barking up the wrong tree找錯方向

把私情和生死擺在一句話裡對撞，急脾氣和輕重緩急全出來了。

I don't care if ..., ...!

對方拿私事耽誤正事時用；對上級或長輩這樣說會顯得太沖。

I don't care what you feel, this comes first. ／ Whatever is going on between you two, we have bigger problems.

口語

don't care 連讀，if you've been 弱讀，at stake 重讀收尾。

I don't care if you're tired. The deadline is at stake! 我不管你累不累。截稿時間要緊！

把公私之爭說成一句誅心之問，聽著又急又好笑。

Are you going to let X come between us?

抱怨對方被外人影響時用；拿它壓人會很傷感情，慎用。

Don't let her get between us. ／ Are you really choosing her over us?

口語

going to 縮成 gonna，come between us 連讀成一串。

Are you going to let a rumor come between us? 你要讓一句流言夾在咱們中間嗎？

一句法律指控把私人恩怨升級成罪名，威懾力十足。

You are obstructing justice.

指責對方干擾調查時用；日常小事這樣說會顯得小題大做。

You're interfering with an investigation. ／ That's obstruction, and you know it.

正式

You and the 連讀，obstructing 重音在 -struct，justice 放平。

Hide that file and you are obstructing justice. 你要是藏起那份檔案，就是在妨礙司法。

威脅句裡帶著一股滑稽的節奏，暴躁又好笑，是脫口而出的狠話。

You say that again, I'll ... in the ....

對挑釁自己的人放狠話時用；對長輩或正經場合說會立刻失控。

Say it again and see what happens. ／ You talk like that again, I'll hang up.

口語

again 重讀，kick you 連讀，teeth 短促爆破。

You say that again, I'll hide your keyboard! 你再說一遍，我就把你的鍵盤藏起來！

用文雅的稱呼包裹質問，客氣話說得越漂亮，威脅就越明顯。

My good man, are you trying to make me out a ...?

被當面質疑、又想不失體面地壓回去時用；對上級說會顯得挑釁。

Are you calling me a liar? ／ You're not suggesting I would lie?

正式

My good man 連讀帶腔，trying to 弱讀，liar 重讀上揚。

My good man, are you trying to make me out a fool? 老兄，你這是在把我當傻子嗎？