這場戲：接長途電話為女婿拌嘴
第 2 章 · 共 16 章 · 2'10"
退休晚宴剛散場，珍妮打來長途電話，沃倫對著話筒說 You've got bigger fish to fry（有更重要的事要忙），轉頭又被妻子追問有沒有當面謝過未來女婿。想安慰人別為小事分心，或者收到貴重禮物想說句 You sure went overboard（你們太破費了），這兩句都能直接用。
安慰女兒別惦記：You've got bigger fish to fry（有更重要的事要忙）
don't give it another thought 別再想這事了、別放在心上bigger fish to fry 有更重要的事要忙went overboard 太破費、做得過火come in handy 派得上用場、正好用得上
這是沃倫退休後的一通長途電話。珍妮在電話那頭問他退休晚宴辦得怎麼樣，又說和蘭德爾送了他一件浴袍。沃倫嘴上說 it went just fine（挺順利的），又用 You've got bigger fish to fry（有更重要的事要忙）讓女兒別惦記，還說浴袍 sure gonna come in handy（正好派得上用場）。掛了電話，妻子海倫卻追問他有沒有當面謝過蘭德爾，怪他應該 make an effort（主動點）。整通電話裡有安慰、有客套、也有夫妻拌嘴，學的是英語裡怎樣輕描淡寫地推掉人情，又怎樣地道的道謝和抱怨。
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。
“You've got bigger fish to fry.”
你還有更重要的事要忙呢。
用一句廚房比喻把對方的道歉輕輕擋回去，體面又省事。
have bigger fish to fry
別人為小事道歉時用，表示那不算什麼，正式場合偏口語。
You have more important things to deal with. ／ That's the least of your worries.
口語
重音落在 big、fish、fry 三處，got 輕輕帶過。
Don't worry about missing my birthday; you've got bigger fish to fry. 別為錯過我生日過意不去，你手頭有更要緊的事。
“I wish you'd try to be more positive.”
我希望你能試著往好處想。
wish + would 的抱怨句式，把不滿裹在願望裡，比直罵更扎人。
I wish you'd ...
對親近的人長期不滿卻不想撕破臉時說，對陌生人少用。
I wish you would lighten up a bit. ／ I just wish you weren't so negative.
中性
you'd 弱讀成 youd，重音在 positive 上。
I wish you'd try to see what is working for once. 我希望你也能試著看看哪部分是行得通的。
“You know, my father didn't think so much of you at first.”
你知道嗎，我爸一開始沒太看得上你。
把長輩的舊眼光當武器甩出來，一句家常話裡全是較勁。
not think much of someone
熟人之間翻舊賬、回敬指責時說，飯桌上容易點著火。
He didn't rate you much back then. ／ He wasn't impressed by you at first.
口語
think so much of you 連成一串，at first 收得輕。
My mother didn't think much of the plan either, and look where we are. 我媽當初也不看好這個計劃，你看現在呢。
“You should've asked for him. You should make an effort.”
你本該點名找他說說話的。你總得主動一點。
兩句 should 疊著來，把不滿裹進道理裡，是長輩式責備最標準的句法。
You should've ... You should ...
提醒家人或朋友該做卻沒做的事時用；對上級或長輩說會顯得指手畫腳，別這麼說。
You should have reached out to him. ／ You could at least make an effort.
口語
should've 讀成 /ˈʃʊdəv/，effort 重音在前，第二句放慢加重責備。
You should've called her back. You should make an effort. 你本該給她回個電話，你得主動點。
下一章 · 03work out that way結果沒照設想走這場戲：退休老人給養子錄自我介紹字面是「有更大的魚要煎」，實際指手頭有更要緊的事要忙。別人為失約或小事道歉時，用它表示「別在意，你有正事」。這是英語裡很常見的安慰說法。
可以說 You went overboard. go overboard 意思就是做得過火、花錢太狠。收到貴重禮物時用它，語氣半是道謝半是心疼對方花錢。
意思是派得上用場、正好用得上。收到實用的禮物、買對了東西，都可以說 it's gonna come in handy。比 useful 更口語，帶點「正好解了燃眉之急」的感覺。
不只是努力，更強調主動花心思去經營。妻子嫌沃倫對女婿不上心，說 You should make an effort，就是「你該主動點、用點心」。用在人際關係上很自然。
son-in-law 是女婿，也就是女兒的丈夫；daughter-in-law 是兒媳，兒子的妻子。都是通過婚姻成為家人，所以帶 in-law。臺詞裡說蘭德爾是沃倫的 son-in-law。
