ESL Podcast 296 – Bad Manners at a Business Lunch

Yolanda: I will never invite George to another business lunch with clients again!

Sunan: Why, what happened?

Yolanda: George has the worst manners of anyone I know. First of all, he was ten minutes late. And as soon as he sat down, his cell phone rang and he answered it!

Sunan: Maybe it was an important call?

Yolanda: From his girlfriend? It was completely unprofessional.

Sunan: I know George is a little rough around the edges, but he’s not that bad.

Yolanda: You don’t think so? After I introduced him to the clients, he told them that he had been up late the previous night, because one of our other account representatives didn’t finish her proposal and he had to complete it. Everyone knows not to air their company’s dirty laundry in public, especially in front of clients.

Sunan: Okay, that was a blunder¹. Normally, George isn’t so clueless. I wonder if he was distracted².

Yolanda: I don’t buy that as an excuse. And here’s the kicker: He ordered two drinks during lunch! If that weren’t bad enough, when he ordered his second one, he jokingly thanked the clients for paying for lunch. Of course our company was picking up the tab since we invited them! I was mortified³.

Sunan: I’ll admit that that was bad, very bad. Are you going to have a talk with George?

Yolanda: I will as soon as I calm down a little. I’m seeing red right now.

Sunan: Then waiting a little while is a good idea. I’d better go warn George...


Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

1 blunder   

n.错误；vi.跌跌撞撞地走，慌乱地走，犯错误

参考例句：

• I saw that I had been guilty of a careless blunder.我意识到自己因疏忽而酿成大错。
• He has made a terrible blunder.他铸成大错。

2 distracted   

a.注意力分散的，思想不集中的

参考例句：

• When working, one should concentrate and not allow oneself to be distracted. 工作时要集中精力，不要分心。
• Noise outside distracted her mind from her studies. 门外的噪音使她心神不宁，无法集中注意力学习。

3 mortified   

v.使受辱( mortify的过去式和过去分词 )；伤害（人的感情）；克制；抑制（肉体、情感等）

参考例句：

• She was mortified to realize he had heard every word she said. 她意识到自己的每句话都被他听到了，直羞得无地自容。
• The knowledge of future evils mortified the present felicities. 对未来苦难的了解压抑了目前的喜悦。 来自《简明英汉词典》