far off the point 远离话题
rate of commission 佣金率
the same as 与……同样
put onto 加到……上
from the beginning 从开始，从头
spend something on 在……上
in a nutshell 总而言之
far from being + adj. 远远不……
make a compromise 妥协
come round 过来
NOTES
1. That’s just what I was going to propose.
我也正想提出这个建议。
Was going to 用在这里是一种委婉表示同意对方建议的说法。
--Shall we go on to discuss the question of payment terms in detail?
我们接着往下详细讨论付款条件怎么样？
――OK。 That’s just what I was going to put forward (to say).
行，那正是我要建议的（要说的）。
口语中有时为了使自己提出的请求或建议婉转些，带有试探性，还可以用I was wondering, I was hoping, 或I was thinking 等。例：
I was hoping we might both of us take a step forward and meet halfway.
我希望我们双方都能进一步协作，各让一半。
I was thinking of payment by installments spread over a series of years.
我正考虑采用分期几年的付款方法。
2. Any increase would have to be put onto the price and make it less competitive.
佣金的任何增加都会加到价格上，从而使价格的竞争力下降。
have to 不得不，一定得
have to 可以有各种时态，而且强调客观上的必要性。
He said he had to see you about something important.
他说有重要事情要见你。
We have in the first place to apologize for the damage to the consignment.
首先我们得为船货受损一事表示歉意。
We may have to call the whole business off if you insist on your own price idea.
如果你方坚持自己的价格意见，我们可能不得不取消这笔交易。
3. Moreover, when other customers get to know it , they are likely to raise questions.
而且其他客户知道的话，很可能会提意见的。
likely作为形容词，后面可以接不定式，也可以接从句。
Our supply position is not likely to improve much for some weeks to come.
我们的供应状况近几周内不可能有多大改善。
They are likely to turn to other markets for their requirement.
他们有可能转向其他市场去满足需求。
It did not seem likely that they would make an exception for us.
看来他们不会为我们破例。
It is likely that the goods have met with some accident on the way.
看来货物可能在途中遇到什么事故了。
likely还可以作副词，表示“很可能”。
Most likely the users are not willing to change their source of supply.
很可能用户不愿改变他们的供货来源。
