make an oyster of someone把某人變成牡蠣

把「笑別人」和「輪到自己」扣成一句，諷刺干淨利落，點題極準。

become the argument of one's own scorn

說某人自打嘴巴、成了自己嘲笑的那種人時用；對本人說會很難堪。

He became the butt of his own joke. ／ He turned into the thing he mocked.

literary

argument of his 連讀，own scorn 兩個實詞加重。

By buying the same car he became the argument of his own scorn. 他買了同一款車，成了自己從前嘲笑的那種人。

拿「士兵」和「正字法」硬碰，一個粗一個文，把人的變化寫得又準又好笑。

be wont to do something, now be turned ...

對比某人從前的樣子和現在的變化時用；說人變假了帶點調侃。

He used to talk straight; now he talks like a rule book. ／ Once plain, now all polish.

literary

wont to 連讀，turned orthography 拖慢一點。

She was wont to speak plain, now she is turned diplomacy. 她從前直來直去，如今滿口外交辭令。

把滿口辭令比成一桌怪菜，聽著就膩，批評人裝腔最生動的一句。

someone's words are a fantastical banquet

吐槽別人說話浮誇、堆砌辭藻時用；當面對人說等於當面羞辱。

His speech is all garnish, no meat. ／ Too many fancy dishes, no plain bread.

literary

fantastical banquet 連讀，strange dishes 兩個實詞加重。

The ad copy was a fantastical banquet of empty slogans. 那條廣告文案像一桌花哨宴席，全是空口號。

用「先把我變成牡蠣」當條件，荒誕又自信，把發誓不談戀愛說得妙趣橫生。

till someone does X, they shall never do Y

用一個荒唐條件來強調絕不可能時用；帶賭咒口氣，別對上級說。

Not until pigs fly will I do that. ／ They will never make a fool of me.

literary

made an oyster 連讀，such a fool 放慢加重。

Till they make an oyster of me, I will never join that club. 除非他們把我變成牡蠣，否則我絕不入那個會。

grace 一詞前後呼應，一挑剔一被青睞，把挑剔鬼的口氣寫得淋漓盡致。

till all X be in one Y, no Y shall come in my grace

半開玩笑地開出一堆不可能條件時用；認真擇偶這樣講會顯得苛刻。

Unless she has everything, I am not interested. ／ No one measures up to my list.

literary

all graces 連讀，come in my grace 一詞一頓。

Till all graces be in one flat, no flat will come in my grace. 除非所有好處都聚在一套房上，否則哪套都入不了我的眼。

把琴絃說成羊腸，把聽音樂說成勾魂，粗俗又詩意，反襯得極妙。

Is it not strange that ... should ...?

感嘆某件事奇妙得不可思議時用，語氣帶調侃；正式演說顯不莊重。

Strange that mere strings can move us so. ／ Who would think music could do that?

literary

sheep's guts 連讀，hale souls out 三個詞連成一串。

Is it not strange that a song should hale souls out of a crowd? 一首歌竟能把人群的魂兒勾走，你說怪不怪？