What's done is done木已成舟

一句就把自欺說透：理智和慾望各站一邊，誰都知道結局。

I didn't ... but I wanted to ...

回憶自己明知有詐還去做的決定時用；正式場合這樣說顯得不夠負責。

My gut said no, but I wanted it to be yes. ／ I knew better and did it anyway.

中性

didn't trust 連讀，but I wanted 稍停，believe him 收軟。

I didn't trust that deal but I wanted to believe the numbers. 那筆生意我信不過，可我又想信那些數字。

把後悔壓進一個時間點：感覺來的那一刻，選擇就已經錯了。

As soon as I felt it, I should've ...

事後反省自己錯過脫身時機時用；對別人這樣說像在推責任。

I should've walked the second it felt off. ／ I knew right then and still stayed.

口語

As soon as 連成一串，should've walked 弱讀，句尾加重。

As soon as I felt it, I should've said no. 我當時一有感覺，就該直接拒絕。

先一句斷掉糾結，再一句給要求，像老手在收拾爛攤子。

What's done is done.

已經無法挽回、要人往前看時用；對正自責的人說會顯得不近人情。

It's over, and we move on. ／ No use crying over it now.

中性

What's done 連讀，is done 重複節奏，cool 落重音。

What's done is done, so let's fix what we can. 事已至此，咱們能補救多少算多少。

把原則和食言放在同一句，落差就是整段懊悔的核心。

I always said if ..., I'd ... and I didn't.

事後檢討自己沒按原則行事時用；對同事說像發牢騷，正式檢討別這麼說。

I always said I'd walk, and then I didn't. ／ My own rule, and I broke it.

口語

if I felt that way 連讀，fuckin' walk 重讀，and I didn't 收住下墜。

I always said I'd quit at six and I didn't. 我總說六點就下班，結果我沒走。

could've been / could be 兩個推測遞進，把「越想越怕」鋪滿一整句。

There could've been ..., they could be ... right now.

提醒同伴局勢可能比看上去更危險時用；對上級報告別用猜測口氣，要給事實。

They could've been waiting, and they could be on the way. ／ Cops might be here already, and more might be coming.

中性

could've been 連讀弱讀，right now 雙雙重讀收尾。

There could've been a leak, and it could be happening right now. 可能早就走漏了風聲，而且現在說不定還在漏。