這場戲：當面提出不結婚
第 5 章 · 共 19 章 · 3'37"
阿德拉當面對羅尼說 we're not going to be married（我們不結婚了），羅尼沒吵，只淡淡回一句，兩人客氣得像在辦手續。戲的後半段，眾人忙著張羅遠足和請客，只能說 put our shoulders to the wheel（齊心協力）。想學體面、冷靜談分手，這段最值得聽。
「我們不結婚了」英語說 we're not going to be married
we're not going to be married 我們不結婚了You never said we would be married 你從沒說過我們要結婚awfully English 太英國式了quite right to 做某事是對的
阿德拉找到羅尼，說有重要的話：她已經決定，兩人不結婚了。羅尼出奇平靜，只提醒她「你從沒說過我們要結婚」；兩人都沒鬧，阿德拉自嘲說 We're being awfully English about this（我們這樣太英國式了）。他們決定先不告訴莫爾太太，過一兩天再說，也先把這趟遠足走完。隨後話題轉到遠足行程、待客的酒菜和交通安排，有人說 now we must all put our shoulders to the wheel（現在大家都得齊心協力）。莫爾太太則感嘆，人們對婚姻太小題大做，一個世紀又一個世紀過去，人還是不懂彼此。想學冷靜談分手、安排聚會時用的英文，這個片段很合適。
A1–C2 是歐標等級。點一個等級後，比它高的卡片會變淡，播放到那裡不會自動暫停。
“we're not going to be married.”
我們不結婚了。
憋了幾集才說出口的一句，用 be going to 平靜地把關係收住。
We're not going to do something.
正式告知對方一個已定的決定時用；當面說之前最好先鋪墊。
We're not going to move after all. ／ I'm not going to take the job.
中性
not going to 連讀，married 收得輕。
We're not going to buy the house. 我們不買那房子了。
“We're being awfully English about this, aren't we?”
我們這樣處理，太英國式了，是吧？
用自嘲給尷尬找臺階，awfully English 一下點破兩人的剋制。
We're being awfully (adjective) about this, aren't we?
自嘲自己太拘謹或太客套時用；對不熟的人說會顯得做作。
We're being awfully formal about this, aren't we? ／ We're being very British about it.
口語
awfully 重讀，aren't we 句尾上揚。
We're being awfully polite about this, aren't we? 我們這樣太客氣了，是吧？
“Now we must all put our shoulders to the wheel.”
那現在我們只好都出把力了。
一個老派習語把散漫的籌備說成齊心協力的任務，帶點自嘲。
put our shoulders to the wheel
號召大家一起出力時用；年輕人日常說會顯得有點舊派。
We all need to pull together. ／ Everyone has to pitch in.
正式
shoulders to the 連讀，wheel 重讀。
If we put our shoulders to the wheel, we'll finish by Friday. 大家一起使勁，週五就能幹完。
“Of course, I have no earthly right to tell either of you what you can or cannot do.”
當然，我根本無權對你們兩位指手畫腳。
no earthly right 把「沒資格」說得又重又體面，是老派英式的退讓。
have no earthly right to do something
強調自己無權干涉時用；語氣很正式，日常可換成 no right。
I have no right to interfere. ／ I have no business telling you what to do.
正式
no earthly right 連讀，either of 連讀。
I have no earthly right to choose for you. 我根本無權替你做選擇。
“Century after century of carnal embracement, and we're still no nearer understanding one another.”
一個世紀又一個世紀的肉體結合，我們卻還是沒能更懂彼此。
把婚姻說成世紀級的徒勞，冷峻又無奈，是羅尼少見的坦白。
still no nearer doing something
感嘆努力很久仍無進展時用；語氣悲觀，別在喜慶場合說。
We are still no nearer a solution. ／ Years later, we are no closer to an answer.
literary
Century after century 連讀，no nearer 重讀。
After months of talks, we are still no nearer an agreement. 談了好幾個月，我們離協議還是那麼遠。
下一章 · 06condescend to屈尊這場戲：探病聊起英國佔印度字面是「把肩膀頂到車輪上」，就是大家一起使勁、齊心協力。有人張羅請客，說 now we must all put our shoulders to the wheel，意思是現在大家都得出把力。
說 no earthly right，比 no right 更重，帶點自嘲。完整句是 I have no earthly right to tell either of you what you can or cannot do，我根本無權對你們指手畫腳。
自嘲。阿德拉和羅尼分手分得太客氣、太剋制，她用這句說「我們這樣處理太英國式了」，等於承認兩人都在憋著，不把情緒擺到檯面上。
「承辦、著手去做」。有人問 why did you undertake such an extravagance，就是問「你為什麼要辦這麼鋪張的事」，undertake 指主動承擔、張羅一件事。
說 too much fuss。莫爾太太說 too much fuss is made about marriage，意思是人們對婚姻太小題大做，fuss 就是沒必要地大驚小怪。
