理解商业习语应该是职场人的基本技能,如果你不理解常用习惯用语的意思,不仅很容易出错,更不能快速融入职场环境。今天分享的这些习惯用语在职场中最为常用,且十分实用,记住这些会帮在职场中地道的使用英语口语。

1

corner a market 垄断市场

To "corner a market" means to dominate a particular market.

举个例子

Apple has cornered the market on mp3 players.

苹果公司垄断了mp3播放器市场。

2

cut corners 图省事、走捷径

To "cut corners" means to take shortcuts and find an easier or cheaper way to do something.

举个例子

We don't cut corners on our luxury products.

我们不会在奢侈品上偷工减料。

3

cut one's losses 止损

To "cut one's losses" means to stop doing something that is unproductive and won't ever generate results.

举个例子

Our advertising campaign was expensive and not showing results, so we cut our losses.

我们的广告活动耗资巨大,而且没有效果,所以我们决定止损,减少损失。

4

cut-throat 竞争激烈的

"Cut-throat" is used to describe something that is very intense, aggressive, and merciless.

举个例子

In business school, the competition was cut-throat.

在商学院,竞争激烈。

5

diamond in the rough 璞玉、潜力股

A "diamond in the rough" is something or someone that has a lot of potential but first requires a lot of work.

举个例子

He was a diamond in the rough. He was intelligent and had great ideas, but his management and English skills weren't very good.

他是个潜力股,很聪明,还有好想法,但他的管理和英语技能不是很好。

6

easy come, easy go 来得容易,去得快

"Easy come, easy go," is an expression used to communicate that something gained easily is also lost easily. We often use this expression after something has been lost.

举个例子

A lot of people who inherit money waste it on stupid things. I guess it's easy come, easy go.

很多继承钱财的人把钱浪费在愚蠢的事情上。果然来得容易,去得也容易。

7

fifty-fifty 对半、平分

"Fifty-fifty" means something is divided equally -- 50% for one party, 50% for the other party.

举个例子

My business partner and I split everything fifty-fifty.

我的生意伙伴和我平分所有的一切。

8

from the ground up 从零开始

If you start a business, project, or something else from zero, you start it "from the ground up."

举个例子

Bill Gates built Microsoft from the ground up.

比尔·盖茨白手起家创建了微软。

9

game plan 行动计划,方案,对策

A "game plan" is a strategy or plan.

举个例子

They're not sure what their game plan is for the upcoming election.

对于即将到来的选举,他们不确定自己的策略是什么。

10

get back in/into the swing of things

重新回到事情的轨道上、重新习惯适应、重新融入

To "get back in/into the swing of things" means to get used to doing something again after having a break from that activity.

举个例子

When I go back to work in January, it's difficult to get back in the swing of things.

当我一月份重新回去工作的时候,很难适应到工作环境中去。

11

get down to business 开始谈正事、言归正传

To "get down to business" means to stop making small talk and start talking about serious topics related to business.

举个例子

Now that everyone's here, let's get down to business and talk about the proposal.

既然大家都来了,让我们开始谈正事,谈谈这个提议。

12

get something off the ground 开始、起步

To "get something off the ground" means to start a project or business.

举个例子

We're glad the planning process is over. We're looking forward to getting the project off the ground.

我们很高兴规划完成了。我们期待着这一项目的启动。

13

get the ball rolling 某事或某种活动开始

To "get the ball rolling" means to start something (a project, for example).

举个例子

We need to get the ball rolling on this project. The deadline is in June, and it's already April.

我们需要开始这个项目了。截止日期是6月,现在已经是4月了。

14

get/be on the good side of someone

让某人喜欢上自己

举个例子

I always remember my coworkers' birthdays and get them a card or small gift. I like to get on people's good side.

我总是记得同事的生日,给他们送卡片或小礼物。我喜欢讨好别人。

15

get/have one's foot in the door

迈出第一步

To "get or have one's foot in the door" means to take a low-level position with a company with the goal of eventually getting a better position with the same company.

举个例子

My son just took a low-paying internship position with a large company. He was happy to get his foot in the door at a well-known, respected company.

我儿子刚在一家大公司找到一份薪水很低的实习工作。他很高兴能进入一家知名的、受人尊敬的公司。

16

give someone a pat on the back

赞许、表扬

To "give someone a pat on the back" means to tell someone that they did a good job.

举个例子

The boss gave Brian a pat on the back for coming up with such a good idea.

