商務禮節美語第27期:拿回扣(3)

項目主管Donny急衝衝地來找老闆Simon，因爲公司即將竣工的加工廠突然遇到了麻煩，當地質檢官員以建設標準不合格爲由，索取賄賂，Simon表示，這個錢堅決不能給。Donny問要怎麼辦？

D: What would you like me to do?

S: How much does this lowlife inspector want?

D: About 2,500 dollars, sir.

S: Well, I'm going to spend that same amount on lawyers and we're going to sue this guy!

Simon問，那個質檢官員想要多少錢。Simon用lowlife來形容此人，lowlife is spelled l-o-w-l-i-f-e, lowlife意思是卑鄙的，下流的。原來，此人要價並不高，只要兩千五百美元就能解決問題。Simon決定，就用這筆錢來sue this guy把此人告上法庭。

D: You want to take legal action against him?

S: That's right. Call our legal department and tell them to get a team and get down there.

D: Maybe I can get the on-site manager to record their conversation. Then we'll have evidence.

S: Good idea! But don't forget, our best evidence is our building. It's completely up to standard so if it's re-inspected, anyone can see we are following the law.

D: That's true. The building will speak for itself.

對某人提出訴訟，可以說sue someone, 也可以說to take legal action against someone. Donny建議把跟質檢官員的對話偷偷錄下來，做爲證據，evidence. 不過，Simon強調說，我們的工程纔是最有力的證據。因爲這一工程完全符合標準，completely up to standard。Donny也說，the building will speak for itself. speak for itself， 無需解釋，明擺着的，意思是建築工程就擺在那裏，是最有說服力的證據。

S: And tell the legal team not to cut any corners and to proceed with this case by the book. We are sending a message here that bribery won't be tolerated.

D: Wow, sir! I've never seen you so worked up.

S: Well, I'm sick and tired and I'm not going to put up with this anymore! Let's get this bad guy!

D: I'm on it, sir!

Simon說，讓律師們不要cut corners, cut corners意思是偷工減料，一切要按法律上的規定去辦，by the book意思是嚴格遵守法律。Donny從來沒見老闆Simon如此激動過，I've never seen you so worked up. worked is spelled w-o-r-k-e-d, worked up，是激動的意思。Simon說，I'm sick and tired，在這裏，sick and tired不是我又病又累，而是指厭倦了某件事情。Simon還說，I'm not going to put up with this. put up with something，指忍受一件事情。Donny最後說，I'm on it，意思是交給我吧，我這就去辦。