Jennifer: Jean, look at the time! It's 5 o'clock. Time to go home. Are you coming out for a drink after work?

 

Jean: Sure, 我们一起去楼下的酒吧喝上一杯如何？

 

Jennifer: Great idea, I love it there. It's very handy working six floors above one of the best bars in London!

 

Jean: I know. Let's go. 我们要不走楼梯下去吧？我知道从六楼一路走下去运动量是不小，不过楼里的电梯实在是不好用。

 

Jennifer: I think the lift has been fixed¹ now… let's see…

 

(Pushes button, lift doors open)

 

Jean: 还真的是修好了。Great!

 

Jennifer: Things are on the up in this place!

 

Jean: Up? 往上？That's not right, we need to go down. 酒吧不在楼上在楼下，我们现在是在六楼，所以我们要去酒吧绝对是要往下走才对啊…

 

Jennifer: No, that's not what I mean. In English, the phrase 'on the up' is used to describe something that is improving, or getting better.

 

Jean: I see! 就是说，在英语里 'on the up' 这样一个短语是用来形容某个东西或事情开始有好的改观，“走上坡路”了，很像我们中国人说的“芝麻开花，节节高”！

 

Jennifer: Things are 'on the up' here – they are getting better because the lift has been fixed. Let's hear some more examples of the phrase.

 

Examples

 

My sister has just got a new job. The company has given her a house and a car as part of the deal – things are on the up for her!

 

The economy is on the up now that the new government is in power. They've already helped to create thousands of new jobs! 

 

Jean: On the up. Great phrase!

 

(Lift bell rings)

 

Jennifer: Well, here we are, I'll get the drinks. What would you like?

 

Jean: 我想来一杯鸡尾酒，谢谢，a Cosmopolitan² maybe?

 

Jennifer: No problem, I'll get one too. Two Cosmopolitans³, please.

 

Barman: It's your lucky day! All cocktails⁴ are half price today!

 

Jean: 全场鸡尾酒一律半价！太棒了！Things are on the up because the price has gone down!

 

Jennifer: Very good!

 

Jean: Cheers!

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