first dibs優先挑選權

用「你都想不到」把一段荒唐往事吊起來，越輕快越顯心酸。

you won't believe what happened to (someone)

想給朋友講離奇事、吊胃口時用；正式場合不要用。

You won't believe what she did next. ／ Wait till you hear what happened to him.

口語

won't believe 連讀，space 拉長。

You won't believe what happened to my old roommate. 你都不會信我那個舊室友出了什麼事。

一句天真的信任，把被耍的荒唐和認真同時說盡。

Someone has never done something before.

替某人辯護或表示意外時用；語氣認真，別拿來開玩笑。

He's never let us down before. ／ She's never been late before.

中性

never 重讀，before 輕收。

He's never lied to me before. 他以前從沒騙過我。

五個詞說盡自作多情的心碎，越想越讓人想笑。

I thought we had something.

被冷落或關係變味時用；半開玩笑半心酸都行。

I thought we had a connection. ／ I thought we were a thing.

口語

thought 收短，something 尾音上揚。

I thought we had something, but she never called. 我還以為我們有點什麼，可她再沒打來。

把荒唐計劃說得理直氣壯，正義感和沒出息撞在一起。

We were supposed to do something!

抱怨計劃沒兌現、對人發火時用；口語，正式場合別用。

We were supposed to win! ／ This was supposed to work!

口語

supposed to 連讀成 supposed-a。

We were supposed to be on vacation today. 我們今天本該在度假的。

虛擬條件句當甩鍋工具，一本正經把錯全推給對方。

I would have done X if you hadn't done Y.

事後怪別人毀了機會時用；吵架常用，別當免責藉口。

I would have won if you hadn't interfered. ／ We'd be fine if you hadn't said that.

口語

would have 弱讀成 would've，hadn't 吞 t。

I would have finished if you hadn't kept interrupting. 要不是你老打斷，我早就做完了。

六個詞裡全是警告：再往下不是嘴上吵，是要動手了。

You've just crossed a line.

被人冒犯、準備翻臉時用；語氣很重，說完通常有後果。

That was a step too far. ／ You went too far this time.

中性

just 輕，line 重讀收尾。

You've just crossed a line, and I want an apology. 你這次真的越界了，我要你道歉。

把「拖累」說得像物理重量，嫌棄裡帶著想逃的決絕。

I'm tired of you doing something.

對長期拖累自己的關係表達厭倦時用；很傷人，別輕易說。

I'm tired of carrying you. ／ You're holding me back.

口語

tired of 連讀，weighing 重音在前。

I'm tired of you making me feel small. 我受夠了你總讓我覺得自己很渺小。