as merry as the day is long快活得沒法形容

拿兩個人各取一半來拼一個理想男人，比喻又損又準，一句就定了全場的調子。

be made in the midway between A and B

拿兩個人對比、打趣地設想「各取一半」時用；對不熟的人這樣說會顯得刻薄。

He'd be fine if you split the difference. ／ Half of each would make one good man.

literary

in the midway 連讀，between 重讀，句尾降調收住。

Put him and his partner together and you would have one decent manager. 把他和他搭檔合一塊兒，就能湊出個像樣的經理。

長輩一句斷言，把「嘴厲害就沒人敢娶」說得又直又狠，是全章最好記的一句。

thou wilt never ... if thou be so ...

熟人之間半開玩笑地勸人別太沖時用；對長輩或客戶這樣說會失禮。

You will scare every man off with that mouth. ／ No one will marry you if you keep on like that.

literary

wilt never 連讀，shrewd of thy 一帶而過，never 要重讀。

You will never get a date if you are so sharp with everyone. 你對誰都這麼衝，怕是約不到人了。

把「寧可不享福」說得這麼家常，拒絕裡帶著自嘲，一句就能讓人記住她的脾氣。

I had rather do A than accept B

用更差的選擇來表明拒絕時用；賭氣地說很自然，寫正式意見別這麼用。

I would sooner sleep on the floor. ／ I'd rather do without than settle for that.

literary

had rather 弱讀成 I'd rather，woollen 雙母音拉長。

I had rather stay single than marry someone I cannot talk to. 我寧可單身，也不嫁一個聊不來的人。

白晝有多長、快活就有多久，把小小的天堂想像說成一句順口的民謠。

as merry as the day is long

形容一整段時間都快活時用；語氣偏文學，日常聊天會顯得做作。

as happy as can be ／ happy all day long

literary

as merry as 連讀，day is long 三個詞輕快帶過。

That summer we were as merry as the day is long. 那年夏天，我們天天都快活得沒邊兒。

被誇一句領會尖刻，她只回一句「我又不瞎」，用最平常的事反將一軍。

I have a good eye for ...

笑著表明自己看得清、不會被糊弄時用；正經解釋場合別用這種自誇。

I am not blind, you know. ／ I can tell what is going on.

literary

good eye 連讀，church by 連讀，by daylight 輕快收尾。

I have a good eye for excuses, so save them. 藉口我一眼就看穿，就別編了。