the stones鑽石

先否後轉再給出條件，一句話把傷情、後果和緊迫全說明白。

he's not ..., but he will be if ...

說明事情還沒糟透、但再拖著就完了時用；正式彙報偏口語。

He's breathing, but he won't be for long without help. ／ She's fine now, but she won't be if we wait.

中性

not dead 連讀，but he will be 重讀 will，if 前稍停。

The car works, but it won't be if you ignore that noise. 車還能開，可你再不理那聲響就開不了了。

把唯一的指望壓在一個捱打的人身上，絕望裡帶一點僥倖。

Maybe he can tell us who ...

抱著試試看的態度提一個辦法時用；對親近的人說別太冷。

Maybe he knows who did it. ／ He might be able to name whoever tipped them off.

口語

Maybe he 連讀，who the fuck 吞音，set us up 收尾降調。

Maybe the receipt can tell us who paid. 也許這張收據能告訴我們是誰付的錢。

用誇張到荒唐的比喻拆穿逼供：打久了，什麼假話都能逼出來。

If you beat someone long enough, he'll tell you ...

反駁嚴刑逼供、說明逼出來的話不可信時用；話很衝，正式場合別用。

Torture any man long enough and he'll confess to anything. ／ Beat him enough and he'll claim he sank the Titanic.

口語

beat this prick 連讀，Long enough 重讀，he'll 弱讀。

Question a scared kid long enough and he'll admit to anything. 把一個嚇壞的孩子問久了，他什麼都會認。

在一屋子爭吵裡一把拽回主線，先辦急事，直奔鑽石。

first things first. Who's got ...?

場面太亂、要抓重點時用；帶髒字，正式場合把 fuckin' 去掉即可。

First things first, where is the money? ／ Before anything else, who has the keys?

口語

first things first 三詞連讀，Who's got 縮成一詞。

First things first, who signed off on this? 先說最要緊的，這事是誰批的？