1. a foot in the door

1.站稳脚跟

 

to manage to enter an organization, a field of business, etc. that could bring you success

成功步入某个获得成功的机构或商业领域

 

I always wanted to work for that company but it took me two years to get a foot in the door.

我一直想进那家公司工作，可是花了两年时间才成功。

 

2. cash cow

2.摇钱树

 

the part of a business that always makes a profit and that provides money for the rest of the business

一直盈利的某个部门，为公司的正常运转提供经济支持

 

The new product became the company’s cash cow.

这项新产品成了公司的摇钱树。

 

3. too many chiefs, not enough Indians

3.指导者多，干活者少

 

used to describe a situation in which there are too many people telling other people what to do, and not enough people to do the work

用来描述这样的情况：有太多人告诉别人怎么做，真正做事情的人太少

 

There are too many chiefs and not enough Indians in that company.

这家公司，指导者比干活的人都多。

4. eager beaver

4.做事勤奋的人

 

an enthusiastic person who works very hard

对工作充满热情，勤奋工作的人

 

George is an eager beaver and is certain to succeed in business.

乔治做事勤奋，做生意一定会成功。

 

5. a slice of the pie

5.分杯羹

 

a share of something such as money, profits, etc.

共享财富、利润等

 

The company made big profits and the workers want a slice of the pie.

公司赚了大钱，员工都想跟着分杯羹。

 

6. go belly up

6.破产

 

to fail completely

完全倒闭

 

Last year the business went belly up after sales continued to fall.

这家公司销售逐年下降，最终在去年破产了。

7. golden handshake

7.黄金握手

 

a large sum of money that is given to somebody when they leave their job, or to persuade them to leave their job

一大笔解雇费，以让人离职

 

When Tom left the company he was given a golden handshake.

离开公司后，汤姆收到了一笔解雇费。

8. grease someone’s palm

8.给某人好处

 

to give somebody money in order to persuade them to do something dishonest

贿赂他人做坏事

 

There are rumours that the company had to grease someone’s palms to get that contract.

有传言称，该公司用了一些手段才得到那份合约。

 

9. hold the fort

9.坚守阵地

 

to have the responsibility for something or care of somebody while other people are away or out

他人离去时，对某事有责任或有义务照顾某人

 

While the boss is out of the office, I’ll have to hold the fort.

老板不在，我必须坚守阵地。

 

10. keep head above water

10.不欠债

 

to deal with a difficult situation, especially one in which you have financial problems, and just manage to survive

极度艰难的状态，特别是经济方面的问题，只能勉强度日

 

Business is bad. I’m not sure how much longer we’ll be able to keep our heads above water.

生意不怎么好，我不知道日子还能勉强维持多久。

 

11. red tape

11.繁文缛节

 

official rules that seem more complicated than necessary and prevent things from being done quickly

不必要的繁琐条例

 

You have to go through endless red tape to start up a business.

要想开始创业，你得忍受一大堆繁文缛节。

 

12. sell ice to Eskimos

12.把冰卖给爱斯基摩人

 

to persuade people to go against their best interests or to accept something unnecessary or preposterous.

说服人们违背自身利益接受不必要的或荒谬的条件

 

That salesman is such a smooth talker, he could sell ice to Eskimos.

那个推销员能说会道，他能把冰卖给爱斯基摩人。

13. sleeping partner

13.隐名股东

 

a person who has put money into a business company but who is not actually involved in running it

不参与实际业务的投资人

 

Tom found a sleeping partner to invest money in his business.

汤姆找到了一位隐名股东投资生意。

14. walking papers

14.免职书

 

the letter or notice dismissing somebody from a job

解雇某人的书信或通知

 

Helen was given her walking papers yesterday.

海伦昨天收到了解雇书。

 

15. a dead duck

15.注定失败之事

 

a plan, an event, etc. that has failed or is certain to fail and that is therefore not worth discussing

计划或事件，已失败或注定要失败，没有继续讨论的必要

 

The project was a dead duck from the start due to a lack of funding.

由于缺乏资金，该计划从开始便注定会流产。

 

（来源：沪江英语）