书城外语笑死你的英文书
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第5章 Which One to Call Back

After I took office as mayor of a small Kentucky city,an unfortunate incident precipitated some hateful phone calls to my home。One night while I was conducting a citycouncil meeting,my wife answered the phone。

“Is this the home of Bert May,the mayor?”a woman’s voice asked。

When my wife explained that I was at a meeting and would return her call if she left a name and number,the caller said,“That’s confidential。This is his girlfriend。”

My wife,knowing this was all a ruse,calmly responded,“Lady,if you don’t leave your name and number,he won’t know which one to call back。”

给哪一个回电话

我上任为肯塔基州的一个小城的市长后,发生了一件不幸的事,从而招致了一些可恨的电话打到我家里。一天夜里,我还在主持市政会议,我妻子接到了一个电话。

“是伯特?麦因市长的家吗?”一个女人的声音问道。

我妻子向她解释说我还在开会,如果她留下姓名和电话号码的话,我会给她回话。通话人马上说:“这个保密。我是他的女朋友。”

我妻子知道这完全是欺诈。她镇静地回答说:“女士,如果你不留下姓名和号码的话,他就不会知道给哪一个回话。”

take office就职

例:How will you prepare to take office?你如何准备就任事宜?

precipitate[prisipiteit]vt。(突如其来地)使发生;促成

例:Falling sales precipitated the failure of the company。销售额下降促使该公司倒闭。

conduct[kndkt]vt。&vi。引导,带领,担任指挥;控制,管理;传导

例:I think he conducted himself admirably,considering the difficult circumstances。考虑到那种困难的情况,我认为他的表现令人钦佩。

confidential[knfidenl]adj。秘密的,机密的;表示信任或亲密的;担任机密工作的

例:We have a confidential exchange of views。我们推心置腹地交换意见。

ruse[ru:z;ruz]n。诡计,计策

例:The children thought of a clever ruse to get their mother to leave the house so they could get ready for her surprise。孩子们想出一个聪明的办法使妈妈离家,以便他们能准备给她一个惊喜。

That’s confidential。意为“这个保密。”另外,keep to oneself也有“保守秘密”的意思,如:He promised to keep the news to himself。(他保证不把这个消息告诉别人。)此外,keep to oneself还表示“独处,不交际”,如:She kept to herself all morning。(整个早上她都是一个人。)

含有office的短语很多,如:

go to office去办公

the lawyer’s office律师事务所

booking office(火车站等处的)售票房

a box office(戏院的)售票处

an inquiry office问讯处

the Home Office[英]内政部

hold public office担任公职

do the office of the host尽主人之责

perform the last offices to[for]sb。为某人举行葬礼

The office of the mind is to think。头脑的功能是思考。

Through the good offices of a friend,he was able to get a job。经朋友的大力帮助,他找到了工作。