老板Tom的班機因為臺風來襲而停飛,Tom從機場打電話給秘書Susan,了解公司在中國的工廠有沒有受到臺風的破壞。
(Phone rings)
T: Susan?
S: Yes?
T: It's bad news. All flights for the rest of the day have been canceled and we're stuck here for the night.
S: Oh, I'm sorry.
T: The airline is going to put us up at a hotel near the airport and they say hopefully we'll be able to depart first thing tomorrow.
Tom開門見山,說有壞消息,因為當天的所有航班都被取消了。We're stuck here for the night,今天晚上算是困在這兒了。航空公司安排乘客在附近一家旅館過夜,這里用的put someone up, 有安排某人住宿的意思,Tom 還說,航空公司希望第二天一早first thing tomorrow,航班能恢復。
S: Well, I know it's a hassle, but better safe than sorry, right?
T: Yeah, I wasn't looking forward to flying through a typhoon anyway. Any news on the flooding at the factory?
S: Yes actually....and it's good news. The water has mostly receded and the production area was not affected. Looks like we dodged a bullet.
T: We sure did! And that is great news. Now maybe I'll get a good night's rest.
Susan勸老板說,雖然要在旅館過夜很麻煩,it's a hassle, hassle is spelled h-a-s-s-l-e, hassle,指討厭,麻煩的事情,但是better safe than sorry. Better safe than sorry, 是英語里很常用的一句話,意思是多加小心總比出了事再后悔要強。
Susan還高興地告訴老板Tom,說公司設在中國的工廠因為臺風引起的洪水已經(jīng)基本退了,we dodged a bullet. to dodge a bullet,意思是躲過了一劫。Tom聽了很高興,說這下我晚上可以睡個好覺了。
S: Oh, and Mr. Tang says to tell you that he can't get a flight out of Singapore either so he'll probably miss the conference as well.
T: (Chuckle) Well, it looks like we're all in the same boat. There's nothing we can do but be patient and wait it out.
S: Well, try to get some sleep and call me first thing when you have a new itinerary.
T: Will do. Thanks for your help, Susan.
S: Of course. Bye!
T: Bye
Susan還告訴老板Tom, 新加坡的合作伙伴唐先生也被臺風困住了。Tom說,看起來we're all in the same boat,說跟別人in the same boat,意思是境況都一樣??雌饋?,沒有其他辦法,只好be patient and wait it out,耐心等待臺風過去了。Susan讓老板晚上好好休息,明天早上有了新的日程表就馬上通知她,這里所說的itinerary is spelled i-t-i-n-e-r-a-r-y, itinerary,指日程和活動安排。