make small talk寒暄

用一句轉述寫出整座城的邀請，樸素直白，卻把好客寫到極致。引號裡的原話比任何形容都更有力。

People are saying, "..."

轉述一群人的共同態度時用，口語、有現場感；正式彙報裡用會顯得隨便。

Everyone keeps offering the same thing. ／ The whole town is inviting you in.

口語

are saying 弱讀，come to our house 連讀後收住。

People are saying, "You did a great job on the presentation." 大家都在說：「你的報告做得很好。」

People are saying, "The new bakery is worth the line." 大家都在說：「那家新麵包店排再久也值。」

先用遙遠的行程製造為難，再用一句 sure a nice view 化解，樂觀得可愛。小鎮人的幽默全在這句的轉折裡。

It's about ..., but it's sure ...

描述一段辛苦但值得的旅程時用，口語、帶安慰；抱怨行程時可別用，會像敷衍。

Long trip, but worth the scenery. ／ It's a haul, and the view makes up for it.

口語

days' travel 連讀，sure a nice view 放慢收。

It's about a five-hour hike, but it's sure worth the climb. 大概要徒步五小時，不過爬上去絕對值得。

It's about an hour each way, but it's sure a quiet ride. 單程大概一小時，不過路上確實清靜。

用一句行業格言把飛機擬人化，厭倦和職業自豪同時出現。被停飛的處境因此更有象徵意味。

X is made to be in constant motion.

說明某物的本性就是不停運轉時用，書面、有分量；形容一個人時要注意分寸，別像在評價機器。

They're built to keep moving. ／ Standing still isn't in their nature.

literary

made to be 連讀，constant motion 放慢收。

That striker is made to be in constant motion, always hunting the ball. 那個前鋒天生就該不停跑動，一直在追球。

My grandmother is made to be in constant motion; she never sits still. 我奶奶天生就閒不住，從來不坐定。

用一句輕描淡寫的經驗之談，把機械的損耗和人的處境疊在一起。它說的既是飛機，也是被困的人。

When they sit still for too long, it's not good for them.

用一句樸素的經驗說出某種規律時用，口語、有餘味；專業報告裡別用這種含糊的口氣。

Idle too long and things start to fail. ／ Nothing good comes of standing still.

口語

sit still 連讀，not good for 'em 放慢收。

When you sit still for too long, well, it's not good for you. 人閒太久不動，嗯，對自己沒好處。

When a business sits still for too long, well, it's not good for it. 生意要是停滯太久，嗯，對它沒好處。

用 you just don't know 說出一種防備心理，把不確定和刻板印象一起攤開。後面被現實推翻，反差更有力。

You just don't know how ... can be.

表達對某類人可能有多排斥的擔心時用，口語、帶戒備；用 redneck 這類詞當面說人會冒犯人，別亂用。

You never know how people will react. ／ That's the fear you carry around.

口語

just don't know 連讀，how ... people can be 放慢收。

You just don't know how strict that coach can be. 你根本不知道那個教練能有多嚴。

You just don't know how welcoming a small town can be. 你根本不知道小鎮的人能有多熱情。