turncoat牆頭草

把待客說成倒貼花銷，一句調侃裡全是賓主之間的機鋒。

The fashion of the world is to ...

開玩笑說大家都躲的事你偏要做時用；對上司說要有分寸。

The way of the world is to avoid cost. ／ Everyone dodges the bill, and here you are facing it.

正式

fashion of the world 連讀，重音落在 avoid 和 cost。

The fashion of the world is to split the bill, and you grab it first. 大家的習慣是各付各的，你卻先搶著買單。

把「不屑」當成會吃東西的活物，抬槓抬成了一個有畫面的比喻。

Is it possible X should die, while ...?

半開玩笑地反駁對方說某事會消失時用；正式場合別說這種話。

How could disdain die with you around to feed it? ／ As long as you exist, disdain will never starve.

literary

while she hath 連讀，meet food 之間稍停再收。

Is it possible your doubts should die while the news keeps feeding them? 只要訊息不斷喂著，你的懷疑怎麼可能消失？

用一件更荒唐的小事壓過表白，把拒絕說得又冷又俏。

I had rather A than B

要表達寧可選荒唐小事也不接受某件事時用；對認真表白的人別用。

I would sooner A than B ／ I'd take A over B any day

literary

had rather 連讀，than 後放慢，句尾下沉。

I had rather stay home than sit through that meeting. 我寧願待在家裡，也不想開那個會。

把自己比成鳥、把對方比成獸，一句回敬又快又狠。

A ... of mine is better than a ... of yours.

對手譏笑你話多時回敬用；真吵架這樣說不利於收場。

Better a quiet bird than a loud beast. ／ My chirping beats your roaring.

口語

bird of my 連讀，better than 弱讀，重音在 tongue。

A bird of her tongue beats a beast of his any day. 她那張鳥嘴，哪天真比他那張獸嘴強。

拿馬速比嘴速，把對方的伶牙俐齒反過來當成一匹快馬。

I would (that) ... had the speed of ...

半開玩笑地嫌對方話太快時用；認真指責會傷人，慎用。

I wish my car had the speed of your mouth. ／ If only my legs moved as fast as your tongue.

口語

would my 連讀，speed of 弱讀，tongue 收得乾脆。

I would my typing had the speed of your talking. 我真希望我打字有你說話這速度。