sit tight原地等著

拿恐龍當參照，把天文尺度拉進人腦，一句話就有畫面。

A X, bigger than the Y that ..., is headed at Z.

對需要立刻聽懂嚴重性的人說；寫正式報告換成更冷靜的說法。

A storm, bigger than anything we've seen, is headed our way. ／ A rival, stronger than the one that beat us, is coming.

中性

bigger than 連讀，headed 的 d 輕，at Earth 直接收尾。

A storm, bigger than the one in 2005, is headed straight at the coast. 一場比 2005 年那場還大的風暴，正徑直撲向海岸。

一個條件句把後果砸到桌上，沒有形容詞，卻比渲染更重。

If it isn't + 過去分詞, the entire X dies.

對必須把最壞結果講清楚的人說；安慰人時不要用。

If it isn't stopped, the whole thing falls apart. ／ Unless it gets deflected, the planet is gone.

中性

if it isn't 連讀，dies 重讀並降調收尾。

If it isn't fixed now, the whole release dies. 如果現在不修，整個釋出就完了。

前半句是威脅，後半句是庇護，一句話把權力和忠誠都擺明。

X will claim ..., so make sure ...

對要擔責的人提前交代後果時用；跟朋友閒聊會顯得嚇人。

They'll call it a breach, so get a lawyer ready. ／ The feds will make a case of it, so line up counsel.

中性

will claim 連讀，breach of 連成一塊，so make sure 加快。

The auditors will call it a violation, so make sure we have a lawyer ready. 審計會把它定為違規，所以務必讓我們備好律師。

一堆口語碎詞裡包著尖銳質問：說真話怎麼就成了罪。

How is it X if we just ...?

對說你違規的人反駁時用；正式辯論要刪掉 like、you know。

How is that a crime if we're just being honest? ／ Since when is the truth illegal?

口語

How is it 連讀，like、you know 一帶而過，truth 重讀。

How is it a leak if we just shared what everyone already knew? 如果只是分享大家都知道的事，怎麼算洩密呢？

lousy 一個詞把輕視全帶出來，反問加抱怨，怨氣還挺真實。

You won't even give me a lousy X?

對熟人或同事半開玩笑地抱怨被怠慢時用；對上級別用。

You won't even throw me a lousy mention? ／ Not even a lousy thank-you?

口語

won't even 連讀，lousy 加重，Come on 降調。

You won't even give me a lousy reply? 你連個敷衍的回覆都不肯給我？

五個詞就是一個決定，沒有鋪墊，緊迫感來自它有多短。

We need to move fast.

對內催進度、定調子時用；對客戶要補上具體時間。

We need to move now. ／ We've got to move fast on this.

中性

need to 連讀成 need-ta，fast 短促收尾。

We need to move fast on this contract. 這份合同我們得趕緊推進。