there's the rub難就難在這兒

把說不清的戀愛規律一句點破，越無解越像真理。

Somehow they know not to ... until you ...

跟朋友感嘆某種看透了的規律時用；對當事人說會顯得冷。

Somehow they can tell when you've truly moved on. ／ They always show up the moment you stop waiting.

口語

Somehow 輕讀，not to come back 連讀，until 後稍停。

Somehow they know not to text until you stop checking your phone. 她們好像就是知道，等你不盯手機了才會來訊息。

一句老練的勸慰，把情緒拉回到更大的座標系裡。

put something in perspective

朋友鑽牛角尖時勸他用；正式文書裡少用，語氣偏口語。

You need to keep things in perspective. ／ Try to see it in perspective.

中性

have to 連讀成 hafta，in perspective 重音在 -spec-。

Put it in perspective: one bad review won't end your career. 換個角度想，一篇差評毀不了你的事業。

最老套也最順口的安慰，失戀時人人都被塞過這句。

There are plenty of fish in the sea.

安慰失戀的人時說；當事人正難受時，這話容易顯得敷衍。

There are other fish in the sea. ／ Plenty more fish in the sea.

口語

plenty of 連讀，fish in the 連成一串，句尾放平。

Don't fixate on one rejection; there are plenty of fish in the sea. 別為一回拒絕鑽牛角尖，天涯何處無芳草。

把「你越使勁越糟」說成一句冷靜的判詞，扎心卻讓人沒法反駁。

you can only do stuff to make ... not ...

勸人別再折騰、指出努力方向反了時能用；對正難過的人直接這樣說會顯得冷酷，別用。

The only thing you can do is push her further away. ／ Whatever you do now just makes it worse.

中性

In fact 輕起，only do stuff 連讀，not want to come back 平穩收。

At this point you can only do stuff to make it worse. 到這一步，你能做的只會讓事情更糟。