sell on something靠某樣東西賣出去

兩次客氣加一句必須，軟中帶硬，把不肯掛電話的堅持說到位。

I'm sorry to ..., but I must ...

要禮貌地堅持一件事時用；對上級陌生人都合適，但別拿它硬頂。

Sorry to trouble you, but I really need to speak to him. ／ I hate to insist, but this can't wait.

中性

在 but 處稍停，must 加重，句尾放平收住。

I'm sorry to bother you again, but I must have the file by noon. 很抱歉又來催您，但這份檔案我中午前必須拿到。

一個 please 夾在命令裡，客氣話反而更冷，逐客令下得毫不留情。

And you will please not ...

想下逐客令又要維持體面時用；對客戶長輩這麼說會顯得傲慢傷人。

And I would ask you not to call again. ／ Please don't call here again.

正式

please 輕讀帶過，not 重讀，末尾降調收。

And you will please not call this number again. 也請你不要再打這個號碼了。

輕描淡寫一句謊，把女人找上門說成找狗，護主護得不動聲色。

Nothing. Somebody inquiring about ...

替人遮掩、把事情說小時用；對當事人撒謊前要想清楚後果。

Nobody, just a wrong number. ／ Just someone asking about a dog.

中性

Nothing 後短停，inquiring about 連讀，語氣體貼而穩。

Nothing, boss. Somebody inquiring about a delivery. 沒事，老闆。是有人來問一批貨。

把最大的實話包在客氣裡，一句戳破迷信又不撕破臉。

I hope you realize (that) ...

想委婉提醒對方別自欺時用；對剛認識的人講容易像教訓人。

You do know that ..., right? ／ I hope I don't have to tell you that ...

中性

I hope you realize 連成一串，charts 重讀。

I hope you realize that luck won't close the deal for you. 希望你能明白，光靠運氣這單是談不成的。

兩句對仗，把劇本交易翻成一個人的全部押注，自負又悲涼。

I'm not just ... I'm ...

要強調自己押上全部、不只是交東西時用；別用成自吹自擂。

This isn't just a product. It's me. ／ I'm not selling a plan. I'm selling myself.

中性

兩句都重讀 selling，第二句 me 拖長收束。

I'm not just offering skills. I'm offering me. 我提供的不只是技能，我提供的是我這個人。

過去時 always said 藏著一整段回不去的輝煌，自己卻當成現在。

Somebody always said I was ...

回味別人當年的誇獎時用；對陌生人反覆說會顯得活在過去。

He used to call me his best. ／ She always told me I was the one.

中性

always 重讀，was 輕帶，star 稍微上揚。

My old boss always said I was his best hire. 我以前的老闆總說我是他招得最好的人。

一句轉折把重點從事實挪到鏡子：不看處境，只看自己。

But the point is, ...

要把話拉回重點時用；爭執中老用它，會顯得不接對方的話。

The thing is, ... ／ What matters is, ...

口語

the point is 一口氣帶過，never 重讀，末尾降調。

But the point is, we already paid for it. 但關鍵是，這筆錢我們已經付了。