God forbid但願千萬別

先劃出界限再給客人臺階，一句客氣話裡全是戒備。

We are not used to ..., but you're welcome here.

不想被突然打擾、又得保持禮貌時用；對朋友說會顯得生分。

We don't get many visitors this late. ／ You're welcome, though we keep early nights.

中性

not used to 放平，you're welcome here 微微上揚。

We are not used to guests after ten, but come in. 我們十點後不常有客人，不過進來吧。

把『喝不下』說成酒在肚裡造反，用詞古怪又生動。

It rebels my stomach.

婉拒吃喝時用，帶點幽默；正式宴席上別用會顯得挑剔。

It turns my stomach. ／ My stomach won't take it.

口語

rebels 重讀，my stomach 稍停，後半句放緩。

None for me; it rebels my stomach tonight. 我不喝了，今晚這酒讓我反胃。

用兩個對稱分句把缺席變成虔誠，反駁得有理有節。

I did X when I could, and when I could not I did Y.

被指責不守規矩、想說明自己另有堅持時用，語氣要穩。

I showed up whenever I could, and prayed when I couldn't. ／ When I could not go, I kept faith at home.

正式

兩個 when I could 前後呼應，重音落在 surely 和 prayed。

I helped when I could, and when I could not I sent money. 能幫的時候我都幫了，幫不上時我就出錢。

先給定論，再抬出對方的信仰壓人，溫和的句式下是硬釘子。

Your house is not a church; your theology must tell you that.

用對方的準則反駁對方時用，很有效但很傷人；日常慎用。

This is a home, not a church, and you know it. ／ By your own rules, this is not a church.

正式

not a church 重讀，theology 稍抬，收尾下沉。

This is an office, not a home; your contract must tell you that. 這是辦公室不是家，你的合同該告訴你這點。

用『沒有更巧的手』夸人，把對舊物的懷念說得又暖又硬。

A sweeter hand never touched ...

真心夸人手藝、懷念舊物時用，帶感情；客套場合會顯得誇張。

No finer hand ever touched it. ／ I have never seen better work.

literary

sweeter hand 連讀，never touched 略微加重。

My grandmother made this; a sweeter hand never touched wood. 這是我奶奶做的，再沒有更巧的手碰過木頭。

用 dream not 加木屋的樸素意象，暗示對方圖的是排場。

I think, sometimes, someone dreams not ...

含蓄點破別人野心時用，帶諷刺；當面說就是撕破臉。

Sometimes I think he wants more than this. ／ I suspect his dream is not a simple one.

literary

sometimes 後停頓，dreams not 連讀，句尾放低。

I think, sometimes, he dreams not of the job but the title. 我有時覺得，他想的不只是這份差事，而是頭銜。