make ends meet勉強維持生計

把恐懼說成不公，一句話既是訴求也是危險的動員口令。

Someone said (people) shouldn't have to ...

替某群體鳴不平、轉述主張時用；拿它煽動對立，現實中極易越界。

He told them no kid should grow up afraid here. ／ His line was that they shouldn't live in fear.

中性

shouldn't have to 連讀，scared 拖長收尾。

She said kids shouldn't have to cross town just to feel safe. 她說孩子們不該為了安全感還得穿城而過。

用“像我們的”而不是“是我們的”，一個詞洩露了佔有背後的心虛。

We made it like it was ours again.

回憶自己一度奪回某樣東西時用；把公共資源說成“我們的”會惹爭議。

For a while we owned that street again. ／ We had it feeling like home again.

口語

made it like 連讀，ours 重讀。

For one summer we made it like it was ours again. 有年夏天，我們真把它弄得像又屬於我們了。

不帶一個髒字卻把人的嘴堵死，是壓制場面最體面的一句狠話。

When I want your opinion, I'll ask for it.

被人亂插話、亂出主意時用；對平級同事說會顯得居高臨下。

Nobody asked for your two cents. ／ I'll ask when I need your input.

口語

opinion 後停半拍，ask for it 一板一眼。

When I want your opinion on the design, I'll ask for it. 設計上需要你意見時，我自然會問你。

把面子和衝動擺上天平，髒話反而襯出說話人真正怕的是丟人。

You're gonna embarrass us.

攔人別衝動、怕當眾出醜時用；髒話版本只在熟人之間說。

You'll make us all look ridiculous. ／ Don't drag us down with you.

口語

gonna 輕讀，embarrass 重音在第二音節。

Calm down, you're gonna embarrass the whole team. 冷靜點，你會讓全隊跟著丟人。

把賭注和羞辱捆在一起，一句話既下戰書又定輸贏後的等級。

A hundred bucks say I ...

拿錢打賭、放狠話時用；把人稱作 my bitch 極具侮辱性，別在現實中說。

Fifty bucks says I win this one. ／ I'll bet you I come out on top.

口語

A hundred bucks 快讀，say I 連讀。

Twenty bucks say I finish it before you do. 賭二十塊，我肯定比你先弄完。

一句因果把一個人的行動變成某種運動的起點，聽來像解釋，其實是宣言。

That's why (someone) started (something).

解釋某件事的由來時用；把複雜起因歸給一個人，容易顯得在造神。

That's what got the whole thing going. ／ That's where it all began for him.

中性

That's why 連讀，D.O.C. 逐字母念清。

That's why she started the whole project. 她搞起整個專案，就是因為這個。