老板Tom的班机因为台风来袭而停飞，Tom从机场打电话给秘书Susan，了解公司在中国的工厂有没有受到台风的破坏。
(Phone rings)
T: Susan?
S: Yes?
T: It's bad news. All flights for the rest of the day have been canceled and we're stuck here for the night.
S: Oh, I'm sorry.
T: The airline is going to put us up at a hotel near the airport and they say hopefully we'll be able to depart first thing tomorrow.
Tom开门见山，说有坏消息，因为当天的所有航班都被取消了。We're stuck here for the night，今天晚上算是困在这儿了。航空公司安排乘客在附近一家旅馆过夜，这里用的put someone up， 有安排某人住宿的意思，Tom 还说，航空公司希望第二天一早first thing tomorrow，航班能恢复。
S: Well, I know it's a hassle, but better safe than sorry, right?
T: Yeah, I wasn't looking forward to flying through a typhoon anyway. Any news on the flooding at the factory?
S: Yes actually....and it's good news. The water has mostly receded and the production area was not affected. Looks like we dodged a bullet.
T: We sure did! And that is great news. Now maybe I'll get a good night's rest.
Susan劝老板说，虽然要在旅馆过夜很麻烦，it's a hassle, hassle is spelled h-a-s-s-l-e, hassle，指讨厌，麻烦的事情，但是better safe than sorry. Better safe than sorry， 是英语里很常用的一句话，意思是多加小心总比出了事再后悔要强。
Susan还高兴地告诉老板Tom，说公司设在中国的工厂因为台风引起的洪水已经基本退了，we dodged a bullet. to dodge a bullet，意思是躲过了一劫。Tom听了很高兴，说这下我晚上可以睡个好觉了。
S: Oh, and Mr. Tang says to tell you that he can't get a flight out of Singapore either so he'll probably miss the conference as well.
T: (Chuckle) Well, it looks like we're all in the same boat. There's nothing we can do but be patient and wait it out.
S: Well, try to get some sleep and call me first thing when you have a new itinerary.
T: Will do. Thanks for your help, Susan.
S: Of course. Bye!
T: Bye
Susan还告诉老板Tom, 新加坡的合作伙伴唐先生也被台风困住了。Tom说，看起来we're all in the same boat，说跟别人in the same boat，意思是境况都一样。看起来，没有其他办法，只好be patient and wait it out，耐心等待台风过去了。Susan让老板晚上好好休息，明天早上有了新的日程表就马上通知她，这里所说的itinerary is spelled i-t-i-n-e-r-a-r-y, itinerary，指日程和活动安排。 |