【在生活中學習語言】〈 職人英語通〉會哭的小孩有糖吃 Squeaky wheel gets the oil 
 
文／Dr.J.J. 圖／老唐

不管東西方皆然，會吵、講話又大聲的人，往往才有人理睬，也就是我們中文裡常說的「會哭的小孩才有糖吃」。至於英文裡則有一個類似的說法“ Squeaky wheel gets the oil ”，直接翻譯過來就是「會咭吱咯吱作響的輪胎，才會被加潤滑油」，這句話是不是跟「會哭的小孩有糖吃」頗有異曲同工之妙呢？

Jasmine：It’s really a disgrace! I didn’t know how much more others are getting than me until yesterday.

Jasmine：真是令人不恥！直到昨天我才知道別人比我多領了多少錢？

Betty：What’s the matter? You do look very unhappy today!

Betty：怎麼了？你今天看起來很不開心！

Jasmine：I work equally hard if not harder than anyone else in the company and yet see how much I get paid!

Jasmine：在公司，我比別人都努力工作，但看看他們給我什麼樣的薪資！

Betty：When was last time you get your salary reviewed?

Betty：你上次調薪是什麼時候？

Jasmine：2 years ago.

Jasmine：2年前。

Betty：Oops! That’s really not quite encouraging. I thought it should happen at least once a year.

Betty：喔！那真是令人沮喪。我以為至少每年要調薪一次呢。

Jasmine：Simply because I’ve stayed at the company for so many years and have never complained? It doesn’t mean I shouldn’t be fairly treated.

Jasmine：只因為我在公司待得久又從不會抱怨？這不代表我就不用被善待啊！

Betty：You just need to talk to your boss. The Squeaky wheel gets the oil! This is the never-changing truth!

Betty：你要跟你老闆談談。會哭的小孩有糖吃！這可是千古不變的真理呢！

自由時報-971001
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