ESL Podcast 784 – Socializing With Clients

Georgia: Do you know what the best part is of my new promotion? The expense account! I can’t wait to wine and dine our clients. 

Dan: The purpose of the expense account is to win over new clients and to keep our current clients happy. It’s not a personal slush fund, you know. 

Georgia: I know. The point is to network and to build client relationships – blah-blah-blah. 

Dan: Schmoozing is part of our job and it’s not something to be taken lightly. 

Georgia: Of course not. But I’m looking forward to attending charity events to rub elbows with the business elite. Free food, free booze, and free entertainment.What more could I ask for? 

Dan: Talk to me in three months after you’ve had a few too many plates of rubber chicken! 




http://www.eslpod.com/website/show_podcast.php?issue_id=11842315


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dine

進餐, 用餐

She told me she would have to dine with Helen that night. 她告訴我那夜她必須與海倫一起進餐。

to win over

說服

He disagrees, but we can win him over to our point of view. 他不同意, 可是我們能說服他贊同我們的看法。

slush fund

【美】賄賂款; 行賄基金

Nixon used a slush fund to finance spying on the Democrats. 尼克森用行賄基金支付監視民主黨活動的款項。

schmoozing
【俚】閒聊; 談天說地


to be taken lightly
看輕，不認真


rub

1. 擦, 磨擦; 使相擦[(+against/on)]
   The cat rubbed its back against my leg. 貓用背擦我的腿。
2. 用...擦, 擦上[O][(+on/over/into)]
   He rubbed himself with a towel after the cold shower. 他冷水淋浴後用毛巾擦身。
3. 把...磨擦得[O][O8]
4. 觸痛, 惹怒
   His rough manner rubbed her. 他粗野的舉止惹惱了她。
5. 摹拓

elbows

1. 肘; (衣服的)肘部
2. 肘狀物; (路, 河等的)急彎; 彎頭; 彎管
3. (椅子等的)扶手

vt. 及物動詞

1. 用肘推, 擠進[O]
   He elbowed his way over to where we stood. 他向我們站的地方擠了過來。

vi. 不及物動詞

1. 用肘擠著前進[Q]

elite
精華; 精英; 優秀分子


booze

1. 酒; 含有酒精的飲料[U]
   a bottle of booze 一瓶酒
2. 酒宴, 酒會[C]

vi. 不及物動詞

1. 【口】暴飲, 痛飲
   He's out boozing with his friends. 他出去與朋友狂飲了。

a few too many
「少少都嫌多」/「一次也嫌多」即是說「少少或一次也不應該」：例如談論一個人的誠信或人格的角度來說講大話是一次/少少也是錯的。Lying is a few too many.


rubber chicken 
政治飯局
The phrase is also used as a description for food served at speeches, conventions, and other large meetings, and as a metaphor for speechmaking.