Your last shipment wasn't up to scratch.

　　你上次送去的货不合格。

　　up to scratch 这个习惯用语起源于九十多年前在室外举行拳击赛的时代。当时人们在泥地拳击场上划出一条线，就叫做scratch，而两名拳击选手在准备开始比赛的那一刻得用脚尖抵着这条线面对面站着，这样才合乎比赛规定。现在人们把这个习语应用到与拳击无关的地方，表示：“合乎标准，达到标准”。因此，当美国人说"Your last shipment wasn't up to scratch."时，他/她要表达的意思就是:"Your last shipment wasn't up to par."、"Your last shipment didn't meet the standards."。

　　情景对白：

　　Benjamin: I think you'd better come out to that company. Your last shipment wasn't up to scratch.

　　本杰明：你最好去那家公司一趟，你上次送去的货不合格。

　　Terry: OK. I'll go and have a look at it.

　　泰瑞：行，我马上去看看。

　　搭配句积累：

　　①Really? I've done sample inspection!

　　是吗？我做了抽样检查的呀！

　　②OK. I will handle it as soon as possible.

　　好的，我会尽快处理这件事的。

　　③But I was so careful while checking the cargoes.

　　但是我检查货物的时候很仔细啊。

　　④Sorry. I fell asleep at the switch.

　　对不起，是我工作失误。

　　单词：

　　1. shipment n. 装载的货物

　　Please advise the date of shipment as soon as possible.

　　请尽快通知装货日期。

　　The shipment is destined for America.

　　这批货物将运往美国。

　　2. up to par 达到标准

　　I didn' t think her performance was up to par.

　　我认为她表现得不及平时。

　　The goods are not up to par.

　　货物品质未达标准。

　　3. cargo n. 货物

　　The boat calls at the main port to load its regular cargo of bananas.

　　船停靠这个主要港口以装载其常规货物——香蕉。

　　The ship has a cargo of about 200 ton.

　　这条船大约有200吨的货物。

　　4. fall asleep at the switch 玩忽职守，工作失误

　　Don't fall asleep at the switch when the job is offered to you.

　　当你有机会得到这一工作时，千万不要掉以轻心。

　　He got sacked for falling asleep at the switch.

　　他因玩忽职守被开除了。