not what it used to be大不如前

把「力不從心」說得溫柔：不是不肯幫，是身體先認了輸。用 not what they used to be 談衰老，比直接說老更體面。

... isn't what it used to be.

承認某人或某物不如從前時用，帶點自嘲。

The old legs aren't what they were. ／ It's not as sharp as it once was.

口語

used to be 連讀，old wings 重讀，句尾放輕。

I'd carry the boxes myself, but the old back isn't what it used to be. 我本想自己搬箱子，可這把老腰不如從前了。

把「麻煩」結構化成可拆解的東西：再難的問題也有承重的那一點，找到它就能解決。

Every ... has a core.

面對複雜問題、需要先找關鍵點時用。

Every problem has a center you can attack. ／ There's always a weak point in it.

中性

Every 重讀，has a core 平穩收尾。

Every problem has a core. 每個問題都有一個核心。

一對兄弟用一句對仗就寫完了：膽小與莽撞各佔一半，缺的正是對方。

One of them is ..., the other isn't ...

概括兩人性格互補時用，語氣調侃；當面評價別人要先確認關係夠熟。

One is scared of everything, the other of nothing. ／ Between the two of them there's no middle ground.

口語

afraid of everything 與 afraid of anything 重音對照。

One of them checks every detail, the other never checks anything. 一個什麼細節都查，另一個什麼都不查。

把「唯一的辦法」說成一句傳說式的宣告，儀式感和緊迫感同時到位。

Only one weapon forged of ... can destroy it.

講設定或強調唯一解時用，適合故事、遊戲解說；日常說事會顯得太戲劇。

Only one blade can break it. ／ There is just one weapon that can destroy it.

正式

forged of the rarest metals 連讀，can destroy it 重讀。

Only one weapon forged of the rarest metals can destroy the curse. 只有一件用最稀有金屬鍛造的武器才能破這個詛咒。