english at work episode 16: slimy limey politely refusing
bbc白领工作英语第16集：油嘴滑舌，婉言拒绝
narrator: 大家好。 还记得上次anna正接到lime 先生的电话，请她吃午饭。现在anna正和 denise 说起这件事儿呢。
denise: ...and before you know it, he'll be asking you to marry him! trust me anna, this has happened to me dozens of times!
anna: but i thought he was only interested in the lemons! please promise me you won’t mention this to anyone.
denise: ok, i promise.
anna: oh, shhhh!
tom: good morning ladies. what's going on?
denise: mr lime has asked anna to lunch!
anna: please-
tom: and?
denise: and it's not to talk business! i saw him looking at her with big eyes, from the moment he first saw her!
anna: denise!
tom: old slimy limey eh? lucky anna!
anna: he's not slimy, it's just-
tom: don't tell me you said yes?
anna: well i didn't know what to say.
tom: you didn't?
anna: no, no, i said i was busy and would call back. i wanted to just say no, but with everyone complaining that i'm not polite on the phone... i just... i didn't know how to say it politely.
tom: ha ha, alright, i'll tell you what to say.
anna: hang on, let me write it down... why do all the pens keep disappearing?
denise: here's one.
anna: thanks. okay, i'm listening tom.
tom: say: go...
anna: (writing) go...
tom: ...away... slimy limey.
anna: go away slimy limey – are you sure?
tom: of course!
denise: don't listen to him anna. this is what you say: thank you for your offer. but i'm really sorry, i won't be able to. then explain why, say i'm afraid.. blah blah blah
anna: blah blah blah?
denise: say it's against company policy to have non-business lunches with clients.
anna: meaning?
denise: you're not allowed to if it's not for business. then say: it wouldn't be appropriate. so, with regret, i'm going to have to say no.
anna: okay, i think i've got that all down. thanks. he'll be waiting for my call.
(dials number)
mr lime: hello, seb lime speaking.
anna: hello mr lime.
mr lime: anna! please, call me seb. so, when can i invite you to lunch?
denise: thank you for your offer...
anna: well, thank you for your offer. but i'm really sorry, i won't be able to.
mr lime: oh?
denise: i'm afraid...
anna: i'm afraid it's against company policy to have non-business lunches with people.
mr lime: really? oh how tedious!
denise: it wouldn't be-
anna: shhh!
mr lime: pardon?
anna: no, not shhh you mr slimy i meant shhhh denise!
mr lime: mr slimy?
anna: oh no! i mean mr limey – lime – er seb! you see, it wouldn't be appropriate. so, with regret, i'm going to have to say no.
mr lime: i think i've understood. goodbye anna.
anna: goodbye.
narrator: 哎呀，他听起来挺不高兴的。不过除了一个小错误，anna 的表现倒是很不错。以下是 anna 回绝午餐邀请用到的一些短语：
thank you for your offer. but i'm really sorry, i won't be able to. 意思是：谢谢你的邀请。不过我真的没法儿去。
i'm afraid it’s against company policy 抱歉，这是公司的规矩，不能违反。
it wouldn't be appropriate. 这个不合适/不恰当。
with regret, i'm going to have to say no. 非常遗憾，我得说不。 good job anna, bad luck mr slimy.
anna 做的不错。mr 油腔滑调可是不走运啊！
· 听力挑战
what excuse does anna give seb lime for not going to lunch with him?
anna 以什么理由拒绝了lime 先生的午餐邀请？
answer: anna says it's against company policy.
答案：anna 说公司政策不允许。