a big stink鬧得滿城風雨

一句玩笑就把吃醋、主客和界限感全包在裡頭。

I wouldn't mind, but not in my car

半開玩笑地劃界限、打趣別人時用；認真不滿時要說得更直接。

I don't care what you do, just not in my kitchen. ／ Fine by me, as long as it's not on my time.

口語

had eloped 連讀，not in my car 逐詞加重。

I don't mind you borrowing it, but not without asking. 你借可以，但不能不打招呼。

先損一句再轉好感，把矛盾的心情說得準確又體面。

a little on the dull side

評價一個人有缺點卻討喜時用；當著本人說前半句會得罪人。

He's a bit on the quiet side, but you warm to him. ／ Not the liveliest man, yet impossible to dislike.

中性

on the dull side 輕讀，can't help liking 連讀。

The new manager is a little on the strict side, but you can't help respecting her. 新經理有點嚴，可你就是忍不住敬重她。

把一場家庭風暴用兩個 so 輕輕帶過，任性裡帶著坦白。

so there'll be a big stink ..., so who cares?

明知會惹麻煩卻決意這麼做時用；認真商量後果時不該用它。

There'll be a scene, and I honestly don't care. ／ Let them make a fuss; it changes nothing.

口語

big stink 重讀，So who cares 尾音下壓帶輕蔑。

So there'll be a big stink at work. So who cares? 單位裡會鬧翻天又怎樣？誰在乎？

兩個短句把感情算成了利害，冷靜得讓人一涼。

someone is our only ally

點明某人不可得罪、非靠不可時用；用在朋友身上會顯得算計。

He's the only one on our side, so play nice. ／ We cannot afford to lose him.

中性

very important 重讀，only ally 放慢收住。

Don't upset the client; he's our only ally right now. 別得罪這個客戶，眼下他可是我們唯一的靠山。

同一句重複兩遍，把逃避現實、只想聽下去的心情說盡。

Keep doing something.

想讓對方繼續講下去、別停下時用；命令別人幹活也可以，但語氣更硬。

Don't stop, keep going. ／ Go on, I'm listening.

口語

Keep talking 兩次，第二次更輕更慢，像自言自語。

Keep talking, I want to hear how it ends. 接著說，我想聽結局。