an object of desire被渴望的物件

用 too old-fashioned to 自嘲，再以 the only thing that matters 收尾，把拒絕說得既體面又溫柔。她不否定慾望，只是不肯把慾望當成全部，一句就劃出了做人的底線。

I'm too old-fashioned to believe that what I want is the only thing that matters.

禮貌拒絕越界請求、同時表明原則時用，正式、含蓄；熟人開玩笑的場合別說，顯得端著。

I'm old enough to know my wishes aren't the whole story. ／ I don't put my wants above everything else.

正式

I'm afraid 輕帶，too old-fashioned 放慢，the only thing that matters 加重收。

I'm afraid I'm too old-fashioned to believe that my convenience is the only thing that counts. 恐怕我太守舊，不認為我的方便就是唯一要緊的事。

I'm too old-fashioned to think my own comfort should come before everyone else's. 我太老派，不會覺得自己舒服就該排在所有人前面。

用 Nothing is nicer than 把一個略帶尷尬的處境說成禮物，既接受了讚美，又保持距離。an object of desire 說得坦蕩而優雅，是成熟女人特有的幽默。

Nothing is nicer for X than to find Y.

以自嘲又得體的方式接受讚美時用，書面、帶幽默；對不熟的人別用，容易顯得輕佻。

There's no greater compliment for a woman my age. ／ At my age, being wanted is the finest gift.

正式

Nothing is nicer 輕起，for an old married woman 停頓，an object of desire 放慢收。

Nothing is nicer for a tired father than to find his kids still waiting up for him. 對一個疲憊的父親來說，發現孩子們還等著他回家，沒有比這更暖心的事了。

Nothing is nicer for a retired teacher than to hear a former student say thanks. 對一位退休教師來說，聽到從前的學生道謝，沒有比這更欣慰的事了。

用 could never have got through 這種完成時的虛擬表達，把感激放在一件已經熬過來的事上。without you 放在最後，重音自然落上去，是整句最重也最私人的部分。

I could never have got through X without you.

在事情告一段落後鄭重感謝陪伴者時用；平常小忙別這麼說，會顯得太重、不自然。

None of this would have happened without you. ／ I wouldn't have made it through on my own.

中性

I could never have 連讀，got through any of this 放慢，without you 加重收。

I could never have got through the launch week without you. 要是沒有你，我根本撐不過釋出周。

I could never have got through the move without my sister. 要是沒有我姐姐，我根本熬不過這次搬家。

把丈夫可能的吃醋和追求者的殷勤並置成一個荒誕畫面，用 two gorgeous men 這種誇張的自我調侃收場。它不解釋、不鋪陳，只是一個被逗樂的女人的心聲。

Two gorgeous men fighting for my favors.

半開玩笑地享受被追求的感覺時用，口語、帶風情；正經場合別說，會顯得自戀。

Two men, one jealous husband, and me in the middle. ／ Imagine the pair of them squabbling over me.

口語

Two gorgeous men 輕起，fighting for my favors 放慢收。

Two handsome chefs fighting for my praise. 兩個帥氣的廚師爭著討我誇獎。

Three old friends fighting for my attention at the party. 派對上三個老朋友爭著要我理他們。