grease the palms給錢打點

把圍獵對手說成為民請命，一句話就把私心包裝成了公義。

It's not in the public interest to ...

為自己的做法找大義名分、或反駁對方時用；正式辯論裡很常見，日常說會顯得誇張。

It is not in the public interest to allow this. ／ The public interest demands otherwise.

正式

not in the public interest 連讀，interest 重讀收尾。

It's not in the public interest to let one firm set all the prices. 讓一家公司定所有價格，不符合公眾利益。

一句把陰謀的方法論說穿：不用硬碰，進到裡面拆。

If we're gonna ..., we should do it from the inside.

討論怎麼從內部瓦解對手或組織時用；用在職場關係裡往往不光彩。

Attack it from within. ／ The best way in is from inside.

中性

bring Rearden down 連讀，inside 重讀點題。

If we're gonna change this company, we should do it from the inside. 要想改變這家公司，就該從內部動手。

不說道德只說實際操作，一句行話就把桌下的交易擺上了檯面。

grease the palms of someone

談行賄打點、通關係時用；本身是貶義，別當面說對方在行賄。

grease someone's palm ／ pay someone under the table

口語

grease the palms 連讀，politicians 重讀。

They greased a few palms to get the permit. 他們打點了幾個人才拿到許可。

不談主義只問回報，一句就暴露了他加入這桌交易的真實動機。

What will ... get in return?

談到合作或交換條件、要先問清好處時用；開局就談回報會顯得功利。

What's in it for us? ／ What do we get out of this?

中性

in return 輕讀連讀，問句尾音上揚。

What will our team get in return for the extra hours? 我們團隊多幹這些小時能換來什麼？

先貶後褒的讓步句，一句就把輕視和眼紅同時掛在了嘴上。

He may be ..., but he ...

評人時先讓步再轉折、承認對方有本事時用；適用於閒聊和評論。

He may be lazy, but he has a gift for money. ／ Say what you like, his bets pay off.

口語

may be 重讀，pay off 收得乾脆。

He may be a slacker, but his ideas always pay off. 他也許懶散，但他的點子總能見成效。

把一份野心說成一個平靜的期限，越輕描淡寫越顯兇狠。

This time next year, ... needs to be a memory.

給自己或團隊設定一個必須達成、抹掉舊局面的期限時用，語氣強硬。

By this time next year, they'll be gone. ／ A year from now, this will be history.

中性

This time next year 一口氣帶過，memory 重讀收束。

This time next year, this debt needs to be a memory. 到明年這個時候，這筆債就該成為歷史了。