This is the second in a two-part Business English Pod series on English idioms related to war.

Everywhere you look in business, you will find the language of war: We often think – and talk – about business competition in terms of attacking and defending, gaining and losing ground.

During the first business ESL podcast in this series, we studied many such war and military related idioms. We learned the meaning of “taking flak,” “reinforcing one’s position,” “laying low,” “making a move” and many others. 在这个播客中, we will continue exploring useful war idioms.

The dialog picks up where we left off at the Luminex management meeting. Jane has just explained that they need to think “strategically.” He explains that this means “laying low,” by which he means waiting to take action until the economy improves.

当你听, pay attention to the war idioms Jane and her colleagues use. You may not understand them the first time. After you hear the debrief, 回去再听一遍, then things should be much clearer.

听力问题

1) What does Jane mean when she says their competitor, 迈耶斯, is its own worst enemy?
2) The speakers describe their new strategy as an “ambush” that will “surround” 迈耶斯. Why do they say this? What is the strategy?

Premium Members: PDF Transcript

Download: Podcast MP3

商业与战争. 战争与商业. 许多商业战略和管理技术首先在军队中发展绝非偶然. 实际上, 我们很自然地将商业竞争视为战争. 各公司相互争夺市场份额. 我们制定战略以赢得这场战斗. 你试图攻击我的市场地位, 我捍卫它. 商业上充满了这样的战争习语. 尽管这不是我们思考商业的唯一方式, 这当然是我们谈论它的主要方式. 所以, 在商业环境中有效沟通, 我们需要学习这些战争习语.

在今天的对话中, Luminex 的管理层, 液晶电视生产商, 正在讨论如何应对竞争对手对其市场地位的攻击, 迈耶斯. 传统上, 迈耶斯在保费方面表现强劲 (高价值) 市场，Luminex 在中端市场表现强劲. 最近, 然而, Meyers 试图从 Luminex 手中夺取中端市场份额.

聆听时注意与会者使用的战争习语. 如果您第一次听时听不懂，请不要担心. 当你听完汇报中解释的习语后, 回去再听一遍, 并且对话框应该更加清晰.

听力问题

1) 前两位发言者谈论的是 “始终处于防守状态” 和 “受到太多的批评。” 他们的意思是什么以及他们建议做什么?
2) Jane 的观点与前两位发言者有何不同?

Premium Members PDF Transcript

Download: Podcast MP3