最新实用商务流行美语(1)
1.a buyer’s market 买方市场
market在这里是行情的意思。买方市场是有利于购买者的行情。与之相对的是a seller’s market（卖方市场）。
A: Have you bought the house? 你已买房子了吗？
B: I don’t know how to choose it. There are a lot of apartments on sale. 我不知道该怎么办，那么多房子，眼都挑花了。
A: It is a buyer’s market, you know. 现在是买方市场嘛！
2.a country mile 一段很长的距离
该习语多用在美国口语中，名词country有农场的意思。在美国，由于科技比较发达，农场往往都很大。这些农场总能给人以辽阔、遥远之感。故该习语用country来指距离之远。
A: Is the house close to the central city? 那房子靠着市中心吗？
B: It is a country mile from the Central Park. But it won’t be a problem since you drive. 离中央公园远着呢。可既然你开车这就不成问题了。
A: The distance is not really a problem. The real problem is whether I can afford it. 远近到不是问题，问题是我是不是买得起。
B: Don’t worry about it. It’s a real bargain. 不用担心，很便宜的。
3.a drug on the market 滞销商品，滞销货，供应过剩的商品
drug 的本义是麻醉药品，而麻醉药品是不能在市场上公开出售的，因此该词常常用来指滞销货。
A: The things my son bought home were usually a drug on the market for adults. 我儿子买回来的东西在咱们眼里都是卖不出去的。
B: That’s not abnormal for a youngster. Young people all seems to be crazy about such things. 这对年轻来说没什么不正常的。年轻人看起来对这些东西都非常感兴趣。
A: The real problem is that he’s suing my money for them. 问题是他那我的钱去买的呀。
B: He’s your son, after all. Who else’s money do you suppose him to use? 他毕竟是你的儿子呀。你想让他拿谁的钱去买呢
4.a fair shake 公平的待遇
shake 在口语中有处置、对待的意思。当fair的意思为公平的时，这个短语的意思是顺利的、有意的时，它的意思就是好机会。
A: Bob, can you ever make a thing right? 鲍勃，你就不能做对一件事吗？
B: Yes, I can and I am doing the right thing. 我能，而且我现在干的就是对的。
A: You should go and see how Allan handles it. 你真该去看看阿伦是怎么干活的。
B: It’s that Allen again! Why can’t you ever think of giving me a fair shake? 又是阿伦！你怎么就不能对我公平点？
5.a fat chance 微小的机会
fat本是很多的意思，但在这里用了反意，表示微小的机会；表示同样意义的短语还有a fat lot，指很少。
A: What do you think of his plan? 你觉得他的方案如何？
B: I have a feeling that is it doomed to fail. 我感觉它注定要失败。
A: Why don’t you vote against him? 干吗不投票否决他的提议？
B: It’s a fat chance of voting out his suggestion. 这不大可能。
6.a going concern 赢利企业
concern 在该习语中作名词，意思是商行，企业；go指上涨。增涨。A going concern是指活跃或繁荣的企业或机构等，意即赢利企业，正在前进的企业。
A: What’s your overseas branch factory going? 你海外的分厂进展如何？
B: Not very good at first. It has been two years before it becomes a going concern. 开始不太理想，直到两年以后才开始赢利。
A: Once you break the ice, it will be better and better. 一旦打开局面，肯定会越来越好的。
B: I hope so. 但愿如此。
7.a leap in the dark 冒险举动
leap的意思是跳，跳跃。在黑暗中跳跃确实是一种冒险的举动，因此该词组引申为瞎闯，冒险举动。例如： His move to America was a leap in the dark.（他迁居美洲是件冒险的事。）
A: Are you sure you can make profits out of the investment? 你确信这次投资一定能获利吗？
B: I am not sure. It’s only a leap in the dark. 我也没有把握。这只是一次冒险。
A: And it’s the only chance for you to lead your company out of difficulties, isn’t it? 而且这也是你带领公司走出困境的唯一的机会，是吗？
B: Yeah. So I have to have a try. 是的。所以我必须一试。
8.a mare’s net 海市蜃楼的东西；镜花水月
a mare’s nest系to find a mare’s nest一语的一部分。这条成语从字面上看是母马之巢，当实际上母马是不筑巢的，即世间根本不存在什么母马之巢，因此其常被用作比喻，指虚幻的事物或原以为重要后被证明为无用的发现物。如果母马真能筑巢，也比然是乱七八糟的，故又由此引申出混乱、乱糟糟的地方等义。在英国德文郡（Devon）还有a blind mare’s nest这样的说法，用来比喻无稽之谈。
