轻松日记商务职场篇第214期:拐弯抹角
Stop beating around the bush!
不要再拐弯抹角了!
beat around the bush 字面意思是：“在灌木丛中四处敲打”，这个习语起源于古代有钱人家打猎时，都会雇用一个专门打草惊蛇的人，好让真正的猎者能够顺利猎捕。现在， 这个习语的正确意思是：“旁敲侧击，说话绕圈子”。因此，当美国人说"Stop beating around the bush!"时，他/她要表达的意思就是:"Please speak directly!"、"Don't equivocate!"、"Keep straightforward!"。
情景对白：
Shirley: Jane, stop beating around the bush! What do you really want to say?
雪莉：简，不要再拐弯抹角了!你到底想说什么啊?
Jane: Well, frankly speaking, I want to borrow some money from you.
简：呃，坦率地说，我想找你借点钱。
搭配句积累：
①What are you mumbling about?
你吞吞吐吐地想表达什么啊?
②You can speak frankly in front of me.
在我面前有话就直说。
③Just tell me your true feelings.
告诉我你的真实想法。
④You talk a lot but I catch nothing.
你说了一大堆，但我什么都没听懂。
单词：
1. equivocate vi. 说模棱两可的话
Don't equivocate with me I want a straight answer to a straight question!
别跟我绕弯子--我问的问题直截了当，回答也要直截了当!
You can tell when they're stressed out, they'll equivocate and vacillate.
当他们压力过大时，你是可以辨别出来的，因为他们会支支吾吾、犹豫不决。
They waver while the latter stand firm, they equivocate while the latter are forthright.
前者动摇，后者坚定，前者暧昧，后者明朗。
2. straightforward adj. 坦率的
A straightforward talk is better than a flowery speech.
巧言不如直说。
His straightforward, modest manner took into camp everybody he knew.
他爽直而谦虚的态度使所有认识他的人都上了当。
He's a straightforward man and told everything he'd seen.
他是个直性子把看到的事儿都捅出来了。
