follow the money順著錢查下去

把調查的困境說成拼圖找不到圖樣，抽象的事一下有了畫面。

We can't seem to figure out ...

團隊卡在某件事上說不出所以然時用，語氣無奈；正式彙報裡會換成 we have yet to establish。

We still can't work out the shape of it. ／ Nobody can see the whole picture yet.

中性

figure out 連讀，重音在 puzzle，supposed to 弱讀。

We can't seem to figure out what the client actually wants. 我們好像怎麼也想不通客戶到底要什麼。

把忍耐說成一種技巧，冷得像口號，一下子立住這個人物。

The trick is not ...

描述某種苦差事的訣竅時用，語氣冷硬；安慰別人時別用，會顯得苛刻。

The secret is not caring. ／ The trick is to feel nothing.

中性

trick 重讀，not minding 之間稍停再收。

For long shifts, the trick is not checking the clock. 上長班，訣竅就是別老看錶。

把線人與記者的交易擺明白：你出資訊，我出核實，各守各的規矩。

You tell me ..., and I'll ...

跟人談合作、交換資訊時用，語氣對等；對上級說會顯得僭越。

You give me the facts, I'll check them. ／ Tell me your side and I'll look into it.

中性

tell me 連讀，重音在 know 和 confirm。

You tell me the budget, and I'll handle the schedule. 你告訴我預算，我來安排日程。

承認拼圖還沒成形，卻把「零碎」本身當成了繼續查下去的理由。

All we've got is/are + 名詞

團隊復盤、承認材料還不成體系時用，對同事說很自然；對客戶或上級彙報要補上下一步，別停在抱怨。

We only have fragments. ／ It's all bits and pieces so far.

中性

All we've 連讀，重音落在 pieces，句尾下降。

All we've got are screenshots and a rumor, but it's a start. 我們只有幾張截圖和一條傳聞，但總算開了頭。