美语故事

Marsha is an eager beaver and works like a mule.
玛莎做事很给力，踏实肯干不惜力。
【Andrew's Note】
I already explained that beavers are industrious, but even beavers can't hold a candle to the mule. The mule is big, strong, and completely single-minded in his work. Mules cannot have baby mules, so their only purpose in life is to work, work, and work some more.
我已经解释过：海狸是勤奋的，但却不能和骡子相提并论。骡子个头大、身体壮，对工作一心一意。骡子不能生小骡儿，所以生活的唯一目标就是工作、工作、再工作。
[1] Marsha was soon appointed manager of the marketing department, in charge of 38 people all told. Quite a few old-timerscouldn't make head or tail of how such a newcomer could win the favor of the general manager and climb up the ladder so fast, getting the upper hand of all of them. In private, some even went so far as to fling mud ather, saying she tried to ingratiate herself withthe general manager using her feminine charms. Anyhow, she never took their loose talk to heart and let people circulate whatever rumors they pleased.
[2] Young as she was, she knew the way around, hitting it off with not only the general manager but also rank-and-filers（普通成员, 一般人员）in the company. But she didn't flatter herself and get on her high horse，never even making it hot for those who had gossiped about her.
When a problem appeared, she just talked with the individuals concerned with an open heart. When faced with an embarrassing situation, she always let the person down gently（委婉待人；给人留面子；）. She was even-tempered（镇定的, 冷静的）and fair with everyone. Thus, she won respect from all around her and everything went swimmingly.
[3] Now everyone knew she had risen through the ranksbecause of her talent and keeping her nose to the grindstone. When errors cropped up, she kept her cool and never passed the buck toothers. She worked her way intogreat success. Of course, the praise spread all over: Marsha is an eager beaver and works like a mule.
【参考译文】
[1] 玛莎很快被任命为市场部经理，负责管理38个人。一些老资格的人搞不明白为什么这个新手赢得了经理的宠信，而且爬得这么快，占尽了风头。 私下里，有些人竟然恶意中伤，说她试图施展女性魅力来讨好总经理。然而，她从来就不把这些闲言碎语放在心上，任凭人们怎么高兴就怎么造谣。
[2] 虽然年轻，可她却精于世道，不仅和总经理相处融洽，和公司里的普通员工也和和睦睦。不过她不沾沾自喜，盛气凌人，甚至也不为难那些曾经说过她闲话的人。一旦出现问题，她和相关人员开诚布公地谈。遇上尴尬局面，她总是就给人留足面子。她镇定自如，待人公正。因而赢得了大家的尊重，一切也都进展得很顺利。
[3] 现在，大家都知道，她之所以能平步青云，是她才华出众，工作刻苦认真。出现差错了， 她就冷静下来，从来不推委责任。她工作兢兢业业，因而取得了成功。当然到处都能听到对她的赞美之词：玛莎做事很给力，踏实肯干不惜力。

指点迷津

1.work like a mule:to work extraordinarily hard　工作非常卖力气
The doctor worked like a mule to help the dying patient pull through. Her life was saved because his herbal medicine worked like a charm.
大夫费了九牛二虎之力，把那个病入膏肓的病人救活了。因为他开的草药效验如神，药到病除。
2.old-timer:[口]老资格的人, 老前辈, 旧式的人
The old-timers take objection to modern music, such as rap, rock'n'roll, and heavy metal.
上年纪的人对现代音乐像说唱、摇滚音乐和重金属摇滚乐等持反对意见。
3.fling mud at sb.:诽谤；中伤
This accusation against Mary was trumped up (捏造) by some dirty guys who racked their brains to fling mud at her.
对玛丽的指责完全是一些下流的家伙捏造出来的，他们挖空心思诽谤她。
4.ingratiate oneself with sb./into sb.'s favor:讨好某人；巴结某人；逢迎
He did his best to ingratiate himself with his employer.
他竭力奉承老板。
5.let the person down gently:委婉待人；给人留面子。
I won't break the bad news all at once. I'll let her down gently. 我不会一下子把坏消息一古脑地倒出去，我会婉转地告诉她。
6.get on (one's) high horse:to be or become disdainful, superior, or conceited　趾高气扬；目空一切；盛气凌人
Tom has a swelled head and likes to get on his high horse, treating others like dirt.
汤姆夜郎自大，趾高气扬，老把别人看得一文不值。
7.rise through the ranks:to attain an increasingly high position　出类拔萃
The girl is just 17, but she has risen through the ranks of her classmates and is clearly one of our school's top pupils.
这个女孩才刚刚17岁。但在同龄人中，她出类拔萃，很明显是我们学校的高才生。
8.put (one's) nose to the grindstone:to work in earnest　认真地工作
Our employees are all loyal to our boss and put their nose to the grindstone from dawn till dusk, fulfilling their tasks superbly.
我们雇员对老板都忠心耿耿，从早到晚认真地工作，任务都完成得很出色。
9.pass the buck:to shift responsibility or blame to another　推御责任；把责任或责备推给别人
They lack teamwork and are apt to pass the buck once anything goes wrong.
他们缺少团队合作精神，一出问题就爱互相推卸责任。
10.work one's way into:兢兢业业地达成
The newcomer is down to the earth at work, and worked her way into a good position.
这位新来者脚踏实地、兢兢业业地工作，谋取了好职位。