A: How is the case going? 案件进展得怎么样？
B: We have checked up on all the signatures. 我们查了所有的签字。
A: So you found something? 那你们发现了些什么东西吗？
B: No, the result is unbelievable. 没有，结果难以置信。
A: Why? 怎么啦？
B: It proved just to be a mare’s nest. 根本就是子虚乌有。
A: Why did that guy make up such a story? 为什么他编这么个故事呢？我怎么也不明白。
B: Some people are really unimaginable. 有些人就是让人无法想象。
9.a month of Sundays 很久，很长时间
一个月有28日至31日，一个月的星期日就意味着连续三十个星期。另一种解释是：一星期有七天，一个月的星期日可能意味着四个星期。总之，这个成语喻指很长的时间。例：He could easily have revenged himself by giving me a kick with heavy shoes on the head or the loins that would have spoiled my running for a month of Sundays.（他若要报仇，那很容易，只要用其沉重的靴尖向我头部或腰部一踢，就可使我长时间不能行走。）
A: How about this work? 这个工作怎样？
B: I think it will take me a month of Sundays to finish. 我想得花很长时间才能完成它。
A: You will have a long time to be very busy, right? 你又会忙一段时间了，是吗？
B: Yeah. To be very tired, too. 就是，也会很累。
A: In some way, it is good for us because we can learn lots of things from it. 在某种程度上，这对我们有好处，因为我们能从中学到很多东西。
10.a red carpet welcome 隆重的欢迎
在欢迎接贵宾时，人们通常都会在路上铺红地毯，因此铺了红地毯的欢迎就很隆重了。
A: How can they be so cold to me? 他们怎么能对我这么冷淡！
B: Then what are you expecting? A red carpet welcome? 那你还想怎么着？让他们列队欢迎你？
A: Not exactly, but at least they should be friendly to me. 倒也不是，至少他们得对我友好一点儿吧。
B: Don’t take it too much to heart. You will find them very helpful when you need them. 别太放在心上。你会发现用得着他们的时候他们还是挺帮忙的。
11. a rule of thumb 单靠经验或实践的方法；粗略而简便的方法
该语的字面意思是大拇指的规则，实际意义为（根据实际经验和实践的）对事物粗略但实用的估计方法。其出典有两种说法：一说源自旧时用拇指大略计算长度的做法；另一种说法源自昔日酿酒工人将拇指浸在所酿酒中估计温度的做法。
A: Do you think it’s a good idea to buy some traveler’s checks? 你认为买旅行支票是个好办法吗？
B: Definitely! Don’t carry large amounts of cash with you when you’re traveling. We have a rule of thumb: never carry around any more cash than you can afford to have stolen. To be on the safe side, you’d better ask for smaller denominations: $20 or $50. 没错。旅行时不要随身带大额现金。我们有个经验之法：随身携带的钱要适量，丢了不要紧。为了稳妥起见，你最好要小面额的：20或者元。
A: I was told that if you use traveler’s checks, you don’t countersign the check until the clerk in the store is watching you. 我听说在使用旅行支票时，要当着商店售货员的面签字。
B: Yes, you’ve got it. 你说得对。
12. a top banana 首领，掌权者
top banana主要用于美国俚语中，指主要演员（尤指喜剧中），最重要的人物。
A: The top banana asked you to fax this to the US office. 头儿让你把这个传真到美国的办事处。
B: Is this urgent? 急件吗？
A: Yes. 没错。
13. across the board 全面地
该习语的意思是包括一切的，全面的。例如：We’re aiming to increase productivity across the board.（我们旨在全面提高产量。）该习语还可以用来指（赛马、赛狗等打赌时）押前三名。
A: Do you know the last news? 你知道最新消息吗？
B: No, what? 不知道，什么呀？
A: We asked for a pay increase of 5% across the board yesterday. 昨天我们要求全部加薪5%。
B: Did the boss agree with you? 老板同意了？
A: No. He said they’d discuss it at the board meeting. 没有。他说要在董事会上讨论。
B: That’s just an alibi. 那是他的借口。
14. add up to 合计达；总括起来意味着
