一位作家談論天文台的工作時，說天氣預測通常是吃力不討好的工作。當預測證明是正確時，沒有人會感謝你。Predicting the weather is usually a thankless task。When the forecasts prove right, no one ever thanks you。 前年，某超級市場為了鼓勵顧客自備購物袋，曾勸告使用該公司膠袋的顧客捐款給慈善機構。但運動推行後不久，公司就通知前線員工不要再要求顧客捐款，並引述高級管理層說該籌款運動是吃力不討好的工作。They received instructions from management to stop asking customers to donate, citing senior management finding the fund drive a thankless task.
Thankless是「吃力不討好」的意思。它是形容詞，其他例子：She has the thankless task of trying to rehabilitate these young criminals是「她做的是幫助這些年輕罪犯改過自新這樣一類吃力不討好的工作」。
Lawrence Choi
香港教育學院高級講師
culchoi@yahoo.com.hk
星期六, 4月 04, 2009
星期日, 7月 29, 2007
如何表達同意或反對？(part 1 of 9)
When You Agree or Disagree (part 1 of 9)
We all love it when others agree with our opinions, plans or decisions. Likewise, we enjoy supporting our friends with the same enthusiasm.
Sooner or later, though, each of us faces disagreement. People don't always agree with us, and we may not see eye-to-eye with them either. Whether we agree or disagree, knowing how to express ourselves effectively makes a big difference.
我們都喜歡別人贊同自己的觀點、計畫或決定。同樣地，我們也喜歡以這份熱忱來支持我們的朋友。不過遲早，我們都要面對意見不合的情況。別人不會總是贊同我們，我們也不會與他們持相同看法。不論我們同意或反對，知道如何有效地表達自己的意見，會帶來不同的結果。
⊙ Word Bank
enthusiasm (n) 熱忱；熱心
We all love it when others agree with our opinions, plans or decisions. Likewise, we enjoy supporting our friends with the same enthusiasm.
Sooner or later, though, each of us faces disagreement. People don't always agree with us, and we may not see eye-to-eye with them either. Whether we agree or disagree, knowing how to express ourselves effectively makes a big difference.
我們都喜歡別人贊同自己的觀點、計畫或決定。同樣地，我們也喜歡以這份熱忱來支持我們的朋友。不過遲早，我們都要面對意見不合的情況。別人不會總是贊同我們，我們也不會與他們持相同看法。不論我們同意或反對，知道如何有效地表達自己的意見，會帶來不同的結果。
⊙ Word Bank
enthusiasm (n) 熱忱；熱心
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