Effortless English—Drag

作者：Alice的学习笔记

原文来自《Effortless English》——New Method Learning English

Mini Story

DEAR ABBY:

Twenty years ago, my sister and I bought a business from our mother. We all love and respect one another and get along well. We will be finished paying off the business in two years.

Our problem: Mom, who is now 77, still draws a salary from us above and beyond the payment for the business. Her workload has lessened greatly, as it should. She could do all of her work in one day and lessen the burden of her salary. However, she says she'd "go crazy" if she retired. We don't want that. She could still come in as often as she wants and do her personal paperwork, banking, letter-writing, reading, etc. These are all things she does at "work" -- on the clock.

If we try to discuss this, Mom gets hurt and says, "Just let me know when I'm not worth the money." We don't want to do that. We would hope she would see the fairness of this and suggest it herself.

Business expenses are going through the roof, and there are updates we should make, but we can't do it as long as we are paying Mom at the level we are, on top of the money for the buyout.

-- DAUGHTERS DEAREST

单词、短语

• pay off
  付清（还清）债务
     I'll pay off all my debts first.
     首先我要还清欠款。
     He finally paid his overdraft off.
     他终于还清了透支款。
  拓展：
  Pay off 还可以表示取得成功；奏效。英文解释为：If something you do pays off, it is successful or has a good result.
     Teamwork paid off.
     团队合作获得了成功。

• draw
  作动词可以表达很多意思，文中表示领取（薪水等），英文解释为：If you draw a salary or a sum of money, you receive a sum ofmoney regularly.
     I'll be drawing my pension before he'll ever get around to asking me to marry him!
     等到他来向我求婚的时候我都在领取养老金了！
  拓展：
  它还可以表示吸引/引起别人的注意，作比较等意思。
     The case drew international attention.
     这一事件引起了国际关注。
     Thereport draws a distinction/comparison between various forms of healthcare.
     这份报告把各种形式的保健制度作了对比。

• lessen
  减轻，减少，降低。
     The new project will lessen the effects of car pollution.
     这个新项目将减少汽车污染的影响。
     Gradually her anxiety lessened.
     她的焦虑慢慢地减轻了。

• on the clock
  仍然在职工作。英文解释会比较清楚：To be on the clock is an idiom meaning "working" or"getting paid."

• go through the roof
  本文中表示激增。英文解释为：If a price, cost goes through the roof, it increases to a very high level.

   拓展：
   Go through the roof 或者 hit the roof 可以表示某人暴跳如雷，火冒三丈。
      Put that back before Dad sees you and hits the roof!
      赶紧放回去，免得爸爸看见了大发雷霆！

• update
  1）作名词表示新进展，新情况，更新，改变等。
     I'll need regular updates on your progress.
     我要定期了解你的最新进展。
  2）作动词时表示更新，向……提供最新信息。
     We'll update you on this news story throughout the day.
     我们将全天向您报道该新闻事件的最新进展。
     Can you update me on what's been happening?
     你能不能告诉我最新情况？

• on top of
  最基础的意思是在……上面。

   在本文中，它表示除……之外（还有其他问题），英文解释为：if something bad happens to you on top of something else, it happenswhen you have other problems.
      On top of everything else, I now have to go to work next Saturday!
      最糟糕的是，我下周六还要上班！
   拓展：
   还可以表示完全控制某事物，对某事物摸得一清二楚，英文解释为：in complete control of a situation。
      Don't worry; I'm back on top of things now.
      不要担心，我现在又完全控制了局面。

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