Work taboos

A：May I ask whether we are allowed to wear casual clothes in the office?

B：Sure, company rules are not very strict at this point.

A：Thank you for telling me that.

B：But remind you, there are some forbidden activities.

A：What are they? I’ll be careful.

B：Don’t use office phones for personal matters.

A：I got it.

B：Never ever come to work drunk, also smoking in the office is not allowed.

A：I see.

1.Work taboos

工作禁区

taboo n. 禁忌，禁止接近，禁止使用

如：Questions and problems that were once taboo are now discussed openly.

一度视为犯忌的许多问题现在可以公开谈论了。

Any mention of politics is taboo in his house.

在他家里一提政治就犯忌。

2.May I ask whether we are allowed to wear casual clothes in the office?

方便问一下，我们平时上班可以穿休闲的衣服吗?

casual clothes就是我们通常所说的“休闲装”，那“正装”一般怎么说呢?我们可以用formal dress或者suit(套装)。

be allowed to就是“准许做某事”的意思，

例如： Students in the campus are not allowed to go out after 11 p.m.

学校里的学生，11点之后不能出校门。

3.B：But remind you, there are some forbidden activities.

提醒你一下，公司里有些禁令的。

remind sb意思就是“提醒某人”，如：Please remind me to call him later.提醒我带回给他打个电话。

forbidden 在这里修饰activites，表示“禁止的”。

As an earnest of my good intentions I will work overtime this week.