an open secret公開的秘密

用排名做籌碼，把私心包裝成功勞，語氣越自信越可疑。

got us to X, will get us to Y

表抱負和承諾時用；對團隊可以，對被你得罪的人說顯得空。

I brought this team to second, and I can take it to first. ／ We were close last year; I will finish the job.

中性

number four 重讀，number one 上揚。

I got this team to second place, and I will get us to first. 我把這支隊伍帶到第二，接下來要帶大家拿第一。

一句自我辯護把貪腐動機說成理想，越樸素越讓人脊背發涼。

I wanted to make a difference

解釋自己初心時用；對朋友、面試都能說，替錯誤開脫就別用。

I wanted to change things. ／ I just wanted to matter.

中性

wanted to 連讀，difference 重讀。

I wanted to make a difference, so I chose teaching over banking. 我想做點有意義的事，所以沒去銀行，選擇了教書。

一句質問從指控個人轉向整個群體，受害者的口吻把對立推到頂點。

what did you people do to us

感到被一群人傷害時用；對熟人可以，對具體個人會顯得過重。

What have you all done to us? ／ Look what your people did to us.

口語

did you people 連讀，us 壓低收尾。

What did you people do to us by hiding that report? 你們把那份報告藏起來，到底把我們害成什麼樣？

到最後一刻還在拿孩子當籌碼，一句話暴露他把自己和權力綁得有多深。

I can still get X into ...

求情或交換條件時能用；拿別人的前途當籌碼說出口會讓人反感，別學。

I can still pull some strings for her. ／ I could still make a call on that.

口語

still 重讀，Harvard 兩個音節說清楚，別吞尾音。

I can still get your son into that program if we talk today. 只要我們今天談，我還能把你兒子弄進那個專案。