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. Bob, I hate to break the news, but our sales were down again last month. Down again, Peter? Yeah. These days, everybody's shopping at our competition, Honest Abe's Furniture Store. But everything in there costs an arm and a leg! That's true. They do charge top dollar. And their salespeople are very strange. They really give me the creeps!

　　鲍勃在一家家具店做经理。他的老板皮特对他的销售能力不是很满意。鲍勃的新宣传活动并未起作用。皮特决定解雇他。鲍勃，我不想说这件事，可是我们上月的销售额又下降了。又下降了，皮特?是的，最近人们都在我们的竞争对手Honest Abe家具店买东西。可是那里的东西贵得不得了。确实是。他们确实是要价很昂贵。而且他们的销售员很奇怪。让我都起鸡皮疙瘩了。

　　注解：

　　break the news委婉地把坏消息告诉(某人)

　　You must break the news of his mother 's death gently.

　　你一定要委婉地把他母亲去世的消息告诉他。

　　campaign [kæm'peɪn]n.运动，活动;竞选运动;战役

　　Apacs has launched a campaign to improve the training of staff.

　　雅拍体育用品公司开展了加强员工培训的活动。

　　costs an arm and a leg付出昂贵代价;花费很大

　　A banquet room in a hotel will cost an arm and a leg!

　　饭店里的宴会厅可是会让荷包大失血!

　　charge[tʃɑ:dʒ]vi.索价

　　Shall we charge this to your company?

　　我们是向贵公司收费吗?

　　give somebody the creeps使...起鸡皮疙瘩，让人恶心

　　There was a strange man following me around the grocery store. He was giving me the creeps.

　　一个奇怪的男人从杂货店跟着我，真让人起鸡皮疙瘩。

　　新东方热报课程：