ease up別太較勁

幾句話就把對手的來頭交代清楚，越隨口越顯出危險的份量。

I remember him from ... They call him ...

認出對方的來頭、給同伴提個醒時用；體育和職場八卦都合適。

I know that guy from way back. ／ He used to play at the top level.

口語

from the pros 連讀，Super Bug 兩個詞都重讀。

I know her from the national team; she is no amateur. 我在國家隊見過她，絕不是業餘選手。

一句無奈認輸，把一個人的破壞力說到極致。

We can't do anything with ...

抱怨拿某人沒辦法、對方太難纏時用；比賽和合作都適合。

We have no answer for him. ／ He has us completely stuck.

口語

can't do anything 連讀，in there 輕收。

We can't do anything with this client in the room. 這個客戶在場，我們什麼都談不成。

先擺出守規矩的樣子，下一句立刻露出真目的，反差十足。

The first thing you have to do is ...

佈置任務、點明當務之急時用；帶點命令口氣，對平輩別太硬。

The first thing we do is neutralize him. ／ Above all, we have to take him out of the game.

口語

stick to 連讀，first thing 重讀。

The first thing you have to do is back up the data. 你們首先要做的是把資料備份。

明明在作弊，還說得像體貼對手，虛偽得好笑。

Let's ease up ... we don't want ...

想手下留情或故意放緩時用；贏太多、場面尷尬時最常見。

Let's not run up the score. ／ Maybe we should take our foot off the gas.

口語

just a little bit 連讀，lopsided 重音在 lop。

Let's ease up so the kids get a turn. 咱們鬆一鬆，讓孩子們也有機會。

用一句帶火的自證，把跑錯位置的荒唐全喊了出來。

I'm not a ..., I'm a ...

被人錯怪或要求你做不擅長的事時用；帶粗話，正式場合換成 I'm not cut out for this.

That's not my job; I block, I don't run. ／ Wrong man for the ball.

口語

goddamn 重讀，runner 與 lineman 對比拉滿。

I'm not a designer; I'm a developer. 我不是設計師，我是開發的。

拿大炮比喻亂開球，一句損話把技術的離譜說活了。

What the hell you think you are, ...?

帶火氣地嘲諷對方自不量力時用；熟人之間行，正式場合太沖。

Who do you think you are, a sharpshooter? ／ You think you can just blast it anywhere?

口語

What the hell 連讀，cannon 揚起收尾。

What the hell you think you are, a pitcher? 你以為自己是什麼，投手嗎？