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同事說 If the shoe fits⋯⋯ 跟鞋子合不合腳沒關係!3 個常見職場 if 片語,別會錯意


餐廳公關 Joanne 策劃了一項別出心裁的行銷活動,但推出後卻飽受負評,FB 粉絲專頁上盡是一顆星評價,讓她好不傷心。同事勸慰她:「If the shoe fits.」批評中肯就接受吧!
我們在生活中常常做假設,今天不妨來學學以 if 開場的 3 句慣用語:
If the shoe fits, wear it. 若是事實,就接受吧。
字面意思是「若鞋子合腳,就穿上它」,用來勸人「如果這說的是真的,那就接受」,口語上經常省略後半句 wear it。
例:Someone said that you were rude to the customers. Well… if the shoe fits.(有人說你對客人很不禮貌,嗯⋯⋯如果是真的,就接受吧。)
再來看對話場景:
A: Are you calling me a cheater? (你說我是個騙子?)
B: Well, if the shoe fits, wear it. (如果是,那就承認了吧。)
If the worse comes to the worst 倘若最壞的情況發生。
此語的意思是「如果情況變得更糟、到了萬不得已的時候」,常用來表示已做好最壞的打算。第一個 worse 也可以寫成 worst。
例:If the worst comes to the worst, I could sell my apartment and move back with my parents.(倘若最壞的情況發生,我可以賣掉我的公寓,回去跟父母住。)
在口語上,有時候會省略掉 the,變成 worse comes to worst:If worse comes to worst, you can always ask me for help.(萬一情況更糟,你也可以找我幫忙。)
If it's not one thing, it's another. 一波未平,一波又起。
這句話是指在短時間內事情接二連三地出錯,讓人措手不及,有「一波未平,一波又起」或成語「禍不單行」的意味。
例:I'm having bad luck. If it's not one thing, it's another.(我真倒楣,事情一波未平,一波又起。)
First the power goes out, now the printer isn't working—I tell you, if it's not one thing, it's another!(一開始是停電,接下來是印表機壞掉,真是狀況百出,錯誤連連。)
(本文出自世界公民文化中心)