start off on the right foot開個好頭

把一堆規矩濃縮成開好頭三個字，既是提醒也是下馬威。

To work for [someone], you must start off on the right foot.

勸新人、朋友第一次上門做事時用；對平級或長輩說會顯得愛教訓人。

Start off on the right foot and things get easier. ／ Get the first day right.

中性

start off 連讀，on the right foot 三詞一頓，落點穩。

Start off on the right foot and ask plenty of questions. 開局要走對路，多問問題總沒錯。

用最重的病做最涼的反諷，越是心疼的語氣越聽得出刀鋒。

Someone's been at death's door.

誇張地說誰病得厲害時用；真探病或對病人本人說會顯得不厚道。

He was at death's door last winter. ／ She looked half dead with the flu.

口語

death's door 連讀，dear boy's 輕輕帶過，反諷靠平調。

After the fever he said he had been at death's door. 退燒後他說自己當時都快不行了。

用一句猜測把人損個徹底：你清醒，就等於沒生意可做。

You're [state]. [Thing] must be [state].

熟人之間半開玩笑地揶揄對方近況時用；對不熟的人說會顯得冒犯。

You look relaxed, so work must be quiet. ／ You're smiling, so nothing can be urgent.

口語

sober 重讀，must be 輕快連讀，slow 收尾下沉。

You're early. Traffic must be kind today. 你今天來這麼早，路上肯定順暢得很。

用報紙腔把挖苦說得一本正經，「想像力發炎」這種假醫學術語越是客觀就越損。

[Someone], it is reported, is suffering from [mock ailment].

朋友吹牛過頭時用這種假正經的諷刺打趣；對上級或在正式場合說，會顯得陰陽怪氣。

He is said to be suffering from a bad case of wishful thinking. ／ Reports say he is down with a severe attack of vanity.

正式

it is reported 插在中間稍作停頓，enflamed imagination 連著念，grandeur 重讀收尾。

My brother, it is reported, is suffering from a highly enflamed ambition. 據報道，我弟弟得了野心高度發炎。