talking to a brick wall說了等於白說

一句錄用話不帶官腔，best I can tell 先壓住架子，再把人誇到心裡。

best I can tell, ...

熟人之間宣佈好訊息時用；正式郵件裡別這麼隨口。

From what I can see, you've got the job. ／ The way I look at it, you're hired.

口語

best I can tell 連讀帶過，landed yourself 加重。

Best I can tell, you've earned yourself a spot on the team. 依我看，你已經給自己爭到了一個名額。

把說不通的無力感壓進一個日常比喻，誰都聽懂，誰都嘆氣。

It's like talking to a ...

對說不通的人抱怨時用；當面說對方會顯得很不客氣。

It's like talking to a stone. ／ Might as well talk to the wall.

口語

talking to a 連讀，brick wall 兩個重音咬清。

Trying to explain it to him is like talking to a brick wall. 跟他解釋這事，就像對著一堵牆說話。

用誇張又具體的老比喻說忙，比喊累生動十倍。

busier than a ...

忙到腳不沾地時自嘲用；對客戶或長輩說會顯得隨意。

We'll be busier than a bee in a flower shop. ／ Swamped doesn't even cover it today.

口語

busier than a 連讀，one-armed 重音在 arm。

On sale day we're busier than a one-armed paper hanger. 打折那天我們忙得像只有一隻手還在貼牆紙。

把被吵到崩潰說成一個具體畫面：連自己的念頭都聽不見。

I can't hear myself think.

家裡或辦公室太吵、沒法專心時對人抱怨用；對上司別這麼說，會像在發火。

It's so loud I can't hear myself think. ／ I can't think straight with all this noise.

口語

can't hear myself 連讀，think 拉長重讀。

Turn that drill off, I can't hear myself think. 把那電鑽關掉，吵得我沒法思考。