我先生昨天跟我說,他有個同事叫Gladys, 最近一直討好老板,為什么呢,讓我們聽聽看。
例句-1:Ever since Gladys got put on the night shift, she's been cozying up to the boss. By baking him cookies and showering him with compliments, she's trying to get him to switch her back to the day shift. We'll see if her efforts have any influence on him.
他說:自從格雷蒂斯開始上夜班以來,她就一直在討好老板,不是烤餅干,就是拍馬屁,她希望老板能把自己調(diào)回去上白班。格雷蒂斯能成功嗎,我們等著看吧。
我也有個特別會拍馬屁的同事,動不動就跑到老板的辦公室里,稱贊老板多有領(lǐng)導(dǎo)能力,今天的衣服穿得多么得體。He cozied up to her all the time. 在英語里,我們說這種人是bootlicker, 舔靴子的人,馬屁精。
我女兒班上,有一位家長,特別喜cozy up to the teachers, 她在百貨公司工作,動不動就主動幫老師買便宜貨,就是為了老師對自己的孩子好一些。這就叫可憐天下父母心。
******
在美國,房地產(chǎn)開發(fā)商是很賺錢的買賣,他們是怎么運作的呢?我們來聽聽下面這個記者是怎么說的。
例句-2:The Smith Development Company is so predictable. Once it discovers farmland that could be turned into new housing, it cozies up to local politicians. With the access it gains, building plans are soon approved. Before long, construction crews are busy at work!
這個記者說:史密斯開發(fā)公司一貫的做法是,一旦發(fā)現(xiàn)可以用來開發(fā)房地產(chǎn)的農(nóng)田,就去跟當(dāng)?shù)氐恼吞捉酢8突焓旌?,土地開發(fā)計劃很快就能得到批準(zhǔn),用不了多久,工地就開工了。
也許商界和政界的關(guān)系本來就是如此。政府的很多決定恐怕都是由幕后這些利益集團(tuán)推動的。They cozy up to the politicians to get what they want.