2015年ESL之商务英语 20 Being Assertive and Meek

Being Assertive¹ and Meek² 

Victor: We need to take the bull by the horns. In the meeting today, we’re going to give it to them straight, no more hemming³ and hawing. 

Maura: You’re right. We need to tell them what we really think and be done with it. 

Victor: Definitely. We’ve been conciliatory long enough. Today, we need to be insistent⁴ without being too pushy⁵. 

Maura: Being unassuming and deferential⁶ has its place, but not if we seem meek. We need to be assertive without being too in-your-face. 

Victor: You’re absolutely right. One of us has to speak up. 

Maura: Yes, one of us has to be bold. They’ll have to take us seriously this time. 

Victor: Okay, ready? 

Maura: Sure, I have your back. 

Victor: Huh? I thought you were going to do the talking. 

Maura: Uh, I thought you were. 

Victor: Maybe we should wait for the next meeting to take them on. 

Maura: I totally agree. It’ll give us a little time to work up to it. 

Victor: Exactly! 

Script by Dr. Lucy Tse 

1 assertive   

adj.果断的，自信的，有冲劲的

参考例句：

• She always speaks an assertive tone.她总是以果断的语气说话。
• China appears to have become more assertive in the waters off its coastline over recent years.在近些年，中国显示出对远方海洋的自信。

2 meek   

adj.温顺的，逆来顺受的

参考例句：

• He expects his wife to be meek and submissive.他期望妻子温顺而且听他摆布。
• The little girl is as meek as a lamb.那个小姑娘像羔羊一般温顺。

3 hemming   

卷边

参考例句：

• "Now stop hemming and hawing, and tell me about it, Edward. "别再这个那个的啦，跟我说说吧，爱德华。 来自英汉文学 - 败坏赫德莱堡
• All ideas of stopping holes and hemming in the German intruders are vicious. 一切想要堵塞缺口和围困德国侵略军的办法都是错误的。

4 insistent   

adj.迫切的，坚持的

参考例句：

• There was an insistent knock on my door.我听到一阵急促的敲门声。
• He is most insistent on this point.他在这点上很坚持。

5 pushy   

adj.固执己见的，一意孤行的

参考例句：

• But she insisted and was very pushy.但她一直坚持,而且很急于求成。
• He made himself unpopular by being so pushy.他特别喜欢出风头，所以人缘不好。

6 deferential   

adj. 敬意的，恭敬的

参考例句：

• They like five-star hotels and deferential treatment.他们喜欢五星级的宾馆和毕恭毕敬的接待。
• I am deferential and respectful in the presence of artists.我一向恭敬、尊重艺术家。