put a silk hat on a pig糟蹋好東西

一句大白話道盡走投無路：正經日子過不下去，只能亡命躲藏。

go on the lam in order to get away from someone

半開玩笑說自己要躲起來時能用；正式報告或對長輩說會顯得太江湖。

I have to disappear to get away from him. ／ I'm going into hiding to dodge this guy.

口語

on the lam 連讀，in order to 輕快帶過，句尾下沉。

I went on the lam in order to get away from the debt collectors. 為了躲開催債的，我跑路了。

一個土味比喻就判了死刑：好東西配錯人，只剩荒唐。

X is like putting a silk hat on a pig

拒絕一個明顯不合適的人選時用；對當事人說會很傷人，別當面講。

That's like putting a tuxedo on a goat. ／ You'd be gilding a pig.

口語

silk hat 稍重讀，on a pig 收住，諷刺感才落地。

Hiring him to run the gallery is like putting a silk hat on a pig. 讓他管畫廊，就跟給豬戴絲綢禮帽一樣。

承認他壞，卻用一句反問堵住所有辦法，無奈裡帶著冷意。

What am I supposed to do? Shoot him?

表示「除了這個極端辦法我還能怎樣」時用；真在商量處置人時別說。

What do you want me to do, get rid of him? ／ Should I just throw him out?

口語

bad seed 連讀，Shoot him 升調反問，別唸成陳述。

He keeps breaking the rules. What am I supposed to do, shoot him? 他老是犯規。我能怎麼辦，把他斃了？

用出門的一個小動作把長期活在被追殺裡的恐懼寫得極具體，不用一個怕字。

before I get to X I look over both shoulders

形容自己長期提心吊膽時能用；對朋友聚會裡當笑話說可以，別用來輕描淡寫真危險。

I check over my shoulder every time I step outside ／ I can't walk to the car without looking twice

口語

both shoulders 兩個詞都重讀，before 輕快帶過。

Before I open my email now, I take a deep breath first. 現在開郵箱之前，我都會先深吸一口氣。