rustle up趕緊湊出

自問自答地報出一個唬人的頭銜，還把同伴貶成球童，狂得理直氣壯。

I am the X, and this is my favorite Y.

熟人之間吹牛、給同伴起外號時用；對上級這麼報家門會很失禮。

I'm the specialist here, and this is my assistant. ／ That's me, the expert, and he's the help.

口語

Who am I 上揚挑釁，pro from Dover 說得又穩又重。

I am the pro from the fifth floor, and this is my favorite intern. 我是五樓來的高手，這是我的御用實習生。

把假身份和真本事捆在一起說，越像內部通報，越顯出行騙的底氣。

We are the pros from ..., and we figure to ...

半開玩笑地自稱專業、要拿下某事時用；真求職面試別這麼講。

We're the team from head office, and we intend to fix this. ／ We are the specialists, and we plan to open it up.

口語

pros from Dover 連成一串，figure to 輕快帶過。

We are the pros from the night shift, and we figure to finish by dawn. 我們是大夜班來的高手，打算天亮前幹完。

拿一個家喻戶曉的「完美少年」當擋箭牌反著用，一句就把特權頂回去。

I don't care if you're X.

不吃對方身份那一套、把話頂回去時用；正式溝通別這麼衝。

I don't care who your father is. ／ Famous or not, the rule is the same.

口語

don't care 重讀，all-American boy 逐個咬清帶不屑。

I don't care if you're the boss's nephew, the deadline stands. 我不管你是不是老闆的侄子，截止期不變。

拿一個雙重人格的老梗自我介紹，把「好人壞人是同一個人」說得毫不費力。

I'm X, actually. This is my friend, Y.

熟人之間用梗自我介紹、暗指某人兩面時用；不懂梗的場合會冷場。

Meet the nice me; my other half is worse. ／ I'm the calm one, he's the trouble.

口語

actually 輕挑，Mr. Hyde 兩詞壓低留懸念。

I'm the planner, actually. This is my friend, the chaos. 其實我是那個做計劃的。這位是我朋友，混亂本人。

把一句禮貌話變成明碼標價的口令，戰地醫院的荒誕和功利全在這半句裡。

Say the magic word, you ...

半開玩笑地用懸賞換一句禮貌話時用；正式場合別拿錢開玩笑。

No please, no service. ／ Manners first, and the reward follows.

口語

magic word 上揚，hundred dollars 拖長加重。

Say the magic word, and you get dessert. 說出那句好話，就給你甜點。

明明是來搶手術的，先談午飯還挑上了，一本正經的蹬鼻子上臉最好笑。

X will be all right. Y would be even better.

半開玩笑地接受一個方案、同時暗示想要更好時用；正式談條件別這麼隨意。

That'll do, but this would be perfect. ／ Fine by me, though I'd prefer the upgrade.

口語

all right 平收，even better 兩詞都重讀。

A small coffee will be all right. A large one would be even better. 小杯咖啡也行。大杯更好。