I can tell you what she would like. She would like a gift that says, "I care for you. I want to make you happy. I searched with diligence until I found the perfect birthday gift for you."
Doesn't a gift card say that?
Ha, ha! Listen to yourself! No, Chad, a gift card says, "I know I need to give you a birthday gift. But finding something you like was too much trouble. So here. Go find it for yourself."
Maybe that's what a gift card says to you. But this is what it will say to Judy: "Judy, I care for you. I want to give you something you'll really like for your birthday. The ideal way to do that is to let you choose what you want. So, here's a one hundred dollar gift card to use at your favorite store."
Chad, I'm sure you could have found a nice gift if you tried. Perfume, for example. Did you try at all?
No. I don't like shopping.
Well, if it's OK to give Judy a gift card, why not just give her $100? Then she can spend it anywhere, for anything.
Because that would be rude and impersonal.
You're impossible!
Info Cloud
isn’t in the cards 勸人樂觀接受無法預料的事情
Hi. Welcome to Info Cloud. Anne Marie, I remember you mentioned to me last month that you were going to Japan this winter. How is the planning for the trip going?
You know, I'm afraid that going on a trip just isn't in the cards this year. Maybe we'll be able to visit Japan next year.
Oh, that's too bad. Students, when something isn't in the cards, it means that something just wasn't meant to be.
It's an expression that refers to playing card games. If the cards you need are at the top of the pile, then you will win the game.
But if the cards aren't there, then winning isn't meant to be. And we can talk about just about anything that wasn't meant to be.
This expression is also a good way to say that the result wasn't anyone's fault, like not getting a job that you apply for.
If you are qualified for a position and you have a good interview, but you don't get the job, maybe getting that job just wasn't in the cards.
It's like our family vacation to Japan. So many things happened this year that were out of our control. And that means a vacation in Japan just isn't in the cards this year.
當一件事情並没有按照原定計劃進行的時候，或許可以用今天介紹的用語 isn’t in the cards 來形容，所謂 in the cards 就是你手中握的牌，當你說一件事情 isn’t in the cards，就代表它不在你的掌控範圍內，你手中没有可以出的牌，所以這件事情没有辦法照你期待的進行，A vacation in Japan just isn’t in the cards this year. 今年去日本渡假註定没有辦法成行了。當你說一件事情 isn’t in the cards，基本上就是在勸人樂觀接受無法預料的事情，因為你没有辦法掌控，所以不是你的責任。
Language Lab
diligence n. 努力、勤勞
/ˈdɪləʤəns/
careful hard work : continued effort
- Because of Irene’s hard work and diligence, her boss gave her a bonus.
由於Irene很努力工作，因此她的老闆給她一筆獎金。
diligence n. 用功
- Due to James’ lack of diligence, he is not doing well in school.
由於James不用功，所以學業成績不好。
diligent adj. 形容一個人很用功、做事很勤奮
careful hard work : continued effort
- Because Mr. Kendell’s last secretary wasn’t diligent enough, she lost her job.
Kendell先生之前的秘書不夠勤奮，所以被辭退了。
here adv. 讓對方知道有東西要交給他們了
used when you are giving something to someone
- Here, this is the essay I was telling you about.
給你，這就是之前我跟你提的那篇文章。
- Here, please have some coffee.
給你，咖啡請慢用。
here adv. 現在這個時候
appearing or happening now
- Team A has done a good job with this project, and Team B will take over the project from here.
團隊A把這項任務做得很好，現在任務由團隊B來接手。
ideal adj. 理想的
exactly right for a particular purpose, situation, or person : perfect
idea n. 主意
a thought, plan, or suggestion about what to do
- That’s a good idea.
那是個好主意。
- For Lana, an ideal vacation means staying home and watching Korean soap operas all day.
對Lana來說，完美的度假就是整天能夠宅在家裡看韓劇。
- I know the plan we have is not ideal, but it is the only plan we have.
我知道我們的計劃不是很完美，但這是我們目前唯一有的計劃。
- We finally found the ideal person for the job, but then, she decided not to take our offer.
我們終於找到一位理想的人來接這項工作，但是對方卻選擇不接受我們的延攬。
impersonal adj. 冷淡的、没有人情味的
having or showing no interest in individual people or their feelings : lacking emotional warmth
- Because an email seems so impersonal, you should send a handwritten card instead.
因為電子郵件感覺很冷淡，你應該寄一張手寫的卡片。
- The store is very efficient in how it runs its business but shopping there can feel impersonal.
那家店經營的模式很有效率，但是在店裡消費感覺没有人情味。
- That café is designed to look very trendy, but I think the colors make it look so impersonal.
那家咖啡館的設計很潮，但是我覺得顏色方面給人一種冷漠的感覺。
impersonal adj. 客觀、跟人無關的
not relating to or influenced by personal feelings
- Mr. Marshall’s secretary gets things done quickly because she has an impersonal way of dealing with things.
Marshall先生的秘書辦事速度快，因為她做事都保持客觀。
