英语沙龙

Business English:  SPORTS IDIOMS

INTRODUCTION:  With the Olympics coming up in 2008 many people are thinking about sports.  Many of the words and expressions used in everyday American English come from sports.  This is especially true in American business English.  This is probably true because, for many years, American business was dominated by the male population, and the men are usually big sports fans.  So much of the talk around the water coolers and in the boardrooms was about sports.  Much of the sports talk idioms crept into the business discussions.

Listen or read the following two dialogues in English.  After each dialogue answer the short questions.

Dialogue 1:
Weihong:  Come on Mary Sue, be a team player.  If we don’t finish this project by Friday we’re really going to catch it.

Questions:  1.Where did this dialog probably take place?
        a. In a school library
        b. In an office
        c. On a bus
        d. Possibly in all three places

          2. Who are Weihong and Mary Sue?  Are they
        a. Classmates
        b. Office co-workers
        c.  Brother and sister
        d.  Possibly all three

Answers:  The answer to both questions is d.   Weihong and Mary Sue could be classmates in a library or on a bus talking about a school project.  Weihong and Mary Sue could also be colleagues in an office talking about a work project.   

Dialogue 2:
Jim:  Look Fred, we need your department to play ball with us on this.  The ball is in our court and if we want to have a sporting chance of winning the contract we need everyone to step up to the plate and do their part.
Fred:  Jim, my department can’t take the reductions this would mean.
Jim: Your thinking that you will lose half your staff is way out in left field.  Your estimates of the drain on your department budget are way off base.  Look at these new stats from Elyse.  You know she’s always on the ball and you can trust her work.
Fred:  Hmmmm, these are different.
Jim:  You’ve got us up against the ropes here, Fred.  If you insist on holding out, then I’m afraid we are going to strike out on this bid and if that happens, your department will be to blame.
Fred:  I don’t know, Jim.  Maybe with these new figures…
Jim:  Look, let’s huddle over lunch and work something out.  We’re down to the wire on this.  Come on, Fred; don’t make us throw in the towel.  Step up to the plate and help us to make a full court press and win this bid.
Fred:  OK, Jim.  I’ll look over these new figures.  They do seem to be in the ball park of possibility.  If they’re on target, then maybe there is something we can negotiate.  See you in an hour at Sequoia’s.
Jim:  Thanks, Fred.  With your department in the game, it’ll be a slam dunk.  Hey, with the bonuses we’ll be making, you’ll be able to take that vacation to Shanghai you’ve always wanted.  You’ll be a hit with your wife and in-laws.  See you in an hour.