eligible bachelor條件最好的單身漢

一句就給一個人估了價，家世、財產、姻緣全在這幾個詞裡，晚宴的勢利味撲面而來。

X is the most eligible bachelor in ...

長輩盤點誰家子弟條件好時用，當事人當面聽著會尷尬，別對著本人說。

He's the best catch in town. ／ She's the most eligible match around here.

中性

重音落在 most 與 eligible，county 收尾稍降。

Everyone calls him the most eligible bachelor in the county. 大家都說他是本郡條件最好的單身漢。

前半句說地方冷清，後半句卻反過來說沒有秘密，一句話把鄉村的寂寞和窺探味說透。

We none of us have any ... here.

半開玩笑地提醒新來的人，這地方人少卻藏不住事，語氣輕鬆，別用在正式場合。

Nobody keeps anything to themselves round here. ／ There are no secrets in a place like this.

口語

none of us 連讀成 none-a-us，secrets 末尾的 ts 輕收。

We none of us have any privacy in a small town. 在小鎮上，我們誰都沒有隱私。

不辯解也不發火，只用 perfectly well 把對方的裝傻戳破，剋制裡全是鋒芒。

You know perfectly well (that) ...

對裝糊塗、明知故問的人點破時用，對長輩或上級這樣說不免衝撞。

You know exactly what happened. ／ Don't pretend you don't know.

中性

perfectly well 重讀，there is 輕快帶過。

You know perfectly well that I never agreed to this. 你心裡清楚，我從沒答應過這事。

六七個詞就把鄉下人守不住秘密的實情說成一句俏皮自白，短得能記住。

If we do, we do not ... long.

自嘲藏不住事時用，朋友閒聊合適，嚴肅承諾的場合別拿它當保證。

Whatever we know, it gets out quickly. ／ We can't keep a secret for long.

口語

If we do 連成一串，keep them 裡 them 弱讀成 'em。

If we do hear anything, we won't keep it long. 我們要是聽到什麼，也瞞不了多久。

bound to 把姻緣說成命中註定，配上 do for one of you，長輩拉郎配的精明與熱切都在裡頭。

be bound to do for someone

長輩半開玩笑地斷定某人遲早歸誰時用，認真談婚論嫁別這麼說，顯得輕率。

One of you is bound to end up with him. ／ He's sure to fall for one of you.

口語

bound to 連讀，do for 輕快帶過，後半句收得乾脆。

With that smile, he's bound to win one of them over. 就憑那笑容，他準能贏得她們中一個的心。