外國人問「What is your line?」不是想加你LINE
在一次商展中,Vincent和一名國外潛在客戶聊天,對方問他:"What is your line?”
Vincent馬上拿起他的手機,想找出手機上Line的QR code,對方才又加了一句:"What is your line of work?”
1. What is your line不是問你的Line帳號,而是…
喔原來對方是要問他做哪一個行業,"What is your line?”是用英文和陌生人聊天時,很常見的一句開場白。
What is your line?/What is your line of work?/ What is your line of business?
- (X)怎麼加你的LINE?
- (O)你是從事哪一個行業?
想要加別人的LINE,可以這麼問:
Can I add you on LINE?(可以加你的LINE嗎?)
不那麼熟,想正式一點,可以說:
Can I have your LINE ID?(可否有你的LINE帳號?)
2. One the line 電話中?危險中?馬上就….
Line原意是「線」,所以很多和線、線路相關的,都可以統稱為line,例如:
公車路線
A new bus line runs straight to the airport. 一條新的巴士線路直抵機場。
臉上一條一條的皺紋
His face is covered with lines. 他的臉上布滿了皺紋。
排隊成一線
There is a long line at the ticket office. 售票處排著長隊。
一封簡訊或信件/一通電話
Drop me a line when you arrive. 你到了以後發一封簡訊/打電話給我。
電話也是線,所以on the line有「在講電話」的意思。
例句:
I've got Mr. Chen on the line for you. Do you want to take it now or call him back later?
陳先生打電話找你。你想現在接電話還是過一會兒再回撥給他?
「線」一般都很細,on the line處在線上,就有一種很窘迫的意味,因此又可以引申為立刻行動、情況緊急:
If this goes wrong, you will put your job on the line.
- (X)事情沒弄好,你就得在線上完成。
- (O)事情沒弄好,你就有丟飯碗的危險。
I can pay cash on the line.
- (X)我可以用LINE付錢。
- (O)我可以立刻付現。
3. “out of line” vs “in line”
再來看兩組相對的line片語,out of line和in line。Out of line就字面意思是在線以外,既在線外,自然就有「不合適、不一致」,或是「不恰當、踰越分際」。
- His ideas are out of line with reality. (他的想法不切實際。)
- Your behavior is quite out of line. I shall report you. (你的行為不當。我會告發你。)
相對地,in line就是「可接受的、守規矩的、不惹事生非」。
- Those prices are about in line. (那種價格還是可以接受的。)
- How did you keep your kids in line? (你是怎麼讓孩子乖乖聽話的?)
4. Be in line for 很有可能成為
In line如果加了for,就多了一層意思,是「有資格得到,非常有可能會」,是很口語化的表達:
- Rachel was reported to be in line for the job of general manager. (據說瑞秋有可能升任總經理。)
- My boss has been praising my leadership skills. I think I might be next in line for a managerial position. (我老闆一直稱讚我的領導能力,我想我應該是下一個主管人選。)