這場戲：生日午餐被安排前途
第 2 章 · 共 22 章 · 3'35"
生日午餐上，尼爾許的願只是「一個答案」，爸爸卻當場遞上早就安排好的法學院錄取，還說 And you can take that to the bank（這事板上釘釘）。緊接著又送上一輛紅色敞篷車，說是他眼裡的酷。想學一句把話說死、表示「絕對靠譜」的英語，這一句最實用。
「說實話、其實」用 The truth is 開頭最自然
come true 願望成真The truth is 說實話、其實put it out there 把想法說出去
「這事板上釘釘」英語說 take that to the bank
An answer to 對……的答案all arranged 全都安排妥了to the bank 板上釘釘、絕對可靠
❝ 獨白 · 5 句 尼爾的旁白
幾句短句疊出被父親支配的窒息感。
尼爾二十二歲生日，全家照例在那家餐廳吃生日午餐：爸爸、媽媽、姐姐南希，還有女朋友薩莉。吹蠟燭時許願，尼爾說自己只想要「一個答案」——關於自己的人生的答案。爸爸當場遞上布拉德福德法學院的錄取通知，說面試都安排好了，And you can take that to the bank（這事板上釘釘），還補一句「我替咱們倆拿定主意」（for the both of us）。飯後禮物是一輛紅色敞篷車，爸爸說是 his idea of cool（他眼裡的酷）。尼爾心裡清楚，這全是爸爸的安排。這些說法適合談計劃、講承諾，也適合形容被人替你安排人生的時候。
A1–C2 是歐標等級。點一個等級後，比它高的卡片會變淡，播放到那裡不會自動暫停。
“And you can take that to the bank.”
這事板上釘釘。
一句俚語把父親的篤定說得不容置疑。
You can take that to the bank.
向人打包票時能用；對上級或寫正式文書別這麼隨意。
You can count on it. ／ That's a sure thing.
口語
take that to the bank 連成一串，bank 收尾下壓。
You can take it to the bank: the train is never late. 這你儘管放心，這趟車從不晚點。
“The truth is, you should always tell your wish.”
真相是，願望就該說出來。
先立論再給規矩，語氣像隨口講人生道理。
The truth is, you should ...
想認真給人建議時能用；正式報告裡少用這種口語開場。
Honestly, you should always say it out loud. ／ The fact is, you're better off telling her.
中性
The truth is 輕帶，should 重讀。
The truth is, you should apologize first. 說實話，你該先去道歉。
“- Well, I can be sure for the both of us.”
那我來替咱們倆拿定主意。
一句話把父親的掌控和好意一起說盡。
I can be sure for the both of us.
替別人拍板時能用；對方明顯不情願時這樣說很壓人。
I'll make the call for both of us. ／ I can decide for the two of us.
中性
both of us 連讀，us 輕收。
If you can't choose, I'll be sure for the both of us. 你選不了，那我替咱倆定了。
“Put on earth by the grace of God, to keep me from going insane.”
上帝開恩把她放到這世上，專為不讓我發瘋。
用一句半開玩笑的誇張，把妹妹的分量說得又親又重。
Put on earth by the grace of God, to keep me from going insane.
誇張地誇某個親人或朋友對自己多重要時能用；葬禮等嚴肅場合不要這麼開玩笑。
Heaven sent her just to keep me sane. ／ She was put here to stop me losing my mind.
口語
by the grace of God 一氣帶過，insane 尾音收住。
My roommate was put here to keep me from going crazy. 我室友就是來讓我別發瘋的。
- As usual, it was all about him. His idea of cool. Red was his color. Not mine. It was his pet phrase on the license plate. Clearly he was excepting me to become him.
——跟往常一樣，全是圍著他轉。 他眼裡的酷。 紅色是他的顏色。不是我的。 車牌上還印著他那句口頭禪。 顯然他指望我變成他。
下一章 · 03be wired天生就這樣這場戲：病房裡的舉牌測知覺字面是「拿到銀行去」，實際是「絕對可靠、板上釘釘」，意思是這話你可以完全當真。戲裡爸爸用它強調法學院的錄取已經穩了。
用 come true，主語是願望、夢想：if I tell her, it won't come true 就是「說出去就不靈了」。注意是願望自己 come true，不是人來 come true。
表示「早該……的時候了」，常帶點催促、不滿：it was high time for an image change 就是「早該換換形象了」。
就是「跟往常一樣、照舊」。戲裡尼爾用 As usual, it was all about him 吐槽這頓飯又是圍著爸爸轉。
更強調「完全想不到、一點概念都沒有」。戲裡 You have no idea how hard it was... 就是「你根本想不到這有多難」。
