kick the bucket一命嗚呼

把祝福和自我認輸並列，一句就交代了整段婚姻的虧欠。

She deserves all this ... I couldn't give her.

真心祝福舊人時用；對不熟的人說會顯得交淺言深。

She deserves everything I failed to give her. ／ She should have all the things I never could offer.

中性

deserves all 連讀，couldn't give her 放慢，句尾下沉。

She deserves all the happiness I couldn't give her. 我沒能給的幸福，她都該得到。

先認錯再表忠，前半句松、後半句穩，人情世故全在裡面。

I admit I wasn't much of a ..., but you can always count on me.

向舊人認錯又表態時用；正式場合稍顯油滑，慎用。

I know I failed as a husband, but I'm still here for you. ／ Maybe I was a poor husband, yet you can rely on me.

口語

I admit 輕讀，much of a husband 連讀，count on me 重讀收尾。

I admit I wasn't much of a friend, but you can count on me now. 我承認以前不算個好朋友，但現在你可以指望我。

用一個誇張到好笑的假設，把政客的算計一句說透。

would ... to be reelected

諷刺為私利不擇手段的人時用；公開評論政客要當心。

He would sell his own mother to win. ／ That mayor would do anything to stay in office.

口語

would hang 重讀，to be reelected 連讀，句尾略降。

He would sell out his own team to get promoted. 他為了升職，連自己團隊都能賣。

保險推銷的自嘲真相，一句黑色幽默把行業本質說透。

we don't help you much while you're alive, but afterward

自嘲某行業只能事後補救時用；對逝者家屬說這話極其不敬，別用。

It doesn't help much now, but later on. ／ We're only useful after the fact.

口語

while you're alive 連讀，but afterward 放慢並降調。

Legal advice never helps while you're calm, only when you're desperate. 法律建議在你冷靜時沒用，只有走投無路時才靈。

先褒後貶，一句俏皮話把對方的魅力說成家族遺傳。

He comes by it naturally. His ... was a ...

損熟人天生就有的毛病時用；對不熟的人或當著他家人說會翻臉。

She comes by it naturally. Her mother was a fox. ／ He gets it honestly. His father was a shark.

口語

naturally 稍停，snake 拖長帶笑，語氣別做狠。

She comes by it naturally. Her mother was a magpie. 她這是遺傳，她媽就愛嘰嘰喳喳。