常春藤生活英语【22】Ripped Off 黑心商人

Dialogue A　
Patty and Dino are arguing about a business deal they had.
Patty：Listen! We agreed that you would give me half of the profits.
Dino：I want to change that now.
Patty：You can't. We shook on it and you have to keep your word.
Dino：I changed my mind.
Patty：No! Why are you trying to rip¹ me off?
Dino：This is just how we do business here.
Patty：Yeah, dishonest business. I'm calling my lawyer.

佩蒂和迪诺正为他们的一笔交易争论不休。
佩　蒂：听好！我们已经同意你会给我一半的利润。
迪　诺：我现在想把这点改掉。
佩　蒂：你不能这么做。我们已经握手言定了，你可得说话算话。
迪　诺：我改变心意了。
佩　蒂：不！你为什么要敲我竹杠？
迪　诺：我们这里就是这样做生意的。
佩　蒂：是啊，不实生意。我要打电话给我的律师。

Dialogue B　
Patty gets on the phone with her lawyer right away and tells him what happened.
James：I warned you about this guy. I said the deal was too good to be true.
Patty：I know. I'm a fool. Is there anything I can do?
James： Either do the deal his way or threaten to sue² him. But he'll probably know that you're only bluffing⁴.
Patty：I think I will just tell him off. I'm going to burn my bridges, but at least I'll feel much better.

佩蒂马上跟她的律师通电话，告诉他发生了什么事。
詹姆士：我已经警告妳要小心这个人。我早说这项交易划算到不像真的。
佩　蒂：我知道。我真是个笨蛋。我该怎么办？
詹姆士：不是照他的方式成交，就是威胁要告他。但他可能知道你只是在吓唬他而已。
佩　蒂：我想我只会训他一顿。虽然我会把自己搞得无路可退，但至少我会好过一点。

Phrases for Learning

1.shake on it　　握手为定
The men shook on it after they came to an agreement.
这些人达成共识后便握手为定。

2.keep + 所有格 + word　　（某人）守信用
I don't think Jenny will keep her word.
我觉得珍妮不会守信用。

3.rip + 人 + off　　欺骗∕剥削某人
The vendor⁵ tried to rip me off because he knew I liked the bag.
摊贩试图敲我竹杠，因为他知道我喜欢这个包包。

4.be too good to be true　　好到不像真的
This offer is too good to be true.
这个提议好到令人难以置信。

5.threaten to + 原形动词　　威胁∕恐吓要做……
My wife threatens to leave me all the time.
我老婆总是威胁要离开我。

6.tell + 人 + off　　斥责某人
When Amy messed up my room, I told her off.
艾咪弄乱我房间，因此我念了她一顿。

参考字词

1.profit　n. 利润，收益

2.dishonest　a. 不诚实的；欺诈的

3.bluff³　vi. 虚张声势

4.burn + 所有格 + bridges　（某人）自断退路

Enjoy Box
商场投资学

商场中波涛汹涌，经营者切记不可一味想着赚钱发财，而掉以轻心，丧失应有的戒心。商场上多数人虽为君子，但其中也不乏小人，若是对自己的投资不加以分析、思考，往往就会吃亏上当。有位经济学家曾这么说：『不要迷信号称有极高利润的案子。10％的获利率已是十分有利可图的。获利越高，其风险就越高。』由此可见，您在投资前，一定要看准对方的经营实力，千万别被不实的高获利率给骗了。

对于无雄厚资金，却试图透过『集资』来推动案子的人应多加防范。要是您不了解某种投资案的行情，千万不能光凭对对方的『好印象』而砸入大把钞票。常言道：『防人之心不可无』，作为投资者，凡事三思而后行还是比较谨慎的做法。因为在商场面临『利』字当头的选择时，有许多人，哪怕是好朋友，甚至父子亲戚背叛的也不少。打滚商场中的人应将这一点牢记心头，时时提醒自己小心行事。

Tips In Use

Patty gets on the phone with her lawyer right away...
（佩蒂马上跟她的律师通电话……）

1.本句中，词组"get on"是表『接通』的意思。

2."get on"后接交通工具，则表『上车』。
People are waiting to get on the bus.
（人们等着上公交车。）

3.英式用法中，"get on"也可表『友好相处』。
Judy gets on with her co-workers well.
=Judy gets along with her co-workers well.
（朱迪和她同事相处得很好。）

4.英式用法中，"get on"亦可表『进展』。
Things are getting on well.
（事情进展顺利。）

1 rip   

n.拉裂，破绽，激流，浪荡子；vt.撕裂，激昂地说，贬损；vi.裂开，仓促地冲过...

参考例句：

• He had seen the rip in the book.他看到了书里的裂缝。
• I tried not to rip the paper as I unwrapped it.我把纸打开的时候，尽量不把它撕破。

2 sue   

vt.控告，起诉；vi.请求，追求，起诉

参考例句：

• If you don't pay me the money,I'll sue you.如果你不付给我钱，我就告你。
• The war criminals sue for peace.战犯求和。

3 bluff   

v.虚张声势，用假象骗人；n.虚张声势，欺骗

参考例句：

• His threats are merely bluff.他的威胁仅仅是虚张声势。
• John is a deep card.No one can bluff him easily.约翰是个机灵鬼。谁也不容易欺骗他。

4 bluffing   

n. 威吓，唬人 动词bluff的现在分词形式

参考例句：

• I don't think he'll shoot—I think he's just bluffing. 我认为他不会开枪—我想他不过是在吓唬人。
• He says he'll win the race, but he's only bluffing. 他说他会赢得这场比赛，事实上只是在吹牛。

5 vendor   

n.卖主；小贩

参考例句：

• She looked at the vendor who cheated her the other day with distaste.她厌恶地望着那个前几天曾经欺骗过她的小贩。
• He must inform the vendor immediately.他必须立即通知卖方。