Larry 来找李华玩。今天我们要学两个常用语：the ball is in your court
和happy hour.

    LL： Hi Lihua ， How's it going ？

    LH：还不错，就是特别忙，一整天都在寄简历找工作。

    LL： Oh yeah？ How's that going ？

    LH：挺烦的，不过今天终于有公司给我回电话了。

    LL： That's great Li Hua， what did they say？

    LH：我当时正在上课，所以没接到，听的也是留言。

    LL： Ah ， it sounds like the ball is in your court now.

    LH：找工作可不是闹着玩的，什么球不球的。

    LL： No ， Li Hua ， the ball is in your court means that it's your
responsibility now to call them back.

    LH：哦，原来你是这个意思，那倒没错，the ball is in my court.不过我
心里特紧张，又想要这份工作，又害怕打电话。

    LL： Why is that Lihua？

    LH：我不知道拿起电话来要怎么说。

    LL： Well the important thing is to research the company before calling
and remember what position you applied for.

    LH：好主意，打电话之前先要了解一下这家公司的情况。

    LL： Well ， the ball's in your court ， so you can call them back
when you feel comfortable. At least now they aren't catching you off guard.

    LH：这倒是真的，我可以做好充分准备后，再给他们回电话。不说我了，你
最近工作还顺心吗？

    LL： Well the boss just told me that a large client just dropped their
old advertising agency， so they might go with us. Now the ball's in my
court to come up with a good proposal and win them over.

    LH：太好了，你又有表现的机会了，一定要写好这个广告创意，把这个大客
户争取过来。

    LL： It sure is a good opportunity， but to be honest I'm pretty nervous
about this. It's the first time I've gotten this much responsibility.

    LH：你一定没问题。

    LL： Thanks Lihua.

    LH：对了，那家公司是做什么生意的？

    LL： It's an ad for sneakers. Their sales have been down lately.

    ******

    李华给Larry 打电话，问他下班后要不要一起去酒吧。

    （Ring……）

    LL： Hello， Larry London speaking.

    LH： Hi Larry ！

    LL： Oh hi Lihua， how's it going ？

    LH：没什么事。就是想问你下班后要不要一起去喝点东西。

    LL： You mean go to happy hour together ？

    LH： Happy？跟你出去，我当然高兴了。

    LL： Right， but happy hour means the hour after work when people
often go out for a drink or some snacks.Usually the bar or restaurant
will have some sort of discount.

    LH：哦，原来happy hour是说同事下班后一起去酒吧喝酒，而且酒吧为了促
销，这段时间酒水往往比一般价格便宜。我以前好象听过这种说法。

    LL： Yes， it is a pretty common phrase.

    LH：那你到底要不要跟我一起去happy hour呢？

    LL： Sounds good to me.

    LH：我们去哪儿Happy hour？

    LL： Wherever you want is fine with me.

    LH：我去找你怎么样？你公司附近有什么可以去happy hour的酒吧吗？

    LL： There are a few places that have a happy hour， and that would
be very convenient for me.

    LH：那好，一言为定。你几点钟下班？

    LL： Well I get out of work at five. We can go to the place across
the street where they have a happy hour. Does that sound alright to you？

    LH：没问题，那我们就在酒吧里见！

    LL： Excellent. I will see you for happy hour.

    LH：我今天有重要的事情告诉你。

    LL： Important news ？ What sort of news？

    LH：天机不可泄露。You will just have to wait until we meet at the
happy hour.

    LL： Oh come on ， you can't call me up and tell me you have news
and then leave me hanging all afternoon. We're not meeting for a happy
hour until 5：00， that's a long time from now.

    LH：哈哈，我就是要调调你的胃口。

    LL： It's cruel ！ What about the topic at least？

    LH：跟我有关。

    LL： You and……？

    LH：跟我和学校有关，我只能告诉你这么多了。

    LL： Ok ， that's fine. I'll see you for happy hour at five ？

    LH： See you then ！

    今天李华学了两个常用语。一个是the ball is in your court 意思是现在
该你采取行动了。另一个是happy hour意思是酒吧傍晚前后的减价时段，同事朋
友可以一起去喝东西。