extinction-level event滅世級事件

一句抱怨把身份和處境全攤開，數字大到讓人過耳不忘。

You pulled me out of ... where ...

跟同事半抱怨半開玩笑時用；跟上司這樣說會顯得失禮。

You dragged me out of a meeting for this. ／ I had to leave a review to take your call.

口語

pulled me out of 連讀，eight billion 兩個重音砸下來。

You pulled me out of a workout for this call? 你就為這通電話把我從鍛鍊裡叫出來了？

用一句自嘲把學者的窘迫說得又輕又準。

I haven't ... in a while so you probably ...

自嘲地介紹自己時用；面試裡這樣說會先洩了底氣。

I've been quiet for a while, so my name may not ring a bell. ／ It's been ages since my last paper, so no one knows me.

中性

haven't published 輕快帶過，probably 弱讀，句尾下落。

I haven't taught this course in a while, so you probably haven't heard of me. 這門課我有一陣子沒教了，你可能沒聽說過我。

面對滅世級判斷，一句輕描淡寫把危機按住，反差最有戲。

let's not be dramatic

有人把話說重了、想降溫時用；真出大事時用它會被當成敷衍。

Let's not blow this out of proportion. ／ No need to be dramatic.

口語

let's 輕讀，dramatic 重音在第二音節。

Let's not be dramatic, it's only a two-day delay. 別說得那麼誇張，不過是晚兩天而已。

一句官腔把服從、甩鍋和恐懼同時說盡。

I serve at the discretion of ...

解釋自己聽命於誰、把決定推給上級時用；對朋友這樣打官腔會顯生分。

I go where the president sends me. ／ My job depends on the president's call.

正式

at the 連讀，discretion 重音在第二音節，president 放平。

I serve at the discretion of the board, so I can't promise anything. 我得聽董事會的，所以什麼也不能答應。

把滅世新聞說成平行世界，慌亂裡帶著一點黑色幽默。

This is just some sort of ..., right?

遇到不敢信的事、想找人確認時用；正式討論裡說會顯得不認真。

This can't be real, right? ／ Am I in some kind of bad dream?

口語

sort of 連讀模糊帶過，right 尾音上揚求確認。

This is just some sort of bad joke, right? 這不過是某種爛玩笑，對吧？