give someone the brush把某人打發了

把一個人的分量誇成整座片廠的地基，狂妄裡帶著被時代拋下的酸楚。

Without me, there wouldn't be ...

強調自己不可替代時用；朋友間能壯聲勢，對同事說就成了搶功。

Without us, none of this exists. ／ Take me out and the whole thing collapses.

口語

兩個 without me 都重讀，絕對口氣別斷。

Without me, there wouldn't be a single client left. 沒有我，一個客戶都不會剩下。

先替對方的年紀扶額，再順手自嘲，既圓場又拉近。

I hate to think where that puts me.

被人拿年齡打趣時自嘲用；對不熟的人說容易像在暗示對方老。

I don't want to do the math on that. ／ That makes me the old one here.

口語

hate to think 連讀，puts me 輕帶，father 落下重音。

If she's forty, I hate to think where that puts me. 要是她才四十，我真不敢想我算多大。

用影迷的數量替自己開脫，反問裡全是此行的刻薄和心虛。

..., have given her the brush. Isn't that enough?

替自己找理由、把難題推給別人時用；當面這樣說很傷人。

The whole city has moved on. Isn't that answer enough? ／ Everyone else said no. Must I say it too?

口語

Thirty million 重讀，Isn't that enough 尾音上揚反問。

Ten agents have given him the brush. Isn't that enough? 十個經紀人都把他擋回去了，這還不夠嗎？

把捧殺說成一場慢性事故，冷靜一句勝過整段同情。

... can do terrible things to the human spirit.

感慨名聲或吹捧的副作用時用；在輕鬆閒聊裡說會顯得太重。

Too much praise can ruin a person. ／ Constant flattery does real damage.

literary

working overtime 連讀，terrible things 放慢，spirit 收低。

A year of headlines can do terrible things to the human spirit. 一年的頭條能把一個人的心氣兒毀掉。

三句短話把界限劃清又送了祝福，退讓裡有真心也有自知。

It's your ... It's your ... Good luck.

把專案交給別人、自己抽身時用；若還想參與就別說這句。

It's your call, your project. All the best. ／ Your script, your call. Go get them.

中性

兩個 It's your 平讀，Good luck 乾脆收尾。

It's your campaign. It's your call. Good luck. 這是你的專案，你說了算。祝順利。

回憶裡先放一個禮貌的小動作，再抖出跳舞的狂放，反差就是她。

I remember ... I was ...

講一段活靈活現的舊事時用；面試自我介紹別用這種逞能的調子。

I still picture you there. I was on a table, of all places. ／ I waved to you while dancing on a table.

口語

I remember 輕起，dancing on a table 每個詞都清楚落下。

I remember chasing the bus. I was wearing slippers. 我記得追那趟公交來著。我當時還穿著拖鞋。