Jessica: Hi, Qiong Yan! I heard there was a riot in your office...
QY: Riot? 哈哈,沒那么嚴重,其實就是我們這些小白領一塊兒找經理談判,要求漲工資!
Jessica: And did you get the raise?
QY: Yes! I didn't expect management to give in,不過我們的談判代表是一個特別能說會道的人,我估計,經理是被他侃暈啦! 哈哈! 對了,在美語中要怎么形容一個人能說會道呢?
Jessica: You can say someone has a silver tongue, or someone is silver-tongued. It means a person can clearly and effectively express himself and convince other people.
QY: I see. So, thanks to my silver-tongued co-worker, we got the raise!
Jessica: Congratulations!
QY: 其實,仔細想想,這次也不全是因為這個同事能說會道。經理以前老說大家工作努力,應該漲工資,可都是光說不練! 所以他這次也自覺理虧!
Jessica: So he'd been paying lip service to you!
QY: Pay lip service? Lip 不是嘴唇么?我知道了,pay lip service 就是用空話安撫別人,對么?
Jessica: That's right. Managers at your company must have said how much they appreciated all your hard work, but if they're really impressed by what you've done, they should have given you a raise already! Their insincere appreciation is lip service.
QY: 沒錯! 以前經理還老說公司財政緊張,所以大家都應該支持公司,暫時不要漲工資,可我聽說,他自己的工資漲得可帶勁了!
Jessica: Ah! This is a textbook example of "talk the talk, but not walk the walk." 說一套,做一套。
QY: 真氣人,If they talk the talk, they should walk the walk! 怎么能搞雙重標準呢?
Jessica: Well, I'm just happy you guys got what you wanted. You should be proud of yourselves!
QY: 今天我們學了,形容一個人能說會道,用silver tongue;
說空話是pay lip service;
說一套,做一套是talk the talk, but not walk the walk.