布莱恩想出了这样一个好主意,老板表扬了他。

17

give the thumbs down 不赞成

To "give something or someone the thumbs down" means to deny approval.

举个例子

I can't believe she gave us the thumbs down.

真不敢相信她居然不同意我们。

18

give the thumbs up 赞成

To "give something or someone the thumbs up" means to give approval.

举个例子

They gave our new proposal the thumbs up.

他们赞成我们的新建议。

19

go broke 破产

To "go broke" means to go bankrupt or to lose all the money a person or business had.

举个例子

There was too much competition and their expenses were too high. They eventually went broke.

竞争太激烈,花费太高。他们最终破产了。

20

go down the drain 白费了

When someone wastes or loses something, it is said to "go down the drain."

举个例子

He dropped out of college in his third year and never continued his studies. All of his hard work and money went down the drain.

他在大学三年级时辍学,再也没有继续学业。他所有的辛勤劳动和金钱都付诸东流了。

21

go the extra mile

做比期望的多得多的努力,做更多

To "go the extra mile" means to do more than what people expect.

举个例子

We go the extra mile for our customers.

我们会为客户付出额外的努力。

22

go through the roof 飞涨

If something is "going through the roof," it means it is rapidly increasing.

举个例子

We're happy our number of Facebook followers has gone through the roof.

我们很高兴我们的Facebook粉丝数量一路飙升。

23

gray area 灰色地带

If something is in a "gray area," it means that it is something undefined and not easily categorized.

举个例子

I asked our lawyers if it was legal, and they said it wasn't clear. It's a gray area.

我问我们的律师这是否合法,他们说不确定。这是一个灰色地带。

24

ground-breaking 独创的,开拓性的

If something is "ground-breaking," it means it is new and innovative.

举个例子

The iPhone was a ground-breaking piece of technology when it was released in 2008.

2008年发布的iPhone,在当时是一项突破性的技术。

25

hands are tied 无能为力

Someone's "hands are tied" if they do not have control over a situation.

举个例子

I would love to get you a job at my company, but my hands are tied.

我很想在我的公司给你安排一份工作,但是我实在无能为力。

26

have someone's work cut out

有许多工作要做,或任务很难完成

If you have a lot of work to do or a particularly difficult assignment, you "have your work cut out for you."

举个例子

She has to sell $35,000 worth of products by the end of the month. She has her work cut out for her.

她必须在月底前卖出价值3.5万美元的产品。她有许多的工作要做。

27

hit the nail on the head 一语中的

To "hit the nail on the head" means to do or say something 100% correctly.

举个例子

I agree with John 100%. I think he really hit the nail on the head.

我完全同意约翰的观点。我认为他真的一针见血。

28

in a nutshell 简而言之

"In a nutshell" means in a few words.

举个例子

In a nutshell, this book is about how to motivate employees.

简而言之,这本书是关于如何激励员工的。

29

in full swin 活跃;蓬勃高涨的进行某事

If a project is "in full swing," it means that it has been completely started and that it is progressing or moving as fast as it ever will.

举个例子

Construction on the new site is in full swing now.

新工地的建设正在如火如荼地进行。

30

in the black 赢利;有盈余

If a company is "in the black," it means that it is making a profit.

举个例子

We're not having a great year, but at least we're in the black.

我们今年过得不是很好,但至少还有盈余。

31

in the driver's seat 处于管理、领导地位

To be "in the driver's seat" means to be in control.

举个例子

I'm not used to being in the driver's seat. I should probably buy some management books.

我还不习惯管理,我也许应该买一些管理方面的书。

32

in the red 负债,亏损;赤字

If a company is "in the red," it means that is not profitable and is operating at a loss.

举个例子

When I started my own business, we were in the red for the first two years.

当我开始自己做生意时,头两年我们是亏损的。

33

keep one's eye on the ball

付出全部注意力

To "keep one's eye on the ball" means to give something one's full attention and to not lose focus.

举个例子

I know we can do it. We just need to keep our eyes on the ball and not lose focus.

我知道我们能做到。我们只需要把注意力集中在目标上,不要分散注意力。

34

last straw 最后一根稻草、极限了

The "last straw" means the last annoyance, disturbance, or betrayal which causes someone to give up, lose their patience, or become angry.

举个例子

Our boss had been unhappy with Brian's performance for a while, but it was the last straw when he came to work three hours late without calling.

