英语博客：ESL Podcast 820 – Performing Poorly at Work

 　　Cora: What’s up with Rob? He hasn’t been himself lately.

 

　　Doug: You’ve noticed, too, huh?

 

　　Cora: Yeah, he’s been missing work and letting things slip through the cracks. I’ve been cutting him some slack¹ and filling in for him, but things haven’t improved.

 

　　Doug: I know what you mean. I’d never known Rob to drop the ball on anything until recently. I heard a rumor² that he’s having financial problems.

 

　　Cora: No, not Rob! He has more clients than anyone around here.

 

　　Doug: Well, he’s been off his game for a while now, so some of those accounts might have gone up in smoke.

 

　　Cora: Are you going to have a talk with him? Maybe you could help.

 

　　Doug: Me? Why me?

 

　　Cora: I thought you two were pretty tight.

 

　　Doug: We’re friendly at work, but we’re not really friends. The last thing I want to do is to snoop around in his business.

 

　　Cora: But maybe he’s just waiting for a shoulder to cry on. You might be just the person to get him to bare his soul.

 

　　Doug: Spoken just like a woman! You all think we men are waiting to bare our souls and to let our emotions out. Just leave Rob alone to solve his own problems.

 

　　Cora: Spoken just like a cold-hearted man!

 

　　Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

1 slack   

adj.松弛的，萧条的，懈怠的；vt.使松弛

参考例句：

• Slack off those ropes there,there's a storm coming!把那里的绳索放松，暴风雨就要来了！
• Some are hard at work and some are slack in work.有的勤奋工作，有的则消极怠工。

2 rumor   

n.谣言，谣传，传说

参考例句：

• The rumor has been traced back to a bad man.那谣言经追查是个坏人造的。
• The rumor has taken air.谣言流传开了。