on thin ice如履薄冰

把「不是約會」說得又繞又認真，越用力澄清越顯得心虛。

I didn't want there to be any mistaking it for ...

想強調一件事別被誤讀時用；日常閒聊這樣說太長，正式澄清倒很合適。

I didn't want anyone to take it the wrong way. ／ I wanted no chance of it looking like a date.

中性

there to be 輕讀，mistaking it for 連讀，date 稍作停頓。

I didn't want there to be any mistaking it for a work trip. 我不想讓這被誤會成出差。

先說處境危險，再拋一個更大的包袱，自嘲裡全是坦白。

I'm already on thin ice with ...

形容自己已經惹人不滿、不能再出錯時用；對上司說等於承認理虧，要慎用。

I'm already in trouble with my family. ／ I'm walking on eggshells at home.

口語

thin ice 連讀，with my 弱讀，lost my job 放慢。

I'm already on thin ice with my boss after last week. 上週之後，我在老闆那兒已經如履薄冰了。

一句大白話說出病人的自救心態，you know 讓獨白變成對話。

I just gotta get a ...

跟朋友說自己需要辦法時用；gotta 太口語，正式場合換成 have to。

I just need to find a plan. ／ I've got to work out a strategy.

口語

gotta get a 連讀成一塊，you know 輕帶上揚。

I just gotta get a study plan before Monday. 週一之前我得弄出個複習計劃。

把最難堪的理由說得平淡，後半句輕描淡寫反而更刺人。

I was very depressed after ... It was a lot of people.

解釋自己一段荒唐過往時用，帶自嘲和平靜；正式場合別這麼隨口交代。

I was really low after he died. There were a lot of people. ／ Grief made me reckless. It added up.

口語

very depressed 放平，a lot of people 快速帶過。

I was very depressed after the divorce. It was a lot of bad decisions. 離婚後我特別低落。那時候做了不少糊塗決定。

把「吃藥」和「羞恥」綁在一句裡，說出很多人不敢說的難堪。

... which I feel ashamed of.

坦白自己難以啟齒的處境時用，適合信任的人之間；當眾說可能被輕看。

They gave me pills, and I'm ashamed of it. ／ I'm on medication, and I hate admitting it.

中性

put me on 連讀，ashamed of 放低收尾。

I see a therapist now, which I feel ashamed of. 我現在看心理醫生，我為此覺得丟人。