a pressing engagement要緊的約會

把創作者最深的恐懼一句話說穿，直白得像條行規。

Never let another X do Y. He may ...

提醒別人防著同行時用；當面說朋友會偷，會顯得不信任。

Never hand your draft to a rival. ／ Keep your ideas to yourself around other writers.

中性

Never let another 連讀，steal it 收得乾脆。

Never let another team read your proposal. They may copy it. 別讓別的團隊看你的方案，他們會照抄。

一個詞就能點燃她，把自尊和執念全暴露出來，短促有力。

I hate that word! It's a ...

別人用錯詞、戳到痛處時用；對長輩或客戶發火要三思。

Do not call it that. It is a return. ／ That word is exactly what I refuse.

口語

hate that word 加重，It's a return 逐詞重讀。

I hate that word! Call it a comeback year, not a recovery. 我討厭那個詞！該叫翻身年，不叫復甦。

把看爛稿說成一種消遣，自嘲裡帶著職業的傲慢。

Sometimes it's interesting to see just how X can be.

看別人的失敗作品或操作時用；當著作者面說會傷人。

It is fascinating to watch how badly this can go. ／ You have to admire how low it can sink.

口語

just how bad 與 bad writing 之間稍停，重讀 bad。

Sometimes it's interesting to see just how bad a sequel can be. 有時候看看續集能爛到什麼地步，也挺有意思。

把躲債說成「有約」，越輕描淡寫越顯出他的窘迫。

I had no pressing engagement, except with ...

半開玩笑地承認自己閒著、躲不開某件事時用；正式場合別這麼油。

I had nothing pressing, unless you count the creditors. ／ No plans, except dodging the finance office.

口語

pressing engagement 連讀，finance office 放慢收尾。

I had no pressing engagement, except with my tax forms. 我沒什麼要緊事，除了要和報稅表打交道。

給一隻猴子的葬禮配上「莊重」，越正經越好笑。

It was all done with great X.

一本正經地描述荒誕場面時用；真在喪事上調侃會失禮。

The whole thing was carried off with great ceremony. ／ They handled it with surprising solemnity.

literary

all done 連讀，great dignity 兩詞都重讀。

The office farewell was all done with great dignity. 這場辦公室歡送會辦得格外隆重。

先挑錯再補一句「你不是專業的」，安慰聽著像補刀。

Maybe it's a little ..., but you're not a professional X.

想委婉挑毛病又踩了對方一腳時用；職場反饋裡慎用，容易得罪人。

It has some rough spots, but you are not a pro yet. ／ A few flaws here and there, though you are no professional.

中性

Maybe it's 輕帶，but 後放慢，professional writer 收尾。

Maybe the slides are a little dense, but you are not a designer. 幻燈片也許是擠了點，可你畢竟不是設計師。