rest assured請放心

把裁人說得像談心，“價值”二字既是安撫也是刀，一句立住權力關係。

it is time we talked about X

談敏感話題時用來緩衝，對下屬或家人可以；對方剛受打擊時別用。

I think it's time we had an honest talk about your role. ／ Maybe we should sit down and talk about where you fit.

中性

I think 輕讀，重音落在 value，句尾收平穩。

I think it is time that we talked about your goals for next year. 我想是時候談談你明年的目標了。

不點破也不指控，一句“我知道”就把把柄擺在桌上，威脅全在留白裡。

I know what you did to someone

手握把柄又不想撕破臉時用，對同事熟人都行，正式書面別寫。

I know exactly what went on here. ／ We both know what happened to her.

口語

I know 稍停，what you all did 連讀，Pam 壓低。

I know what you did to my laptop, so just tell me the truth. 我知道你對我的電腦做了什麼，老實說吧。

用一句購物閒聊拆掉對方的威脅，答非所問本身就是權力的展示。

is that X or are we talking Y

想試探或岔開話題時用，對熟人打趣可以，對上級別用。

Is that a gift, or are we talking a splurge? ／ Is it a treat or are we talking a full makeover?

口語

兩個 is that 間停頓，or are we talking 連讀。

Is that a sale find or are we talking full price? 那是打折淘的，還是原價買的？

用閒話誇項鍊來岔開下屬的威脅，輕飄飄一句比任何狠話都陰。

I have got an eye for these things.

聊品味、挑東西時對熟人說很自然；對上級或客戶說會顯得隨便，別在正式場合用。

I have a good eye for that kind of thing. ／ You develop an eye for these things.

口語

sort of 輕輕帶過，I don't know 收尾要像隨口補一句。

You have got an eye for color; that scarf is perfect. 你挑顏色真有眼光，這條圍巾太合適了。