我们老板对布莱恩的表现不满意已经有一段时间了,但他上班迟到了三个小时也没有打电话解释,这让他终于忍无可忍。

35

learn the ropes 入门、掌握基础

To "learn the ropes" means to learn the basics of something.

举个例子

I like my new position. I'm starting to learn the ropes.

我喜欢我的新职位,开始掌握窍门了。

36

long shot 可能性很小、成功率很小

A "long shot" is something that has a very low probability of happening.

举个例子

Winning the lottery is a long shot, but millions of people still buy lottery tickets.

中彩票的可能性很小,但仍有数百万人购买彩票。

37

loophole 漏洞

A legal "loophole" occurs if a law is unclear or omits information. This lack of legal clarity allows people or corporations to pay less in taxes or gain some other advantage.

举个例子

Some people complain that millionaires avoid paying taxes by finding loopholes in tax laws.

有些人抱怨百万富翁们通过钻税法的漏洞来避税。

38

lose ground (opposite: gain ground)

失去优势(获得优势)

To "lose ground" means to lose some type of an advantage (market share, for example) to a competitor.

举个例子

Apple lost some ground to Samsung last quarter.

苹果在上个季度输给了三星。

39

lose-lose situation (or no-win situation)

双输局面(双赢局面)

A "lose-lose situation" is when there will be a negative outcome regardless of what decision is made.

举个例子

It's a lose-lose situation. If they lay off more workers, they'll get bad press. If they don't lay off more workers, they won't be able to compete.

这是一个双输的局面。如果他们解雇更多的工人,他们就会受到负面报道。如果他们不解雇更多的工人,他们就没有竞争力。

40

nine-to-five 朝九晚五

A "nine-to-five" is a job during normal working hours. The term came into existence because many work days start at 9 a.m. and end at 5 p.m.

举个例子

She was tired of working a nine-to-five job, so she took her savings and opened a restaurant.

她厌倦了朝九晚五的工作,于是她拿着自己的积蓄开了一家餐馆。

41

no brainer 理所当然、轻轻松松

If a decision is really obvious or really easy to make, the decision is a "no brainer."

举个例子

Taking the new job was a no brainer. They offered me more money, a better schedule, and more vacation days.

接受新工作是理所当然的。他们给了我更多的薪水、更好的工作安排和更多的假期。

42

no strings attached 没有附加条件

If something is given without expecting anything in return, it is given with "no strings attached."

举个例子

They will let you try the product for free with no strings attached.

他们会让你免费试用这个产品,没有任何附加条件。

43

no time to lose 快没时间了

If there is "no time to lose," it means that there is a lot of pressure to finish something quickly.

举个例子

I need to get to work. There's no time to lose.

我得去上班了,快没时间了。

44

not going to fly 不会通过、行不通

If a solution isn't effective, we can say that it "isn't going to fly."

举个例子

I don't think that's going to fly. Let's keep generating ideas.

我觉得这行不通,我们还是继续想新方法吧。

45

off the top of one's head

不假思索、第一个想到的

If someone says something "off the top of their head," it means that they give a response without thinking about it much or doing any research on the subject.

举个例子

I have no idea how many branches they have. Off the top of my head, I'd say about 20.

我不知道他们有多少分店。乍一想大概有20个吧。

46

on a roll 连连成功、连交好运

If someone is "on a roll," it means that he or she has had several successes in a row.

举个例子

Our profits have been above our projected numbers for five months in a row. We're really on a roll.

我们的利润已连续五个月超过预期数字。我们真的接连成功。

47

on the ball 机灵;留心

To be "on the ball" means to be alert and aware of things.

举个例子

My new personal assistant is working out well. He's really on the ball.

我的新私人助理工作得很好,他真的很聪机敏。

48

on the same page page 达成一致

If two people are "on the same page," they are in agreement about something.

举个例子

Let's go over the details of what we agreed on to make sure we're on the same page.

让我们再看一遍我们之前同意的细节,以确保我们的意见一致。

49

on top of something

完全控制、管理某事物;将某事物摸得一清二

To be "on top of something" means to be in control of a situation and aware of changes.

举个例子

I read a lot to stay on top of the latest changes in my industry.

我读了很多书来了解我所在行业的最新变化。

50

on your toes 保持警觉

To be "on your toes" means to be alert.

举个例子

Stay on your toes. Anything can happen.

保持警惕。任何事情都有可能发生。

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