此语本义指合计为，在日常生活中多用喻义，即总括起来意味着。有时为了进一步强调，亦作all add up to。在使用中应注意与add up一词的区别。add up本指把 … 加起来，如：add up a column of figures（把一栏数字加起来）；其喻义为言之有理，说得通，如：The facts just don’t add up.（这些事情合计起来不对头。）
A: The cashier said he had locked the safe before he left. 出纳说他走时把保险柜锁上了。
B: But how did the money disappear from it if it was locked? 如果锁上了那钱怎么没的？
A: I just wonder … 我只是奇怪 …
B: What do you think it all adds up to? 你想这一切意味着什么？
A: It adds up to the fact that we have been cheated. 意味着我们被骗了。
15. agree to differ 求同存异
agree to differ指的是各自保留不同意见（不再说服对方），意即求同存异。
A: What do you mean? 你是什么意思？
B: Considering the major contracts they might give us, I overlooked the small loss. 考虑到他们可能与我们签订大宗合同，小小的损失我就忽略不计了。
A: So you agreed to differ? 所以你就求同存异？
B: That’s right. 没错。
16.all told 合计；总之
此语原义为总计，合计，引申为总之。如：All told，it was a great credit to them.（总之，这给他们大大增了光。）此语同in all同义。
A: How many people attended today’s meeting? 有多少人参加了今天的会议？
B: There were seventeen of us at the meeting, all told. 一共有十七个人。
A: Issue an announcement that if somebody doesn’t attend meeting next time, his or her bonus will be deducted. 发布一则通知，就说如果有人下一次不参加会议，他或她的奖金全扣。
B: Yes. 好的。
17.all wet 搞错了
wet原义为湿的，干活常把手弄湿，指某人没经验的。该习语多见于美国俚语，意为大错特错，胡说，瞎扯。
A: I made a reservation two days ago. My name is David Johnson. 我前天在这儿预订了房间，我叫戴维约翰逊。
B: Reservation? What do you mean? 预定？什么意思？
A: I booked a single room here for tonight. 我定了一间今晚的单人房。
B: Oh! You’re all wet, actually. This is not a hotel. The hotel is the building across the road. 哦，你搞错了。这不是旅馆，旅馆是路对过的那做楼。
18.an easy digging 轻而易举的事
dig做动词时有集中精力于… 的意思，往往用来指工作、学习。An easy digging指学习轻松，引申为事情轻而易举。
A: Do you think we can nurse our business back to life? 你说我们能让生意起死回生吗？
B: It’s not an easy digging. We’ll have to rack our brain and think of some effective measures. 这可不是件容易事。我们得绞尽脑汁想出一些行之有效的办法。
A: I seem to be at the end of my wits. I have got lost and don’t know where I’m going. 我可是黔驴技穷了。我有点茫然，不知道该干什么才好。
B: Never say die. The darkest hour is the nearest dawn. 别这么说，现在只是黎明前的黑暗。
19.any more 不再
此语用于否定句中，构成not … any more不再，与之同义的短语为not … any longer。与肯定句中的no more和no longer同义。区别在于not any longer和no longer都口语化。
A: I can’t take the job any longer. 我不能再干这份工作了。
B: If you need the money, you’ll just have to grin and bear it. 如果要想挣钱的话，你就得含笑忍辱。
A: I’d rather starve than suffer the torture of the beast! 我宁愿饿死也不受这份罪。
B: Don’t be childish and capricious. You want to change the world? No way, it is just the world that will change you. 别幼稚任性了。你想改变这个世界？决不可能的。只能是这世界改变你。
A: My God! The school life is really simple and free. But now I have it no more. 天呀！还是校园生活简单自由，可我不再拥有它了。
20.as easy as one’s eye 很容易
该习语是一种非正规的口语表达方式，类似的表达方式还有：as easy as anything/as ABC/as falling off a log/as winkling。这些短语指的是很容易。
A: Money is hard to earn these days. 这年头挣钱不容易。
B: To me, it’s as easy as my eye. 对我来说很容易。
A: You steal? Or rob? 去偷还是去抢？
