It may sometimes be a scramble to find a socket to juice up your dying gadgetry, but the "first come, first served" rule stands fast in this area. You must never unplug another device that's on charge without first checking that it's okay to do so.
Always, always, always ask — and if you can't find device's owner, then walk away and find another outlet. For all you know, the gadget's owner might be about to head into a vitally important meeting or call and need all the juice they can get.
Does your company allows its employees to work with headphones on? Plugging into music can be agreat way to concentrate and block out the noise and distractions of a busy work environment, but be sure to take them off every time you leave your seat. Even if you want to try and maintain your level of concentration, don't be tempted to wear headphones in communal areas, it can be perceived as anti-social, and downright rude.
It's easy to think all equipment is company property and fair game for use, but this does not extend to computers and laptops. You should never use someone else's PC, even if it is just for a super-quick fact check. Most people are pretty possessive about their PCs and view unauthorized use as an intrusion of their privacy.
Be a good neighbor when it comes to office equipment. If you use the last of the photocopier paper, refill it. Return gadgets fully charged. Put a new pot of coffee on if you have the last cup. Report inevitable printer errors to someone who can fix the issue. Don't walk away from an issue, even if you're mega-busy and think no one noticed that you were the last person to use it.
Even if it's office policy to allow personal calls on your mobile phone, we strongly suggest switching your phone to silent every single time you enter the office. You may only get personal calls on occasion, but you can bet the times you do either someone important will be walking past or you'll have left your phone unattended at your desk while everyone else hears it ring. Also, your novelty alert tones might amuse you, but can seriously grate on the nerves of nearby colleagues. Don't be that person.
While it's commonplace to take your laptop into meetings, try and be disciplined about what you do with it. Although it's tempting to carry on working, check mail, IM or even browse during meetings, you should limit this kind of activity out of politeness. If no one can see your screen, you may think that tapping away on the keyboard could be interpreted as taking notes, but it will be fairly obvious to anyone else present that your attention is away from the room.
Instant messaging is a really useful tool, but it's easy to misuse and this can be a real source of annoyance. We'd hope it goes without saying to respect someone's "busy" status, but there are other issues to consider too. Only inter-office IM someone with a query that can be resolved within a few brief responses. If the conversation is going to be longer than that, get up and speak to them in person or pick up the phone.
Finally, this may seem like a small thing to pick up on, but we promise you it's a huge source of annoyance for many. Don't be a screen smearer. We're obviously not talking about touch screens here, but monitors and laptop displays. Some people really dislike it when you put fingerprints on their screens. While it's easy to do if you're trying to make a point or explain something, try not to touch other people's screens and definitely don't touch any screen if you've got dirty fingers.
一位美国客户来到Catherine的办公室洽谈业务,该客户非常友好,业务谈得很成功。事毕,美国客户谢绝了Catherine的午饭邀请,起身要走,Catherine站起身来,欲送他出办公室,客户摇摇手说:I will see myself out, please.
【我的小喇叭】
I will see myself out, please.请留步,不用送了。
see这个词我们都很熟悉,我们还学过它的一个习语see sb. off,意为“送别某人”;今天我们学的这个see sb. out意思是“送某人出门”。这些习语的意思都是固定的,不能根据字面意思而误解为“看着某人出门”。因此平时需要多积累,并付诸应用,这样才能将知识消化,为我所用。
【英语情景剧】
Jane: It's very late. I have to go home now.
简:现在很晚了,我得回家了。
Shirley: OK, let me see you out.
雪莉:好吧,那我送你出去。
Jane: Well, I'll see myself out, thank you.
简:哦,谢谢,请留步。
【情景再现】
Tom最近他经常陪一名美国同事参加商务会议,可他还和平常一样,随便穿一件休闲衣就赶去参加会议,完全没有一个职业经理人的样子。一天,参加完会议,美国同事提议他去商场买套西装,而Tom不以为然,这位同事就说:You know that chothes make the man.
【我的小喇叭】
Clothes make the man. 人靠衣装。
我们经常说“人靠衣装,马靠鞍”,这句话的对应英文就是Clothes make the man.值得注意的是这里的make的用法,它在此意为“有利于……的发展,创造出,产生”,例如:Practice makes a winning team.勤加训练必有助于球队获得胜利。所以clothes make the man这句话的表面意思就是,衣服造就一个真正的男人,引申义就是“人靠衣装”。
【英语情景剧】
Todd: I never wear the formal chothes at work. They make me feel uncomfortable.
托德:我上班从不穿正装,那些衣服让我不舒服。
Shirley: Since you are the manager, I think formal clothes are necessary.After all, clothes make the man.
雪莉:既然你是经理,我觉得正装还是有必要的。毕竟,人靠衣装么。
【情景再现】
Catherine要陪同一位客户四处转转,无奈自己的胃病犯了,但她还是硬撑着陪客户游览各地,吃遍各地名吃。客户走后,她的胃病加重了,不得不住进了医院。亲戚朋友来看她时都说她不该苦着自己的',Catherine谢了怕大家的关心,然后说:I don't want to leave a bitter taste in his mouth.
【我的小喇叭】
I don't want to leave a bitter taste in his mouth.我不想给他留下不愉快的回忆。
leave a bitter taste in one's mouth这个俚语的表面意思是“在某人嘴里留下苦味”,引申义就是“给某人留下不好的回忆或印象”。bitter是形容词,意为“有苦味的,令人不快的”,通常用来形容令人难受的经历或事件,例如:They learned a bitter lesson.他们接受了惨痛的教训。
【英语情景剧】
Todd: You don't need to do that at the expense of your health.
托德:你没必要以健康为代价去做那件事。
Shirley: Well, I don't want to leave a bitter taste in his mouth.
雪莉:哎,我不想给他留下不愉快的回忆。
【情景再现】
最近Catherine的一位同事很器重他的一位下属,据说那位下属以前工作不很积极,领导还曾打算辞了他。可今天那位同事还提拔了那位下属。Catherine和同事谈起这件事时,同事说:He scored a bull's eye with his last assignment.
【我的小喇叭】
He scored a bull's eye with his last assignment.上次任务他完成的太棒了。
bull's eye字面意思是“公牛的眼睛”,引申义为”靶心“;score是动词,意为”进球,得分“,例如:Hughes scored two goals before half-time. 休斯在上半场进了两个球。所以这里score a bull's eye意思就是”正中靶心,恰到好处“,指事情做得跟到位。
【英语情景剧】
Todd: Your colleague Mike was promoted yesterday, why?
托德:你的同事麦克昨天升了职,为什么呢?
Shirley: Yeah, he scored a bull's eye with his last assignment.
雪莉:是啊,上次任务他完成的太棒了。
【情景再现】
Tom在办公室时总是随随便便,乱扔垃圾、衣冠不整不说,当有人坐在他对面时,他还经常把脚跷在椅子上。一次,他的美国同事来他办公室和他讨论工作上的事情时,他依旧把脚放的老高。同事不满地说:Don't prop your feet up.
【我的小喇叭】
Don't prop your feet up.不要把脚跷在椅子上。
在生活中,我们经常会看到有人把脚跷在旁边,或放在前面的椅子上,这是很不礼貌的。prop up表示“支撑”,如果你托着头,我们就可以说:prop your head up。当我要用东西把门撑住,让它不会自动关起来时,我们可以说:prop the door up。所以今天我们学这个短语prop your feet up,表面意思就是“把脚撑起来”,生活中指的就是“把脚放在椅子上”。
【英语情景剧】
Jane: Terry, don't prop your feet up. That's not polite.