身临其境练一练

本段对话选自Drop Dead Diva,《丑女上错身》

Kim:All right, what do you want me to do, Jane?

金:好，你要我怎么做，简？

Jane:I admit you were right.

简:我承认你是对的。

We're not gonna win this based on the law or my feelings.

我们没办法用我的感受或是法律来赢。

Kim:Good. At least we agree on that.

金:很好，我们意见相同。

Jane:But Parker said we have to think outside the box.

简:但帕克说要创新思维。

Kim:Right.

金:没错。

Jane:The designer claimed that he has a contract with the company allowing him to design whatever he wants,

简:设计师说他和公司有合约给他完全的创作自由，

but what if we could show that the contract was counter to the company's best interests?

但是，如果我们证明那合约有违公司最大利益呢?

Kim:I don't think I follow.

我没听懂。

Jane:PDQ is owned by investors.

简:PDQ需要投资人投资。

Management has a responsibility to maximize profits, right?

管理阶层有义务创造最大营收，对吧？

Kim:You want me to argue that their business practices are suboptimal?

金:你要我把论点放在盈利策略不够理想？

Jane:Yeah, why not? We amend our complaint and push on.

简:对啊，试试看，我们可以修改控告，再上诉。

Kim:The plaintiff would like to call a rebuttal witness…

金:原告一方想声请传唤反驳证人…

Warren Gunther, the largest shareholder in PDQ.

沃伦冈瑟，PDQ最大股东。

职场美语

They sent us two boxes less of cargos.Shall we ask them for compensation?

他们少发了两箱货物给我们，我们要不要他们索赔？

Of course,company's interest is the best policy.

当然，公司利益至上。

What's the foundation of your negotiation skills?

你谈判技巧的根本是什么?

Company's interest is the best policy.

公司利益至上。

重点讲解

Company's interest is the most important.

Company's interest is the best policy.

Policy本义为“方针，政策”，不过在company's interest is the best policy.这句习语中取的是它的比喻义，即“原则”，所以这句俚语的意思就是“公司利益是最重要的”，也可理解为“公司利益至上；以公司利益为本”。