B: Of course not. 当然不是。
21.as sure as eggs is eggs 毫无疑问，千真万确
此语与蛋可说没什么直接联系，其中eggs很可能系数学公式中x的讹误。它原作as sure as x is x，17世纪后始作（as）sure as eggs is eggs。有时亦作（as）sure as eggs are eggs。这条成语1699年在英国北部地区首先使用。
A: Do you think Peter will win this time? 你认为彼得这次会赢吗？
B: It’s impossible. 不大可能。
A: Why? 为什么？
B He’s no match in force and skill. 体力和技巧上，他都不是对手。
A: You mean he’ll lose, as sure as eggs is eggs? 你是说他必定会输，确信无疑了？
B: Yeah, unless there is a miracle. 是这样，除非有奇迹发生。
22.as well 也，还，又；完全的，足够的
此语一指也，还，又；也可做副词短语，意义为完全的，足够的，如：Obviously she had been frightened out of wit, as well she might be.（显然她已经给吓得六神无主了，于她来说这也在情理之中。）与之相近的习语为as well as（除 … 之外）也，如：On Sundays, his landlady provided dinner as well as breakfast.（逢星期天，他的女房东除供应他早餐外，还供应他晚餐。）As well as 的另一意义为和 … 一样，如：He would like to go as well as you.（他和你一样想去。）
A: I’m going to ask the janitor to wash the floors in the halfway. 我要让看门的把走廊的地板清洗一下。
B: Would you ask him to clear the lobby as well? 请你让他把大厅也清洗一下好吗？
A: Ok. Can he do it well? 好吧，他能做好吗？
B: Yes, if he’s glad to. 能，只要他肯干。
23.ask for it 自找麻烦，自找苦吃
该习语是ask for trouble的非正规的口语表达方式。如：Don’t be late again, or you’ll ask for it.（别再迟到了，要不然你会自找苦吃的。）
A: Do you know what happened? 你猜怎么着？
B: Not an inkling. What’s happened? 猜不着，怎么了？
A: My girlfriend gave her boss a good piece of her mind. 我女朋友狠狠教训了她老板一顿。
B: He asked for it, I suppose. 我猜他是自找的。
A: Yeah. She is really something. 可不是么，她真了不起。
24.ask no odds 不要求特殊照顾
odds作名词时指的是奇特的事物，怪人或奇数，而短语ask no odds的意思为不要求特殊照顾。
A: Mr. Green, may I have a talk with you? 格林先生，我可以和你谈谈吗？
B: Of course. Wait a minute. Ok, now, what can I do for you, Miss? 当然可以了。请稍等。好啦，小姐，有什么我可以为您效劳的吗？
A: I ask no odds, I just want you to be fair and square. 我不要求特殊照顾，我只要求您公正。
B: I think I’m always fair and square. 我觉得我一直都是很公正的。
A: But not this time. I’ve done the most of the sales but you spilt the profit among all of us. 但这次把不是。我完成了大部分销售额，而你给我们所有人分配利润。
25.at a loose end 无所事事，无所适从
此语可以追溯到19世纪中期。一说此语源自航海，原表示（绳索的）一端末系住。一说原指（衣带）垂下。该语常有因没有事做而感到不满的含义。此语亦可作at loose ends。
A: It seems that he is unhappy. 看起来他不很高兴。
B: You’re right. He has been out of work for a long time. 就是。他已有些日子没工作了。
A: Have no any chance to try again? 没有什么机会再来一次吗？
B: No. So he is in low spirits. Don’t talk about the matter of work with him. OK? 没有。所以他情绪低落。别和他谈论工作的事，好吗？
A: Yeah. I got it. 我明白。
B: Thank you for caring about him and coming to see him. 谢谢你关心他，还来看他。
A: You’re welcome. I know everyone of us will feel discomfortable when we’re at a loose end. 别客气，我知道一个人无事可干的时候很不舒服。
26.at one’s wits end 智穷计尽
wit的意思是颖悟力，智力，理解力。该习语的意思是处在智力的末端，意即智穷计尽了。例如：I’m at my wit’s end with this problem. 我对这个问题真是束手无策。
A: I am at my wits’ end. 我已经智穷计尽了
B: What’s the matter? 怎么啦？
A: If the bank won’t lend us the money, we’ll be stuck. 如果银行不肯给我们贷款，我们就寸步难行了。
B: Don’t worry. You can ask Mary for help. 别着急。你可以请玛丽帮帮忙。
27.at sixes and sevens 乱七八糟；意见不一
