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2015년 5월 20일 수요일

PE 5/20 Tension at the New Office

You seem really out of sorts this evening. Don’t you like your new job?
* out of sorts: unwell; unhappy
ex> Our cat seems to be out of sorts: she hasn't eaten any food today.

I do, but I can’t seem to please my supervisor. I really need to find a way to make her less hostile towards me, but I’m drawing a blank.
* draw a blank: to not find anything; get no response; fail at something
ex> I tried to remember the combination to my bike lock, but I drew a blank.

Hmm. You don’t want to be too obsequious, or that might seem insincere. Can you just take a break and go for a walk when things get tense between the two of you?
* obsequious: As with many English adjectives, “obsequious” tells us something about the describer’s opinion as well as what they’re describing. Someone could be described as “obsequious” (negative) by one person, and “helpful” (positive) by another.
ex> It seems the obsequious waiter wants a big tip.

Not really. I’m pretty much chained to my desk all day. Maybe I should just come out and ask her what her problem is.
* chained to one’s desk: unable to leave one’s workspace
ex> I’ll be chained to my desk until the monthly report is finished.

That might upset her, especially if she’s having problems in her personal life. You don’t want to start a catfight.
* catfight: a physical or verbal fight between two women
ex> Corrie used to have terrible catfights with her sister, but they’re good friends now.

I don’t think it’ll come to blows, but she really does seem implacable.
* come to blows: to reach the point of physical violence
ex> The two motorists were so angry that their argument almost came to blows.
* implacable: unable to be appeased; inflexible
ex> I offered to do extra work to make up for my mistake, but my boss was implacable.


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