Using English at Work：51 Leaving Work(3)

When things are out of control, I have to take work home and burn the midnight oil.

But this week I have everything under control, so I don't need to work over the weekend.

In order to get ready to go home, I pack up my briefcase¹.

"To pack up" means to put something inside a briefcase, or a suitcase, or perhaps a box so that you can take it with you when you leave a place.

If you move to a new apartment or house, you have to pack up everything so that you can move it to the new place.

A "briefcase" is a rectangular² box, usually with hard sides and a handle that businesspeople traditionally use to carry their work papers.

These days, a lot of briefcases³ also have a place for your laptop computer.

We can still call these "briefcases," or some people prefer to call them "computer bags."

When I pack up my briefcase, I am putting papers and other things into this small container -this case that I can use to carry things to and from work.

The next thing I do is shut down my computer.

"To shut down" a computer means to turn off a computer or to turn off some other large device or machine; we use the same expression, "to shut down."

Some offices shut down the copy machine at the end of the day.

After I shut down my computer, I put some important papers back into their folder⁴ and leave the folder in my desk drawer for safekeeping.

A "desk drawer" is the part of your desk that is a box with a handle on the front so you can pull it open, put things inside, and then close it again.

My desk drawers are full of pens, pencils, paper, files, perhaps some paper clips⁵

- I need to clean out my desk drawers is what I'm saying!

"Safekeeping" means safety, security, or storage in a place where things won't get lost, stolen or damaged.

For example, I may take my wedding ring off when I'm going swimming, and I will put it in my drawer for safe keeping so that it doesn't get lost or stolen.

1 briefcase   

n.手提箱，公事皮包

参考例句：

• He packed a briefcase with what might be required.他把所有可能需要的东西都装进公文包。
• He requested the old man to look after the briefcase.他请求那位老人照看这个公事包。

2 rectangular   

adj.矩形的，成直角的

参考例句：

• He put a rectangular box on the table.他把一个长方形的箱子放在桌子上。
• The equations are written in rectangular coordinates.这些方程是在直角座标系中写出的。

3 briefcases   

n.公文[事]包( briefcase的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Portfolio, Name Card Holder, Pen, Briefcases, Computer Bags, Bags and Cases. 采购产品文件夹，名字备置卡片烛台，钢笔，公文包，计算机袋子，袋子和情形。 来自互联网
• We have quite an array of leather briefcases. 我们有相当的一批公文包。 来自互联网

4 folder   

n.纸夹，文件夹

参考例句：

• Peter returned the plan and charts to their folder.彼得把这份计划和表格放回文件夹中。
• He draws the document from its folder.他把文件从硬纸夹里抽出来。

5 clips   

n.剪（ clip的名词复数 ）；剪短；剪报；（塑料或金属的） 夹子v.用别针别在某物上，用夹子夹在某物上（ clip的第三人称单数 ）；剪掉；缩短；给…剪毛（或发）

参考例句：

• toe clips on a bicycle 自行车上的踏脚夹套
• Use the crocodile clips to attach the cables to the battery. 用鳄鱼嘴夹把电缆接到蓄电池上。