keep the lights on別關燈

把追星說成學術研究，一本正經的誇張最見小城的自得。

Do you know I've been the local authority on ... ever since?

半開玩笑地表示自己是某方面的老資格時能用；對真正專家別說，像搶頭銜。

I've been the local expert on you ever since. ／ Around here, I'm the authority on your work.

口語

local authority on you 連讀，ever since 放慢收尾。

Do you know I've been the local authority on coffee ever since that trip? 你知道嗎，從那趟旅行後我就成了本地的咖啡權威。

用最溫和的句式打聽最要命的事，禮貌成了探針。

Didn't you have ... with a lovely ...?

想委婉提起對方舊事時能用；涉及隱私亡故等話題別說，會像盤問。

Didn't you have a daughter? ／ Weren't you the one with the little girl?

中性

Didn't you 連讀，daughter 重讀，lovely name 上挑試探。

Didn't you have a studio with a lovely view? 你不是有個風景很好的工作室嗎？

把'可憐'和'無聊'一起塞給對方，熱情得讓人無從否認。

Aw, you poor ..., I'll bet you're ...

心疼朋友、調侃對方處境時能用；對真在受苦的人別說，顯得輕慢。

You poor thing, you must be bored stiff. ／ I bet you're bored out of your mind.

口語

Aw 拉長，you poor man 連讀，bored to tears 重讀。

Aw, you poor thing, I'll bet you're exhausted. 哎呀，可憐的傢伙，我敢說你累壞了。

用最日常的家務話戳破'監督'的體面，夫妻默契全在這句。

What she means is ...

替別人把話說白、當翻譯時能用；拆穿別人時先看場合，否則顯得刻薄。

What she means is keep an eye on them. ／ In plain English, she means watch them.

口語

What she means 連讀，keep the lights on 一字一頓收尾。

What she means is don't stay out too late. 她的意思是別在外面待太晚。