set something at naught全然不顧

把體面與自知裝進一個條件句，話說得軟，立場卻一點沒退。

If there was any ... I should be sensible of it.

被人當面指責、又要體面回應時用；朋友間隨口辯解別說這麼重。

If I had done anything improper, I would know it. ／ Any real fault in my conduct would not escape me.

正式

If there 輕連讀，impropriety 重音在第二音節，句尾放平。

If there was any real mistake in my report, I would be the first to admit it. 要是我的報告真有錯，我第一個承認。

不說「你錯了」，只問對方還信不信自己的判斷，逼人自省。

Do you not begin to doubt your own ...?

想委婉拆對方臺、要他自己反省時用；對上級這樣問容易得罪人。

Have you started to question your own judgment? ／ Do you still trust your own prudence?

正式

Do you not 連成一句，doubt your own 連讀，句尾上揚。

Do you not begin to doubt your own reasoning here? 你就不覺得自己的道理站不住腳了嗎？

the sooner…the better 一句成諺，把長輩那種世故的關切說得很順口。

The sooner ..., the better.

勸人早點經歷某事、早點做準備時用；正式報告裡換成 the earlier the better。

The earlier she learns how the world works, the better. ／ Sooner is better than later for lessons like this.

中性

The sooner 與 the better 都重讀，中間語速放快。

The sooner you start saving, the better. 你越早開始存錢越好。

用最剋制的兩個名詞收束一段往事，比任何哭訴都重。

The result was only ... and ...

總結一段糟糕的後果時用；日常閒聊別把話說得這麼重。

All it brought was ruin and despair. ／ Nothing came of it but ruin and grief.

literary

only 略重，ruination 與 despair 之間稍停。

The result was only wasted time and a lot of apologies. 結果只有白白浪費的時間和一通道歉。

先罵一句親暱的 sly thing，再一針見血點破真正動機，機鋒十足。

It was X she wanted, not Y.

看穿朋友心思、半開玩笑地點破時用；對不熟的人說 sly 會變成真冒犯。

It was the people she came for, not the place. ／ She came for them, not for Delaford.

口語

sly thing 連得俏皮，It was 輕讀，not Delaford 重讀收。

It was your cooking he came for, not the conversation. 他來是衝你的廚藝，可不是來聊天的。

一句 funds for luxuries 把清貧說得體面，又順手貶了對方。

There are no funds for ...

替人訴苦又暗含輕視時用；當面說 poor thing 有時讓人難堪。

There's no money at home for such things. ／ They can't afford such finery at home.

口語

funds for 連讀，luxuries 重音在前，poor thing 放輕收。

There are no funds for a bigger car this year. 今年拿不出錢換更大的車。

前半句數落人，後半句抬出舊身份，兩句話就把家世壓人一頭。

He used to be ...

用過去的身份壓人、提醒對方你也有些來歷；對平輩說會顯得擺譜。

He was an M.P. in his day. ／ He once sat in Parliament.

口語

used to 連讀成 yoosta，M. P. 兩個字母分開念。

He used to be the head of the department. 他當年可是部門主管。