该习语一般认为源于掷色子，原为赌博行话。据说在中世纪时，色子面上的最高点数是7，如想求得13点，即一个色子6点，一个色子7点，这谈何容易，只有那些心烦意乱或处于思想混乱状态下的人才会下此赌注，一试赌赢。该习语最初表示漫不经心地下赌注，后来转而表示心烦意乱，最后又引申出乱七八糟、意见不一等意思。乔叟在爱情长诗《特罗勒斯和克丽西德》中使用过该习语。
A: You have loused up the whole business; it’s at sixes and sevens. 整个买卖让你弄得乱七八糟。
B: The dice is cast. It’s incurable. 一切都成了定局，没救了。
A: I feel so terrible. 糟透了。
B: Me too. We just went to a lot of trouble for nothing. 我也这么想，一切都白忙了。
28.back to square one 退回起点；从头再来
该习语源自掷色子游戏。当掷出某个特定的号码时要受罚，于是还要重新再掷。该习语即指无所进展，退回起点，进而从头再来。例如：I’m back to square one with the work.（我的工作又得从头做起。）
A: Have you finished designing that office building? 那座办公楼设计好了吗？
B: We are back to square one now. 我们正在重新设计。
A: Back to square one? What’s the matter? 重新设计？怎么回事？
B: We’ve worked out the plan, but it’s been decided that we must use cheaper material. So we have to redesign it. 本来我们都已经设计好了，但现在决定使用便宜点的材料，所以只得从头再来。
29.back to the drawing board 从头开始，失败后另起炉灶
drawing board指画板。该习语直议为（退）回到画板前，引申为从头开始。失败后另起炉灶。
A: How is Jim recently? 吉姆近况如何？
B: Very well. Since he was back to the drawing board, he’s been very successful. 非常好。自从他失败以后另起炉灶，就一直很成功。
A: I know he will get back on his feet sooner or later. 我知道他迟早会东山再起的。
30.ballpark figure 近似数，大致正确的估计
ballpark一词本指棒球场，引申为活动领域，在此为形容词，表示大致正确的，八九不离十的。此类常用短语还有in the right ballpark大致正确，差不多。 Ballpark figure 指大致不错的近似数。
A: What price is this building? 这栋楼的成本是多少？
B: It’s $1,00,000, just a ballpark figure. 一百万美元，这只是个大概数。
A: So much? It must have been in excess of our budget. 这么多！肯定超出了预算了。
B: So. We go on or stop it now? 那现在是干下去还是停下来？
A: Of course build it. Let’s think of some ways to raise money. 当然要干下去，我们想法去筹些钱。
31.bang for the buck 货真价实
buck在美国俚语中是美元的意思。有这样一个短语，bigger bang for a buck，它的意思是花钱取得更大效果。Bang原是表示巨大声响的拟声词，这里引申为效果。
A: Listen! It’s mid-summer now. What do we need them for? 嘿，现在已经是仲夏了，我们要这些东西干什么？
B: They may come in handy. Besides, these items can be true bang for the buck. 会有用得着它们的时候，再说这些东西是货真价实的呀。
A: True bang for the buck? They’re enough for ten years’ use. 货真价实？都够用10年的了。
B: Stop getting on my nerves! I’m not doing something for nothing! 别烦我了，我可不是没事找事。
32.be brassed off doing 厌烦干… ，对 … 满腹牢骚
brass作名词指黄铜，作动词指镀黄铜于 … ，而brassed off是俚语，意思是厌烦，不满，牢骚满腹。
A: I am awfully sorry that I have kept you waiting. 真是很抱歉让您久等了。
B: To tell you the truth, I am really brassed off waiting. 说实话，我最讨厌等人。
A: Sorry. I had something urgent to deal with just when I was to leave. 对不起，我正要来的时候又有急事要处理。
B: You should have told me earlier. 你应该早点告诉我。
A: It was too late to inform you. 通知你已经来不及了。
33.be catty 爱搬弄是非的；爱诽谤人的
英语中，cat给人的联想总是不太愉快，如cattish的意思是狡猾的、恶意的、偷偷摸摸的。cat在英语中可用来指恶意伤人的女人，包藏祸心的女人，因此catty就有了诽谤的含义。
A: I thought you would cooperate. 我原以为你会跟我合作呢。
B: Well, I’m too busy to be catty and poke my nose into things that do not matter much to me. 我可不愿意搬弄是非去管那些跟我没关系的闲事。
A: How do you know that he won’t do something against yourself? 你怎么知道他不会做出什么对你不利的事呢？
