In this lesson, we're going to get down to business,

在這堂課裡，我們會直接切入正題

knowing some of the idioms used in a professional

了解一些在專業領域中使用的慣用語

context is going to help you to sound more

將有助於

relaxed and natural in the workplace.

在工作場所中聽起來更從容且更自然

And of course, help you to understand what the heck

當然，也能幫助你了解

everyone else is talking about!

到底其他人在說些什麼

So today, I've got five useful idioms for you

所以，今天我準備了五個實用的慣用語

that are commonly used in a professional context

都是經常在專業領域中使用的

- a business context.

商業領域

And that means they're perfect and fantastic to use

這代表

in an interview as well, so stay tuned!

在面試中也能使用，所以請繼續收看

Now I always tell my students one of the best ways

我總是跟我的學生說

to learn and remember English idioms

學習和記憶英文慣用語最好的方式就是

is to link them to a memory or an experience in your life.

將慣用語和人生經驗或記憶連結

That way, when you think about the idiom

用這種方式，當你想起某個慣用語

or you hear it somewhere

或是在哪裡聽到

you connect it with the personal moment in your life

就能與生活中的個人經驗

and experience.

做連結

And when you think about the experience, it helps you to

而且當你想起某個經驗時

think about the idiom as well.

也能幫助你想起慣用語

Now you don't have to learn and remember

你不必學習和記得

every idiom in English, but you should learn

每一個英文慣用語，但是你應該學習

some common ones that you can actually use

一些常用的

to talk about your life.

可以實際用來敘述生活的慣用語

I'm going to tell you a story.

我要說個故事

My first job out of university

我畢業後的第一份工作是

was with a huge corporate company.

在一間大公司裡

I was an intern.

我是個實習生

I thought it was going to be photocopying and stapling

我原本認為就是影印和將文件裝釘起來

and getting cups of tea for my boss.

以及替老闆倒茶

But at the time that I started,

但是當我進公司時

my department was really understaffed.

我的部門人手非常不足

They just didn't have enough people to manage

沒有足夠的人力

the workload.

去負擔工作量

So I really got thrown in the deep end.

所以我真的陷入意料之外的困境

Within weeks of starting, I was writing reports and I was

幾個禮拜內，我寫報告

making presentations to the management team

向管理部門做簡報

which was kind of cool but a bit scary.

雖然蠻酷的，但是也有點嚇人

So in this idiom, the 'deep end' is referring to

這個慣用語 「deep end」

the deepest part of a swimming pool

通常與雙腳無法碰觸地面的

where often your feet can't touch the ground.

泳池最深處有關

So if someone throws you or pushes you into the pool,

假設有人將你推下或丟進泳池

that's a bit of a shock, isn't it?

是有點可怕的，不是嗎？

You can't feel the ground.

你感覺不到地面

So you're thrown in the deep end when you're

所以當你毫無預警地

put into a new or a difficult situation

進入全新且困難的情況

without any preparation.

你就陷入意料之外的艱難處境

And this often happens in the workplace, doesn't it?

這時常在工作領域發生，不是嗎？

Sarah's been so stressed lately. She started a new job

莎拉最近覺得壓力很大，她上個月開始新工作

last month, but they've really thrown her in the deep end.

但是真的讓她陷入意料之外的困境

I'm not afraid of being thrown in the deep end.

我不怕陷入意料之外的困境

I think it's the best way to learn!

我覺得這是學習最棒的方式

Now I don't want to throw you in the deep end

我不想讓妳在第一天

on your first day, but

就陷入意料之外的困境

do you think you could make a presentation to the CEO

但是你覺得你有辦法在周末前

by the end of the week?

向執行長做報告嗎？

A similar idiom is to be 'out of one's depth'

類似的慣用語是「out of one's depth」

and it has a similar meaning because it's an

具有類似的意思

uncomfortable place.

正因為也是個令人不自在的環境

Again,

再次想想

thinking about the deep end of your swimming pool,

泳池最深處

your feet can't touch the ground and you have to swim

雙腳無法觸及地面

to keep yourself alive, right?

而且你必須游泳來活命，對吧？

My brother loves the company that he works for

我哥哥很喜歡他所待的這家公司

but he feels a little out of his depth in the finance team.

但是他覺得在財務團隊裡有些無法勝任工作

Now when you start a new job, maybe a new role or a

當你開始一份新工作時

position in your company

可能是在公司裡新的角色或職位

or you start working for a new company,

或是換新公司

it usually takes some time to learn the ropes.

通常需要花點時間去熟悉情況

So this means to learn the basic tasks

意思是學習基本工作

that allow you to do your job well and efficiently.

讓你有效率地完成工作

You know, like how to use the photocopier,

像是，如何使用影印機

how to use the company's email system,

如何使用公司信箱系統

who to call if your computer won't start,

如果電腦沒開啟，知道是誰來電

who you report to

向誰報告

and which meetings you need to attend

以及哪種會議你必須參加

all of the simple things

當你開始新工作時

take a week or two to get used to

所有簡單的事情

when you start a new job.

都需要花一至兩週去習慣

How's the new job?

新工作如何？

It's going well! I'm still learning the ropes,

很棒！我還在學做基本工作

but my colleagues are really great.

但是我的同事人都很好

You'll also hear people say

你也會聽到其他人說

"I'll show you the ropes"

「我會指導你」

which means that they'll show you how things

代表他們會告訴你事情怎麼做

are done, the standard, normal way that things are done.

