kid gloves小心伺候

把最難開口的愧疚化成一句寬慰，冷靜裡透著一點殘酷的體貼。

If he loves you, you won't have to ...

安慰做錯事又怕失去對方的人時用；對存心逃避責任的人說會像縱容。

If he really cares, words won't matter. ／ Someone who loves you will understand without being told.

中性

If he 連讀，won't have to 縮成 won-afta，句尾放平。

If he loves you, you won't have to explain every mistake. 他要是愛你，你用不著為每個錯都解釋。

兩句短句把責任全攬到自己身上，沒有辯解，反而重得嚇人。

I'm responsible.

主動認下責任時用；說出口很重，別拿來開玩笑或推卸。

It was my fault, all of it. ／ I take full responsibility for this.

中性

I killed her 停頓後壓低，I'm responsible 重音落 -spon。

The report is late. I'm responsible. 報告遲了。責任在我。

一句質問加一句自問，把被拖下水的悔恨和無助一次說盡。

How you have messed up ... What am I going to do?

被某人拖累到崩潰時用；對不熟的人這樣說會顯得情緒失控。

Look what you've done to my plans. ／ You've turned my life upside down, and now what?

口語

How you 連讀，messed up 連成一詞，末尾問句上揚。

How you have messed up this project. What am I going to do? 你把這個專案攪成什麼樣了。我該怎麼辦？

兩句話把用人和踢人寫在一起，是報館最赤裸的過河拆橋。

Say his ... smells and kick him ....

半開玩笑地形容用完就扔時用；對當事人說就是當面羞辱。

Tell him it stinks and show him the door. ／ Praise his work, then cut him loose.

口語

poetry smells 連讀，kick him 重讀，downstairs 快速收尾。

Tell him the idea is great and cancel the budget. 誇他點子好，然後把預算砍掉。

用一句後悔的自嘲承認被騙，比指責對方更讓人無話可說。

I'd be ... right now. I'm a sap, falling for your ....

事後自嘲被說動、耽誤了正事時用；對上司說會顯得不服管，慎用。

I should be gone by now. I fell for it. ／ I'm a fool for listening to you.

口語

I'd be 連讀，right now 頓開，sap 重讀，line 輕收。

I'd be home by now. I'm a sap, falling for his pitch. 我本該到家了，真傻，信了他的推銷。