on the up-and-up為人正派

用兩極對比把責任說成私人底線，粗話反而襯出真誠。

While that may not mean ... to you, it means ... to me

要表明這事對你無所謂、對我卻很重要時用，朋友間最自然；正式場合換文雅說法。

That may be nothing to you, but it matters to me. ／ You may not care, but I do.

口語

to you 輕快，to me 逐詞加重收住。

That rule may mean nothing to you, but it means a lot to me. 那條規矩對你可能無所謂，可對我很重要。

把逃避說成最合理的選擇，一句話點破所有人的心虛。

as much ... as humanly possible

說要把某事做到極限時用，日常和書面都行；談感情或道歉時這樣說會顯得生硬。

As far away as possible. ／ As much as anyone could.

中性

as much 與 as humanly possible 分兩組，中間頓一下。

I'd put as much space between us and that mess as humanly possible. 我會盡量跟那攤爛事撇得遠遠的。

三短句一串，像命令又像自救，把慌亂中的當機立斷寫足了。

First things first.

要拉回重點、催人先做要緊事時用，工作或家裡都合適；對長輩下令式地說會失禮。

Let's do the important thing first. ／ One thing at a time.

口語

first 兩處重讀，gotta book up 連讀帶過。

First things first, let's make sure everyone is safe. 先辦要緊的，確認大家都安全。

把責任直接摁在自己身上，短促、不找藉口，比任何辯解都重。

The ... is my fault.

承擔責任、認錯時用；對上級或同伴都能用，但真不是你的錯時別硬扛。

That one is on me. ／ I'm the one who put that bullet there.

中性

bullet in his belly 連成一串，is my fault 逐詞放穩。

The delay in the report is my fault. 報告遲交，是我的錯。

bleed like a stuck pig 用一個畫面就把失血的慘狀說盡，比任何形容詞都狠。

sb bleeds like a stuck pig

形容流血很多、場面嚇人時用；對傷者家屬或正式場合說太殘忍，別用。

He's bleeding like crazy. ／ The blood just won't stop.

口語

can't walk 連讀，bleeds like a stuck pig 連成一串。

I cut my hand and bled like a stuck pig. 我割到手，血流得嚇人。