/查明（信息、特指秘密或者消极的信息）

　　Example: When the senator announced he would run for president of the United States, reporters worked hard to dig up information about his past. 当州长宣布自己要参加美国总统竞选的时候，记者们竭尽全力地挖掘出他过去的信息。

　　I'm all ears – 洗耳恭听

　　Example: "Did you hear what happened to Liz on her date with that guy she met online?" — "No, tell me. I'm all ears!" “你听说莉兹和她的网恋对象约会时候发生的事情了吗？”——“没有呀，快点跟我讲，我很想知道！”

　　It's going to cost you – 需要为某事付出代价

　　Example: You want me to help you with your science project? Okay, but it's going to cost you! 你想让我加入你的科学项目吗？可以的，但是你怎么报答我呢？

　　(to) pull someone's leg – 开玩笑

　　Example: Don told you we all have to work on Christmas Day? Don't listen to him. He's just pulling your leg! 唐刚刚和你说我们圣诞节必须工作吗？别听他的。他只是在和你开玩笑。

　　(to) swing by – 去某地（通常是在较短的时间内）

　　Example: If you're going to be in my neighborhood tomorrow, please swing by and say hi.如果你明天打算去我家附近，记得来我家坐坐喔。

　　The least you can do is – 至少应该/可以….；

　　Example: Your sister visited you every day when you were in the hospital. The least you can do is call her on her birthday. 你住院的时候，你姐姐每天都来看望你。她过生日的那天，你至少应该要去个电话。

　　booked solid – 满客了、很忙；

　　Example: Sorry, but Rajeev won't be able to meet with you until next Friday. He's booked solid until then. 抱歉，拉杰夫直到下周五才能有空，这之前都已经安排满了。

　　(to) hang onto – 留住、保留下来

　　Example: I was going to sell this antique vase on eBay, but then I decided to hang onto it instead. 我原本打算在易趣拍卖网站上把我的古董花瓶卖了，但是后来我决定还是留下来它。

　　It's no skin off my nose – 对我而言没有影响；与我无关；

　　Example: Heather didn't invite me to her wedding, but it's no skin off my nose. Now I won't have to buy her a gift. 希瑟没有邀请我参加她的婚礼，但是没关系。现在我不用操心给她买什么礼物了。

　　QUICK REVIEW

　　Choose the best substitute for the phrase or sentence in bold:

　　1.- Bob won't be able to meet with you on Friday. He's booked solid.

　　a) His schedule is full.

　　b) He's busy reading.

　　c) He's got plenty of time.

　　2.- Campbell soup company announced plans to roll out a new line of healthy soups.

　　a) buy

　　b) introduce

　　c) cancel plans for

　　3.- As part of their hiring process, the Donox company searches the internet to see what kind of information they can dig up on their job candidates.

　　a) validate

　　b) make up

　　c) find up

　　4.- If you don't want to go to the party, then stay home. It's no skin off my nose.

　　a) I'll be happy.

　　b) It doesn't matter to me.

　　c) I'll be very upset.

　　5.- Glen got promoted to vice president? You must be pulling my leg!

　　a) That's great news!

　　b) It's about time!

　　c) I can't believe it!

　　6.- You should hang onto those old family pictures.

　　a) throw out

　　b) donate

　　c) keep

　　7.- Ashley told you what happened between her and Jeremy? I'm all ears!

　　a) Good for you!

　　b) I'm very interested.

　　c) I can't hear you.

　　8.- Please swing by later to pick up the report.

　　a) leave my office

　　b) come to my office

　　c) make an appointment

　　9.- Be sure to make to make small talk with the Japanese clients before presenting the proposal.

　　a) talk about business

　　b) talk about small details

　　c) talk socially