a guessing game瞎猜

把整門學問壓成一句貶語，氣場十足，也埋下後面自打臉的伏筆。

Without them, X is nothing more than Y.

強調某物不可或缺時用；對同事講道理可以，飯桌上說顯得說教。

Without data, it is just a guessing game. ／ Take that away and all you have is guesswork.

正式

nothing more than 連讀，guessing game 兩詞都重讀。

Without numbers, this plan is nothing more than a guessing game. 沒有資料，這個計劃不過是一場瞎猜。

祈使句接結果句，像格言一樣乾淨，把推理一步說透。

Find X, and you have found Y.

把複雜步驟壓成一句結論時用；對下屬佈置思路合適，閒聊別用。

Find the motive, and you find the man. ／ Locate the accomplice and the case is closed.

中性

Find that somebody 一頓，and 後 you have found 連讀加快。

Find the bad cable, and you have found the fault. 找到壞掉的那根線，你就找到了故障點。

用 shall 和 before the day is out 立下軍令狀，老派又自信。

I shall ... before the day is out.

鄭重承諾限時完成時用；對上司或客戶合適，朋友間說會顯得做作。

I'll have it done by the end of the day. ／ It will be settled before nightfall.

正式

shall 輕讀，before the day is out 一口氣連下來。

I shall send the draft before the day is out. 今天之內我會把草稿發出去。

開場先擺出一副要教人的架勢，用的是命令句加將來時，自信得不容置疑。這種「先鎮住場面再講道理」的句式，很值得搬進自己的表達裡。

You listen to me and you will ...

要訓話、想讓人認真聽時用，語氣強勢；對平級或朋友說容易顯得居高臨下。

Pay attention and you might pick something up. ／ Hear me out and you will learn a thing or two.

中性

listen to me 連讀，will learn 重讀，something 輕收。

You listen to me and you will learn something useful. 你聽我說，能學到點有用的東西。