at the drop of a hat一有機會就

一句玩笑式的「店規」，把安慰說成規矩，既體面又貼心。

I have a strict policy that ...

半開玩笑地安慰朋友時用；正式場合或對上級別說這句。

My rule is that no one cries alone here. ／ Nobody sulks alone in this house.

口語

strict policy 重讀，nobody cries alone 三個重音，presence 輕收。

I have a strict policy that nobody eats lunch alone on Fridays. 我有個鐵規矩：週五沒人可以一個人吃午飯。

用最平常的句式說出了她想掌控生活的全部心思，輕，卻沉。

make things as ... as possible

表達想盡量簡化某件事時用；談判或正式文書裡更適合用盡可能的措辭。

I want to keep things as simple as possible. ／ I need to simplify everything.

中性

as simple as possible 一氣讀出，重音落在 simple 和 possible。

Let's make the instructions as simple as possible. 我們把說明寫得越簡單越好。

把「就一次」翻出新意，成了全家看重小事的最好理由。

You only have X once

勸人珍惜某次機會時用；說正事時可換成更正式的說法。

You only turn one once. ／ This day comes only once.

中性

only 和 once 重讀，first birthday 連讀。

You only have your first concert once. 頭一回看演唱會一輩子就一次。

用誇張的例外製造畫面，把荒唐事說得好笑又不點破。

everything but ...

熟人之間誇張描述荒唐場面時用；正式彙報裡千萬別這麼說。

He'd tried everything but the kitchen sink. ／ They drank everything but the furniture.

口語

everything but 連讀，shoes 收尾咬清。

They ate everything but the plates. 他們什麼都吃了，差點沒把盤子也啃了。