Peter: Bob, I hate to break the news, but our sales were down again last month.
(to) break the news--- to make something known;
告知
Peter: Yeah. These days, everybody is shopping at our competition, Honest Abe’s Furniture Store.
Bob: But everything there costs an arm and a leg.
(to) cost an arm and a leg---to be very expensive;
宰人，代价过高
A college education in America costs an arm and a leg.
大学教育在美国很昂贵。
Peter: That’s true. They do charge top dollar.
top dollar --- pay/earn/charge a lot of money
大价钱
Bob: And their sales people are very strange. They really give me the creeps!
(to) give sb. the creeps---to create a feeling of disgust or horror;
吓人，使惊慌，使人毛骨悚然
Eg. This old house gives me the creeps.
这栋旧房子让我毛骨悚然。
Peter: Well, they must be doing something right over there. Meanwhile, we are about to
go belly-up.
about to---ready to; on the verge of;
马上就要，即将
We are about to start.
我们正准备出发。
(to) go belly-up---to go bankrupt;
破产
Bob: I am sorry to hear that. I thought my new advertising campaign would save the day!
(to) save the day---to prevent a disaster or misfortune;
反败为胜;挽救了大局，扭转局势
Peter: Let’s face it: your advertising campaign was a real flop!
(let’s) face it----accept a difficult reality;
面对现实吧
real flop or flop---a failure;
失败
Bob: Well then I’ll go back to the drawing board.
(to) go back to the drawing board---to start a task over because the last try failed; to start again from the beginning;
从头开始(尤指失败之后)
Peter: It’s too late for that. you are fired!
Bob: What? You’re giving me the ax??
(to) give someone the ax---to fire someone;
解雇某人
Peter: Yes, I’ve already found a new manager. She’s as sharp as a tack.
as sharp as a tack---very intelligent;
Bob: Can’t we even talk this over? After all, I’ve been working here for ten years!
(to) talk over---to discuss;
讨论
After all---despite everything; after everything has been considered; the fact is;
毕竟，怎么说
I'll have to go to my aunt's funeral---she was my own flesh and blood after all.
我得参加我姑姑的葬礼－－她是我的亲人那。
Peter: There’s no point in arguing, Bob. I’ve already made up my mind.
no point in----no reason to; it’s not worth (doing sth);
没有意义，不值得
Eg. There’s no point in worrying about things you can’t change.
担心自己无法改变的事情是没有意义的。
(to) make up one’s mind---to reach a decision; to decide;
决定，打定主意
Bob: Oh well, at least I don’t have to put up with your nonsense any more! Good-bye to you and good-bye to this dead-end job!
At least---anyway; the good thing is that;
至少
We’ve run out of coffee, but at least we still have tea.
我们的咖啡已经喝完了，但至少我们还有茶
(to) put up with---to endure without complaint;忍受
dead-end job---a job that won’t lead to anything else;
无前途或无希望的工作
Peter: Please leave before I lose my temper!
(to) lose one’s temper---to become very angry;
发火
