Lesson1 - BOB’S DAY AT WORK

LESSON 1 : BOB’S DAY AT WORK

Bob works as a manager in a furniture store. Peter, his boss, is not happy about sales. Bob's new advertising campaign hasn't helped. Peter decides to fire him.

Peter: Bob, I hate to break the news. But our sales were down again last month.

Bob:   Down again, Peter?

Peter: Yeah, these days, everybody's shopping at our competition, Honest Abe's Furniture store.

Bob:   But everything in there costs an arm and a leg.

Peter: That's true. They do charge top dollar.

Bob:   And their salespeople are very strange. They really give me the creeps.

Peter: Well, they must be doing something right over there. Meanwhile, we are about to go belly up.

Bob:   I'm sorry to hear that. I though my new advertising campaign would save the day.

Peter: Let's face it: your advertising campaign was a real flop!

Bob:   Well then I'll go back to the drawing board.

Peter: It's too late for that. You are fired!

Bob:   What? You're giving me the ax?

Peter: Yes, I 've already found a new manager. She is as sharp as a tack.

Bob:   Can't we even talk this over? After all, I've been working here for ten years!

Peter: There is no point in arguing, Bob. I've already made up my mind.

Bob:   Oh well, at least I won't have to put up with your nonsense anymore! Good-bye to you and good-bye to this dead-end job.

Peter: Please leave before I lose my temper!

Idioms:

About to – ready to; on the verge of

After all – despite everything; When everything has been considered; the fact is

At least – anyway; the good thing is that …

(to) break the news – to make something known

(to) cost an arm and a leg – to be very expensive

Dead-end job – a job that won’t lead to anything else

(Let’s) face it – accept a difficult reality

(to)give one the creeps – to create a feeling of disgust or horror

(to)go back to the drawing board – to start a task over because the last try failed; to start again from the beginning

(to) go belly-up – to go bankrupt

(to) give someone the ax – to fire someone

(to) lose one’s tempter – to become very angry

(to) make up one’s mind – to reach a decision; to decide

No point in – no reason to ; it’s not worth(doing something)

(to) put up with – to endure without complaint

Real flop or flop – a failure

(to) save the day – to prevent a disaster or midfortune

(as) sharp as a tack – very intelligent

(to) talk over – to discuss

Top dollar – the highest end of a price range; a lot of money

 

 

 

 

 
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I got training material from YuGong's blog, and text file from BJ#2's blog.

Thanks all and I have typed the idioms by myself.
 
And now I can give it a shot.

Hope I can read 2 or 3 articles per week. I don't like work too hard!