an exercise in power權力的操演

用一句體面的挖苦收尾，把對女主人的不滿包在「安慰」裡。

My only consolation is that ...

想禮貌地表達不滿、又不想撕破臉時用；對當事人別說。

My only comfort is that the week is nearly over. ／ The one good thing is that we can leave soon.

正式

only 重讀，consolation 四音節放穩。

My only consolation is that lunch starts at twelve. 我唯一的安慰是十二點就開飯。

把「唯一」放在句首，誇得具體，也順手數落了其他人。

the only people who've done something

想肯定少數人、同時點出多數人的冷淡時用；場合要私下。

She is the only one who's tried to help. ／ They are the only people who've bothered to call.

中性

only 重讀，who've 輕讀成 who-uv。

You are the only people who've made any attempt to fix it. 你們是唯一試著去修好它的人。

兩個短句把職責說成信條，冷靜裡透著殖民者的自信。

We're out here to do something and to do something

談職責、使命或立場時用；日常閒聊說會顯得太正式。

We're here to help and to keep things calm. ／ The job is to do right and keep order.

正式

isn't 重讀，do justice 連讀。

We're out here to listen and to keep the peace. 我們來這裡是為了傾聽、維持安寧。

把一場聚會拆穿成權力表演，抽象詞下得準，分量重。

an exercise in (power / patience / vanity)

評論某件事其實在展示某種東西時用；指責具體的人要慎用。

The meeting was an exercise in patience. ／ It was an exercise in vanity, nothing more.

正式

exercise in 連讀，superiority 重音在 or。

The review was an exercise in patience for everyone. 這次評審對所有人來說都是一場耐心的考驗。

把爭論拉回最簡單的信念，平靜卻把兒子的立場照得很小。

put someone on earth to do something

談信念、使命時用；在不信教的場合說會顯得突兀。

We are here to help, not to judge. ／ We were put here to look after each other.

literary

put us 連讀，fellow men 稍慢。

We are put on earth to help, not to score points. 我們活在世上是為了幫忙，不是為了爭輸贏。

自問自答的逼問，把「你們要我怎樣」的委屈一下推出來。

What do you want me to do? (Do something?)

被逼到牆角、想反問對方時用；對上級或長輩別用這種語氣。

What do you want me to do, quit? ／ Do you expect me to give it all up?

口語

want me 連讀，career 重音在 eer。

What do you want me to do, work all night? 你想讓我怎樣，通宵幹活嗎？