VOA常速英语:US Job Growth Grinds to a Halt in August

短语讲解：

1. To make matters worse, cuts in state and federal employment offset those gains. The net result - zero jobs added in August.

to make matters worse　更糟糕的是，更严重的是
例句：To make matters worse, he refused to apologize.
更糟的是他拒不道歉。

2. Even if you account for the Verizon strike, which was 48,000 workers, and sort of added that back in, it's still not a good number.

account for说明〔解释〕…原因
例句：His illness accounts for his absence.
他因为生病, 所以才缺席。
add in加进去, 计算在内; 包括
例句：If there is going to be a study group, please don't forget to add me in.
要是成立学习小组, 别忘了把我算进去。

3. In Italy, where top economic experts gathered Friday to talk about the prospects of a global recovery, the assessments were predictably grim. 

talk about讨论; 谈论
例句：We talked about what to do.
我们讨论该怎么办。

4. That puts even greater pressure on Washington, where President Barack Obama will announce a major jobs initiative on Thursday, September 8 before a joint session of Congress.

put on强使承担
例句：Why are you trying to put the blame on me?
你为什么总想把责任推到我身上呢?

5. "People will see that in the areas he discusses, on tax cuts for workers and small businesses, strategies for the unemployed, jobs to rebuilding America, that these are the types of things that have been historically deserving of bipartisan support," said Sperling.

deserve of应该受到某人〔某团体〕好的〔坏的〕待遇
例句：He deserves well of his employers.
他应当受到雇主善待。