美国小费文化－在餐馆如何给小费2
Martin: You didn't like your server?
Lilly: Oh, she was fine. I was just wondering.
Martin: The lowest you can get away with without being really offensive is ten percent. And twenty
prcent is considered a good tip.
Lilly: Why do people feel obligated to tip? Shouldn't a server's wages be enough?
Martin: Servers depend on tips to survive. Restaurants owners know that, so their wages are low.
Lilly: But why do people pay them?
Martin: It's a custom. Plus, it encourages good service. Servers know they'll earn more for better service.
Lilly: That makes sense. Fifteen percent of eighty dollars is ...eight plus four...
Martin: You are good with math.
讲解：
1. 在上一个对话中，Lilly问Martin如果服务生的服务很差怎么办呢？Martin很意外，难道Lilly不喜欢为他们服务的服务生吗？Lilly说当然不是，这个服务员很好，她只是好奇而已，I was just wondering. 也可以说I'm just being curious. Martin回答说，要离开餐厅又显得不太冒犯，至少要给一成的小费。也就是账单的10%。
2. get away with sth 表示“犯了错误但是受到比较轻的惩罚或者不受惩罚”，我们来举两个例子，For such a serious mistake he was lucky to get away with a fine. 他犯了那么严重的错误，却侥幸只交了罚款了事。If you cheat in the exam, you'll never get away with it. 考试作弊必予追究。
3. offensive表示“让人恼怒的，得罪人的”，比如说，I find your attitude most offensive.我觉得你很失态。
4. 最底线是给账单10%的小费，而给账单的20%就算是很好的小费了。说到这里，Lilly又有了一个问题，就是为什么大家都觉得应该给小费呢？服务员的薪水不是应该够了吗？Martin告诉她，服务生靠小费维生，餐厅老板都知道，所以服务生的薪水很低。
5. 大家为什么要付给他们钱呢？原来付小费是一个社会习俗，而且付小费也会鼓励良好的服务，因为服务人员知道服务得越好赚的也就越多。Lilly觉得言之有理，That makes sense. 如果你想说“很有道理，太有道理了”，你就可以说，That makes lots of sense. 如果你想说“一点道理都没有”，就是It doesn't make any sense. 或者It makes no sense.
6. Lilly开始计算她到底要付多少小费，账单上是80美元，那么80美元的15%就是12元，Martin夸奖Lilly说她的数学真好。be good with sth 表示“擅长某事”，也可以说be good at sth。
（编辑:twinx）
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