B: You do seem to have a glib tongue. 你真能胡搅蛮缠。
34.be down in the dumps 垂头丧气，神情沮丧
the dumps在非正规的口语表达方式中的意思是忧郁或沮丧。be down in the dumps常指闷闷不乐或打不起精神，也可引申为垂头丧气，精神沮丧。
A: You’re down in the dumps. What’s happened? 你看上去沮丧不堪。出什么事了？
B: I had a quarrel with our boss’s secretary. She’s been on her high horse these days. 我和老板的秘书吵了一架。这几天她总是盛气凌人。
A: Maybe she was only taking it out on you. Secretaries have a lot of pressure, too. 也许她仅仅是向你发泄。秘书的压力也很大。
B: But she jumped down my throat for no reason at all. I could not put up with her. 但她无理由地斥责我，我无法容忍。
35.be in a jam 陷入困境
jam指拥挤，阻塞。该习语的字母意思为在拥挤之中，引申为陷入困难的处境。例如：She is in a bit of jam about money. （她的手头有点拮据。）
A: Mike told me that his business was in a jam and he was in urgent need of money. He wanted to borrow some money from me. 迈克告诉我他的生意陷入困境，急需用钱。他想向我借钱。
B: Don’t lend money to him. He’s always lying. 别借钱给他。他总是说慌。
A: But I think he is really in difficulty this time. 但这一次我看他是真的遇上困难了。
36.be in full swing 正在全力进行，处于活跃阶段
in full swing的意思是活跃。该习语的意思即引申为处于（工作的）全面展开、进行阶段。例如：The building project is in full swing.（这个建筑工程正处在全力进行之中。）
A: I hear your company in expanding its business. 我听说你们公司正在扩展生意。
B: Yeah. We’re setting up a new factory now and the work on it is in full swing. The project will be completed in three months. 是的，我们正在新建一个工厂。工程正处于全面施工阶段，三个月内就可以完工了。
37.be in high gear 全力进行
gear指齿轮，传动装置，high gear的意思是汽车的高速档。该习语字面意思为机器正处在高速档（快速运转），实际指事物正处在全力进行当中。
A: By the way, how is your business going? Is it proceeding smoothly? 哎，你的生意最近如何？进展还顺利吗？
B: Yes, it’s in high gear. 一切都在全力进行。
38.be itching for a chance to do 很想找个机会试一试
形容词itching的意思是渴望的，be itching to do意为渴望做某事；for a chance指找机会，因此整个习语的意思即为渴望得到机会试做某事。
A: I am itching for a chance to cooperate with Mike. I hear he’s a very competent person. 我很想找机会和迈克合作一次。听说他特别能干。
B: Everyone who has worked with him will have a deep impression on that point. 是的。每个和他一起工作的人都对此深有体会。
39.be of one mind 意见一致，看法相同
mind可指头脑，心神。该习语直译为一个脑子想出的问题，由此可以引申为意见统一、看法相同的意思。
A: What do the board think about this plan? 董事会对这项计划怎么看？
B: They are of one mind in passing it. 他们一致通过。
A: Good news. 太好啦。
40.be of two minds 拿不定主意
be of two minds和be in two minds的意思基本相同，均表示左右摇摆或拿不定主意，下不了决心。例如：Don’t depend on him to decide. He always seems to be of two minds on important matters.（别指望他能做出决定。在重要事情上他好像总拿不定主意。）
A: Are you ready to take the plunge and pound the pavements for new one? 你是否准备大胆采取措施，排除障碍，重新再来？
B: I’m still of two minds. But I do seem to like to quit my present job. 我依然犹疑不决。我确实想放弃现在的工作。
A: What kind of job are you aiming at? I mean, do you have a particular job in mind? 你想做什么样的工作？我的意思是说，在你脑子里有没有特别的选择？
B: I have a good mind to go into business. I think I can be equally successful as most other women in business. 我想进军商海。我想我会得到与商海里其他女性同样的成功。
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