標準且普遍的方式去完成

So note that if a person has been working at their job

注意，如果一個人已經工作超過一個月

for over a month, this idiom isn't really relevant anymore

這個慣用語就不再適用

because they've already learnt the basic tasks

因為他們已經學到

they need to do their job.

所需的工作基本技能

Now, once you've had your job for a while,

一旦你已經工作一段時間

it might be time to focus on

也許是時候專注在

climbing the corporate ladder.

升遷

So this idiom talks about the progression of roles

這個慣用語說的是

through a career,

職位的升遷

starting with an entry-level job, an internship

從初級工作開始

or a position straight out of university.

實習階級或是剛畢業拿到的職位

But over the years, you get promotions,

但是過了幾年，你升遷了

you switch companies,

轉換跑道

you become known in your industry,

你在工作領域內被別人熟知

you work your way up to better and better opportunities.

你努力工作來得到更好的機會

You get paid more, you have more responsibilities,

你得到加薪，負擔更多責任

you'll be a manager and then one day

你會變成經理

maybe even the CEO!

或許某天甚至變成執行長

So this progression is called

這種發展稱作

'climbing the corporate ladder'

升遷

Tim climbed the corporate ladder quickly.

提姆升遷地很快

He became a partner at the company

在 26 歲前

by the time he was 26.

他就已經是公司的合夥人了

But James has never been

但是詹姆士

interested in climbing the corporate ladder.

對升遷絲毫不感興趣

I feel inspired by women who climb the corporate ladder

我被得到升遷且

and raise a family at the same time.

同時賺錢養家的女性所激勵

Amazing!

太厲害了！

People who think outside the box are usually

打破常規的人通常是

pretty valuable employees

相當重要的員工

because they think creatively and they solve problems

因為他們創新思考

in non-standard ways.

而且用非標準的方式解決問題

So they think outside or beyond the normal

所以他們跳脫

or standard way of thinking which often leads

正規或標準的思考模式

to really interesting, creative solutions to problems.

而這通常帶來非常有趣且創新的解決方法

We need to think outside the box

我們必須跳脫傳統思維

and find a different solution.

並且發現不同的解決方法

Steve's probably the most creative guy on the team

史蒂夫大概是隊裡最具有創造力的人

- he's always thinking outside the box.

他總是跳脫傳統思維

Now in Australia, you'll often hear this expression as

在澳洲，經常會聽到這個俚語

'thinking outside the square'

「thinking outside the square」

It's the same thing.

這是一樣的意思

Are you the type of person

你是那種

who thinks outside the square?

創新思考的人嗎？

Last one, a 'steep learning curve'.

最後一個，獲得熟練技巧的進步過程

Now this is a brilliant idiom to use

在工作面試中

during a job interview

這是很好用的慣用語

- so was the last one actually -

上一個其實也很好用

but this one is a brilliant idiom to use

但是在面試或口說考試

during an interview or a speaking exam.

這是很好用的慣用語

So use it when you're reflecting or thinking about some

當你在回答或思考

of the challenges that you've overcome in the past.

曾經克服過的挑戰時就可以使用

So it could be relating to work or even life experiences.

可以跟工作或是生活經驗有關

So it's used when someone has to learn something

當某人必須快速學會某件事時使用

really quickly, usually just by giving it a shot,

通常只是試一試

by doing their best and then

盡最大的努力

learning from their mistakes.

然後從錯誤中學習

So using this idiom to describe an experience

用這個慣用語去描述你過往經驗

that you've had helps to show that you're not afraid

有助於顯示出你不怕

of hard work or challenges and that you're willing

困難的工作或挑戰

to build new skills and overcome problems.

而且願意學習新技能並克服問題

So it's a really handy one to have!

所以這真是一個非常方便使用的慣用語

For many international students,

對許多國際學生而言

studying in an English-speaking country can be a

在講英文的國家學習

steep learning curve.

會是個要快速適應的事情

Going from employee to business owner

對我來說，從員工變老闆是

was a really steep learning curve for me!

需要短時間內掌握大量新技能的事

It's still steep actually, I'm only about here!

其實現在還在學習，我目前只到這邊而已

So that's it! Six new business idioms for you.

就是這樣！六句新的商業慣用語

I'm sure that you can think of some others as well

我確信你也可以想到其他

that relate to jobs and business.

有關工作或商業的慣用語

So if you can, pop them in the comments below

所以如果你可以，在下面留言

and share them with everyone.

與所有人分享

And of course, I always, always love to see you

當然，我一直以來都很樂見你們

actually using the English that I teach you.

確實使用我教的英文

So take a moment right now

所以，花點時間

to write a sentence using one of the idioms

使用今天學到的其中一個慣用語

that you've learned today and add it to the comments.

寫句子並留言

I'll check it for you but you'll also get to see

我會幫你檢查，你也能

how the idioms are being used in lots of different

從同學們的句子裡了解

examples from all of your peers.

這些慣用語不同的使用時機

Once you do that, then come over here,

一旦你嘗試過後，過來這邊

keep practising with me. Try out this lesson here

繼續跟我一起練習，試試看這堂課

or maybe even that one.

或是這堂

Make sure you subscribe if you haven't

如果還沒訂閱，記得訂閱

already subscribed, you'll get a new lesson

每周

every single week.

都有新課程

Bye for now!

再見