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鲍勃是一家家具店的经理，而他的老板皮特对店里的销售情况不太满意。由于鲍勃新的广告宣传没起到什么作用，所以皮特打算开除他。下面我们来看一下这对"主仆"之间的对话。

Peter: Bob, I hate to break the news, but our sales were down again last month.

Bob: Down again, peter?

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.

Peter: That’s true. They do charge top dollar.

Bob: And their sales people are very strange. They really give me the creeps!

Peter: Well, they must be doing something right over there. Meanwhile, we are about to go belly-up.

Bob: I am sorry to hear that. I thought my new advertising campaign would save the world!

Peter: Let’s face it: your advertising campaign was a real flop!

Bob: Well then I’ll go back to the drawing board.

Peter: It’s too late for that. you are fired!

Bob: What? You’re giving me the ax??

Peter: Yes, I’ve already found a new manager. She’s as sharp as a tack.

Bob: Can’t we even talk this over? After all, I’ve been working here for ten years!

Peter: There’s no point in arguing, Bob. I’ve already made up my mind.

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!

Peter: Please leave before I lose my temper!

重点单词句型
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。

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。

At least---anyway; the good thing is that; 至少
例句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) break the news---to make something known; 告之

(to) cost an arm and a leg---to be very expensive; 宰人，代价过高
例句A college education in America costs an arm and a leg.
大学教育在美国很昂贵。

Dead-end job---a job that won’t lead to anything else; 无前途或无希望的工作

(let’s) face it----accept a difficult reality;面对现实吧

(to) give one the creeps---to create a feeling of disgust or horror;吓人，使惊慌，使人毛骨悚然
This old house gives me the creeps.
这栋旧房子让我毛骨悚然。

(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)

(to) go belly-up---to go bankrupt; 破产

(to) give someone the ax---to fire someone;解雇某人

(to) lose one’s temper---to become very angry; 发火

(to) make up one’s mind---to reach a decision; to decide;决定，打定主意

No point in----no reason to; it’s not worth (doing sth);没有意义，不值得
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) put up with---to endure without complaint;忍受

Real flop or flop---a failure; 失败

(to) save the day---to prevent a disaster or misfortune; 反败为胜;挽救了大局，扭转局势

As sharp as tack---very intelligent;

(to) talk over---to discuss;讨论