only the blue-eyed boys could be promoted quickly.
只有讨领导欢心的员工才能快速升职。
blue-eyed boys直译过来就是：“蓝眼睛的男孩们”，这个短语的正确意思是：“受到领导宠爱和特别照顾的员工”。因此，当美国人说"only the blue-eyed boys could be promoted quickly."时，他/她要表达的意思就是:"Those who play up to the boss can be promoted quickly."、"only the employees who please the leader can be promoted."。
情景对白：
Jane: She is always bringing the boss's daughter some gifts when she comes back on business.
简：她出差回来总是会给老板的女儿带些礼物。
Shirley: only the blue-eyed boys could be promoted quickly.
雪莉：只有讨领导欢心的员工才能快速升职。
搭配句积累：
①I have been working hard for so many years but never have any promotion.
我努力工作了这么多年也没被提拔。
②Don't be that honest.
不要那么老实巴交。
③How dare you conflict with your boss?
你怎么敢顶撞你的老板？
④No pains, no gains. But working hard not always gets a promotion.
虽然说不劳不获，但努力工作也未必可以升职。
单词：
play up to sb. 迎合、讨好某人
He wanted a raise, so he tried to play up to his boss.
他想长工资，所以尽力向老板谄媚。
Some students play up to their teachers to get good marks.
有些学生讨好老师以获得好评语。
Students who too obviously play up to their teachers are usually disliked by their classmates.
过分明显向老师献殷勤的学生通常为其同窗所憎恶。
