我们再听个例子来领会call sb. on the carpet这个习惯用语的确切意思吧。这位先生要告诉我们有关同事Joe的事,Joe是公司最优秀的推销员,但是最近却老是迟到早退。于是公司经理 Mr. Lee决定必须对Joe的懒散采取措施了。我们听听发生了什么:
例句-1:Mr. Lee finally called Joe on the carpet. He told him he was a good salesman but he had to start working a full eight hours a day like everybody else. If he didn't, then the company would have to let him go and get someone else.
Mr. Lee终于把Joe叫来训斥了一顿。他说Joe是个出色的推销员,但是Joe必须改过自新,和大家一样每天工作八小时整,否则公司就会解雇他,另聘他人。
从这段话看出Mr. Lee给Joe下了最后通牒:你要是不改迟到早退的毛病,就不得不把你解雇了。所以这里的 call sb. on the carpet意思是斥责某人的错误缺点。
今天要学的第二个习惯用语是:call the tune。Tune是曲调,call the tune这个习惯用语出现在两百多年前,其实它来自另一个习惯说法:He who pays the piper calls the tune. He who pays the piper calls the tune. 意思是:谁出钱给吹笛子的乐师,谁就可以点曲子。换句话说call the tune就是“说了算”,“有权作主”意思。
我们听个例子,这段话说的是一个家族拥有的公司。这家公司的老总裁发心脏病,不得不退休。我们听听公司因而发生了什么变动,特别注意话里的习惯用语call the tune:
例句-2:When the old man left, his young son got the job. Now he calls the tune and is making a lot of changes. It's too early to tell whether he can really handle the job but so far he's doing just fine.
今天要学的第三个习惯用语是:call it a day是个相当古老的习惯用语,沿用至今已经有一百五十多年了,但是人们仍然常常会用到它。比方说,有人那天工作超过了平日工作的时间,他累了,也可能是觉得已经做得够多的了,于是急于收工。那时候,他就可以说:I can call it a day.
好,我们再听个例子来领会call it a day这个习惯用语的言下之意吧。说话的人开了家小公司,他正跟自己的合作伙伴Mike一起查帐,因为他们知道帐目上有个严重差错,只是不清楚错在什么地方。
现在已经是晚上十点半,他俩却还没吃晚饭。我们听听他跟Mike说什么。请特别注意他话里的习惯用语call it a day:
例句-3:Hey, Mike, look at the clock. It's late, we're hungry, and my eyes are so tired I can hardly see the numbers. Let's call it a day and look for the mistake in the morning after we've had a night's sleep.