with all due respect恕我直言

擺平、封口、然後一個 but 把結論拉回嚴重。前半句是公司處理危機的方式，後半句才是提醒：能蓋住的從來不等於解決了。

They were able to ..., keep it under wraps, but this is serious.

承認事情表面被處理、但仍要強調風險時用，語氣剋制。

It was smoothed over, and it's still a problem. ／ They buried it, but the danger remains.

正式

straighten it out 加快，keep it under wraps 連讀，but this is serious 放慢加重。

They managed to patch it up, keep it quiet, but this is serious. 他們設法把事圓過去、也沒聲張，但這事很嚴重。

兩個短句像自我介紹，把情緒和態度擺成賣點。越是把熱情說得像產品引數，越顯出這場推介會賣的根本不是夢想。

I get excited. I'm passionate.

在推銷自己或說明幹勁時用，簡短有力，也可帶一點自嘲。

I care about this a lot. ／ This is what fires me up.

口語

I get excited 連讀，I'm passionate 放慢，passionate 稍重。

I get curious. I'm driven. 我會好奇。我有幹勁。

先用客套話鋪路，再不動聲色地糾正上司：這次不一樣。禮貌只是外殼，真正的動作是把責任從舊例裡摘出來，指向眼前的新麻煩。

With all due respect, that was ..., sir.

在正式場合要糾正或反駁上級時用，先禮後兵。

Forgive me, sir, but this one is different. ／ No offense, but that example doesn't apply.

正式

with all due respect 平推，that was Skipper 停頓加重，sir 輕收。

With all due respect, that was last quarter, sir. 恕我直言，先生，那是上個季度的事。

把危機說成一樁擺在手上、必須接住的物件，用 on our hands 讓抽象的問題變得可觸可感。加一個 definite，等於先把退路堵死。

We've got a definite situation on our hands.

確認某件麻煩已經無法迴避時用，偏正式、有壓力感。

We have a real problem now. ／ There's a crisis in our lap.

中性

definite situation 連讀，on our hands 放慢收尾。

We've got a real mess on our hands. 我們手頭攤上了一樁實打實的爛攤子。

用 weirdo feelings 給一堆說不清的情緒命名，既確切又含糊，正好是青春期的狀態。她不知道那是什麼，只知道它們開始來了。

I've started to get all these ... feelings.

描述自己突然多出一堆說不清的情緒時用，語氣困惑又坦白。

These strange moods keep coming over me. ／ I've been feeling things I can't name.

口語

started to get 連讀，all these 輕帶，weirdo feelings 放慢。

I've started to get all these strange moods. 我開始冒出這些怪怪的情緒。

一句話把焦慮定義得精準又樸素：有恐懼，但找不到怕的東西。用最日常的詞說出最難描述的狀態，這就是這句話能流傳的原因。

I have fear with no specific object.

形容莫名的不安、沒有來由的恐懼時用，說出口反而讓人鬆一口氣。

I'm scared and I don't know of what. ／ There's dread with no target.

口語

I have fear 平，with no specific object 逐詞加重收尾。

Like, I have worry with no specific reason. 比如，我有擔憂，卻沒有具體理由。