In this lesson you will learn about the idiom 'cash cow' and how to use it in your conversations.
这节课你会学习到俗语“现金牛”以及在对话中怎样使用这句话。

Explanation:
解释

Jim: Sally, do you know what the idiom 'cash cow' means?
Jim：莎莉，你知道俗语“现金牛”指的是什么吗？
Sally: Yes Jim, a cash cow is a source of easy and continuous profit.
Sally：知道，吉姆，现金牛是一种稳定持续的利润来源。
Jim: Correct. A 'cash cow' may be a product, a business or an organization which needs a very small amount of maintenance cost to run, compared to the huge profit or income it generates.
Jim：正确，“现金牛”可能是个产品，是企业甚至一种组织只需要花极少的维修成本来运转，相比会产生巨大的利润或者收入。
Sally: For example, Windows is the cash cow that made Microsoft a huge company.
Sally：例如，Windows操作系统是使微软成为一个大型公司的现金牛。
Jim: You are right, Sally. Microsoft is making a huge amount of money from the Windows product; it's their cash cow. A cash cow may be anything which is a dependable source of income with its large and steady cash flow.
Jim：对的，莎莉，微软从Windows系列中赚了大笔的钱，这就是它们的现金牛。现金牛可能是通过巨大稳定的现金流带来可观收入的任何东西。
Sally: Here's another example: Mr. Smith's barren piece of land became his cash cow after oil was discovered there.
Sally：还有另一个例子：在发现石油之后，史密斯那块贫瘠的土地变成了他的现金牛。
Jim: Thank you Sally. Let's listen to some conversations now.
Jim:谢谢你，莎莉，现在让我们听些对话。

The Company's New Product
公司新产品

Mark: Suzanne told me that the new product would become a cash cow.
Mark：苏珊娜告诉我这款新产品会变成现金牛。
Ruth: Sure, it's already taking off in the market.
Ruth：当然，它已经在市场中成功了。
Mark: Mr. Brown's ideas are brilliant! He should have been made the CEO years ago.
Mark：布朗先生的想法很有亮点，他本应该几年前被提拔为总经理的。
Ruth: Right! His new idea is the company's new cash cow.
Ruth：是的，他的想法就是公司的现金牛。

What about the Ecosystem?
生态系统呢？

Ruth: The government approved mining in Sparrow Island.
Ruth：政府批准在雀岛进行开发。
Mark: That's a good decision for some people. It'll prove to be a cash cow soon for the people who own the land.
Mark：对于有些人这是个好的决定，这会成为这座岛上居民的现金牛。
Ruth: I doubt that! There's a strong protest against it going on.
Ruth：我表示怀疑，还有人强烈抗议进行开发。
Mark: Yeah, they fear that the mining will destroy the ecosystem.
Mark：是啊，他们担心开发会摧毁那里的生态系统。

The Olympics
奥运会

Ruth: The next Olympics will cost a lot of money to organize.
Ruth：下届奥运会会花很多钱来组织。
Mark: Yeah, but it will be a cash cow for the city that hosts them.
Mark：是的，但这会成为主办城市的现金牛。
Ruth: I'm not so sure. I've heard they cost more to host than they bring in.
Ruth：我不敢太确定，我听说举办的成本会比带来的收入多些。
Mark: Well, at least it will be a cash cow for the merchants in that area.
Mark：好吧，至少它会成为那区域商人的现金牛。
Ruth: Yeah! For them it'll be a real boon!
Ruth：是啊，对于他们将会是真正的福音！