商务英语情景口语100主题011

011 The working lunch

Dialogue 1

A: Excuse me, Don? I hate to bother you, but I need your help on something. Do you have time to brief me on the Martin account today?

B: Oh, that's right. You are supposed to deliver a brief on that account tomorrow. I know there are some things I need to share with you about that. But, gosh, I don't know.... Things are really busy for me today, the only time I can manage to squeeze out might be over lunch break....

A: I hate to make you work through your lunch break with how busy you are....

B: It's okay.... I've already had several days in a row working through lunch....

A: How about this.... We can make it a working lunch this afternoon, and I'll order some Chinese food for delivery. It'll be my treat.

B: You don't have to do that....

A: I insist. I really appreciate you taking time to work with me in. What is your favorite fast food? I'll cater¹ to your taste.

B: Actually I do like Chinese.... Let's make it a date for Chop Suey and the Martin account at about 12:30. Does that sound good?

A: Great. I'll bring the food.

Dialogue 2

A: For our lunch meeting with the investors², do we have to make a reservation at the restaurant or do we just show up?

B: Usually for lunch, we don't have to reserve a table, they should allow walk-ins. But to be on the safe side, I'll order a table for half-past twelve. Will that suit your schedule?

A: I've arranged to meet them at the restaurant at twelve. Can you make the reservation a little earlier? If we start earlier, it will give us more time for a longer lunch.

B: Are you planning on treating the investors to a full-course meal?

A: Yes, we'll start with appetizers³, follow with a soup and salad course, then main dishes of prime rib⁴ or cordon⁵ bleu chicken, and finish up with a delicious rich dessert of some sort.

B: That'll be pretty heavy for a mid-day meal, don't you think?

A: As along as we stay away from anything alcoholic⁶, we should be okay.

B: With your prime rib and chicken choices, you'd better hope nobody's vegetarian⁷.

A: We can make some special arrangement if we need to. After all, it's the company who is footing the bill.

1 cater   

vi.(for/to)满足，迎合；(for)提供饮食及服务

参考例句：

• I expect he will be able to cater for your particular needs.我预计他能满足你的特殊需要。
• Most schools cater for children of different abilities.大多数学校能够满足具有不同天资的儿童的需要。

2 investors   

n.投资者，出资者( investor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
• a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会

3 appetizers   

n.开胃品( appetizer的名词复数 )；促进食欲的活动；刺激欲望的东西；吊胃口的东西

参考例句：

• Here is the egg drop and appetizers to follow. 这是您要的蛋花汤和开胃品。 来自互联网
• Would you like appetizers or a salad to go with that? 你要不要小菜或色拉？ 来自互联网

4 rib   

n.肋骨，肋状物

参考例句：

• He broke a rib when he fell off his horse.他从马上摔下来折断了一根肋骨。
• He has broken a rib and the doctor has strapped it up.他断了一根肋骨，医生已包扎好了。

5 cordon   

n.警戒线，哨兵线

参考例句：

• Police officers threw a cordon around his car to protect him.警察在他汽车周围设置了防卫圈以保护他。
• There is a tight security cordon around the area.这一地区周围设有严密的安全警戒圈。

6 alcoholic   

adj.（含）酒精的，由酒精引起的；n.酗酒者

参考例句：

• The alcoholic strength of brandy far exceeds that of wine.白兰地的酒精浓度远远超过葡萄酒。
• Alcoholic drinks act as a poison to a child.酒精饮料对小孩犹如毒药。

7 vegetarian   

n.素食者；adj.素食的

参考例句：

• She got used gradually to the vegetarian diet.她逐渐习惯吃素食。
• I didn't realize you were a vegetarian.我不知道你是个素食者。