drowning in debt債臺高築

把移民的動機壓成一句：不是為自己，是為孩子，立場一步到位。

give someone a better chance than ...

跟家人談換城市、換工作時用，重點說為了下一代；只顧抱怨自己的場合別用。

I want them to have more than I did. ／ We can set the kids up better than we were.

中性

重音落在 better chance，than 後一帶而過。

If we move now, we can give the kids a better chance than we had. 要是現在搬，我們就能給孩子比我們當年更好的機會。

把離開說成一種責任：危險是真的，可缺席家人更讓他難受。

be living in a X, and I'm not here to ...

解釋為什麼要遷移或外派、強調不能缺席家人時用；給逃避找藉口時別用。

We are in the middle of a war and I cannot keep them safe. ／ I am stuck away while they are at risk.

中性

civil war 重讀，後半句放慢，I'm not here 最重。

We are living in a mess, and I'm not here to help my parents. 眼下亂成這樣，我卻不在父母身邊搭把手。

不喊口號，用 the time to 把時機和責任一起交到對方手裡。

This is the time to think about doing X.

勸人下決心換環境、重新開始時用；對方還沒準備好時別硬勸。

Now is the moment to think about starting over. ／ It is time we talked about a fresh start.

中性

the time to 輕讀，making a new start 連成一串。

This is the time to think about leaving a job that makes you ill. 現在正是該考慮離開那份讓你生病的工作的時候。

把一條家裡的傳話規矩說得乾淨利落，爸爸不在家也讓人知道事情有人扛。

You tell A, A tells me, and I'll ...

大人交代孩子有事該找誰、由誰兜底時能用；正式文書裡換成 report it to me 更合適，別直接照搬口語。

You tell your mum, she'll pass it on, and I'll deal with it. ／ Tell your mother, she tells me, and I take care of it.

口語

your ma 弱讀，she'll 咬成短促的 /ʃɪl/，sort it 輕輕收。

You tell your sister, she'll tell me, and I'll handle it. 你告訴你姐姐，她再告訴我，我來處理。