sit tight and assess按兵不動先評估

一句話把總統的傲慢和問題的重心全擺出來，乾脆利落。

Tell me about it and then tell me why ...

要對方先講事實再講動機時用；對上級這樣說會顯得咄咄逼人。

Give me the facts, then tell me why you came to me. ／ Tell me what happened, and then tell me what you want.

正式

兩個 tell me 之間停頓，why 重讀，句尾壓下來。

Tell me about the delay and then tell me why I wasn't told. 說說為什麼延誤，再告訴我為什麼沒人通知我。

用一個所有人都懂的歷史座標，把無法想像的數字說清楚。

it will have the power of ...

要把抽象數字講得嚇人時用；日常聊天裡說會顯得誇張。

It will hit with the force of a billion bombs. ／ The impact would equal a billion Hiroshimas.

中性

a billion 重讀，Hiroshima bombs 放慢，句尾降。

This leak would have the power of a full system crash. 這個洩露的破壞力相當於整個系統崩潰。

gravity 一半是修辭一半是真話，雙關藏在嚴肅裡。

I don't think you understand the gravity of ...

提醒人低估了風險時用；對上級或客戶說會顯得冒犯。

I don't think you grasp how serious this is. ／ You don't seem to see how bad this is.

正式

don't 輕讀，gravity 重讀，situation 收得穩。

I don't think you understand the gravity of this decision. 我覺得你沒明白這個決定有多嚴重。

五個詞把「可能」兩個字徹底刪掉，短得像判決。

It is going to happen.

需要斬釘截鐵確認一件事時用；不確定時別說，會顯得武斷。

It's not a question of if, it's when. ／ There is no maybe about it.

中性

is going to 連讀，happen 重讀，句尾不升。

Don't plan around a miracle. It is going to happen. 別指望奇蹟。它一定會發生。

一句把拯救世界的議題拉回個人賬本，人物的格局全露了。

What is this gonna cost me?

要問代價、判斷劃不划算時用；用在公益或人情事上會顯得計較。

What's this going to cost me? ／ How much is this going to set me back?

口語

gonna 弱讀成一詞，cost me 連讀，句尾上揚。

Before we start, what is this gonna cost me? 開始之前先問一句，這要我花多少錢？

用一個像穩重的短語，把不作為包裝成了決策。

at this very moment, I say we sit tight and assess

想暫緩行動、先觀察時用；真該立刻行動時用它就是推脫。

Let's hold and see what develops. ／ For now, we wait and watch.

正式

at this very moment 連讀，sit tight 重讀，assess 收尾。

At this very moment, I say we sit tight and assess. 此時此刻，我主張先按兵不動，評估一下。