這場戲：挑戰從沒人爬過的巖壁
第 5 章 · 共 24 章 · 4'23"
約塞米蒂的酋長巖高三千英尺，黎明牆更是從沒人徒手爬過。湯米和凱文要 in a single push（一鼓作氣）不留退路地爬上去，每一段都難到 on the verge of（眼看就要）滑落。想學怎麼形容「沒有退路」和「差一點」的極限狀態，這幾句很到位。
「一鼓作氣」爬上去：in a single push
in a single push 一鼓作氣、一次不間斷going for it 放手一搏deep breaths 深呼吸
「眼看就要」滑落：on the verge of slipping off
way more difficult 難得多make any mistake 犯一點錯on the verge of slipping off 懸在滑落的邊緣
約塞米蒂被稱為世界攀巖的聖地，而聖地最耀眼的 crown jewel（明珠）就是酋長巖。其中黎明牆最陡、最光禿，從沒人徒手爬上去過。湯米和凱文定下目標：in a single push（一鼓作氣）爬完整條線路，中途不下巖壁。每一段兩人 take turns（輪流）領攀，每天要爬夠一定段數才能 stay on track（按計劃推進）。越往上巖壁越陡、巖點越小，手怎麼抓、腳趾怎麼踩都不能出錯，全程都 on the verge of（眼看就要）滑落。
A1–C2 是歐標等級。點一個等級後，比它高的卡片會變淡，播放到那裡不會自動暫停。
“Yosemite is known as the Mecca of world rock climbing.”
約塞米蒂被稱為世界攀巖的聖地。
用「聖地」給一整片山谷定級，一句話交代了所有攀巖者的座標。
X is known as the Mecca of ...
說某地是某圈子的聖地時用；誇張介紹要分清物件。
This place is the spiritual home of the sport. ／ For climbers, this valley is hallowed ground.
中性
known as 連讀，the Mecca of 重讀，句尾放平。
Boston is known as the Mecca of marathon running. 波士頓被譽為馬拉松的聖地。
“But the Dawn Wall has never been climbed.”
但黎明牆從來沒人爬上去過。
一個「但」把整座聖地的例外挑出來，懸念就此成立。
But X has never been climbed.
指出某件事從未被做到時用；正式報道也常用這個被動句式。
But that face has never been done. ／ No one had ever stood on top of it.
中性
has never been 連讀成一串，climbed 尾音輕收。
But this distance has never been run under two hours. 但這個距離從沒人跑進過兩小時。
“Nothing else is even close to it.”
別的線路連它的邊都夠不著。
不說「它最難」，說別人「夠不著邊」，高低差一下就拉開了。
Nothing else is even close to it.
強調某物遙遙領先時用；誇自己作品時這樣說容易顯得自滿。
Nothing else comes anywhere near it. ／ The rest are not even in the same league.
中性
even close to it 連讀，even 重讀，句尾收得乾脆。
In speed, nothing else is even close to it. 論速度，別的連它的邊都沾不上。
“There's nothing left to do but take a couple deep breaths and start climbing.”
現在能做的，只有深吸幾口氣，然後開始爬。
準備做到極致後，只剩「深呼吸、開始」兩個動作，反而最有力。
There's nothing left to do but ... and ...
萬事俱備、只能動手時用；日常小事別這麼鄭重。
All that's left is to breathe and begin. ／ There is nothing else now but to start.
中性
nothing left to do but 連讀，deep breaths 重讀後略停。
There's nothing left to do but walk out and sing. 現在只剩走出去開口唱了。
“You're pushing and pulling as hard as you possibly can, always on the verge of slipping off.”
你拼盡全力地推和拉，始終懸在滑落的邊緣。
把極限攀爬寫成持續「快要滑落」的狀態，緊張感一直不掉。
You're ... as hard as you possibly can, always on the verge of ...
形容繃到極限、隨時會失手時用；正式寫作可保留此句式。
You push yourself to the limit, seconds from falling. ／ Every move keeps you inches from slipping.
中性
pushing and pulling 連讀，on the verge of 快速帶過，slipping off 放慢。
We worked as hard as we possibly could, always on the verge of burnout. 我們拼到極限，始終遊走在崩潰邊緣。
“You can't make any mistake in where you grab the hold and how you place your toe.”
手抓在哪個點、腳趾怎麼踩，一點都不能錯。
把成敗拆到手指和腳趾的毫米級，具體得讓人手心出汗。
You can't make any mistake in ... and how ...
強調細節上零容忍時用；日常提醒別這麼嚴厲。
One slip in your grip and you are off. ／ Every hand and foot placement has to be exact.
中性
make any mistake 連讀，where you grab 重讀，place your toe 放慢。
You can't make any mistake in where you cut. 下刀的位置，一點都不能錯。
“Each pitch is its own challenge, like the stages of a race.”
每一段都是單獨的挑戰，就像賽跑裡的一個個賽段。
用「賽跑的賽段」給抽象的分段一個日常參照，一聽就懂。
Each X is its own challenge, like ...
把一連串難關逐個說明時用；正式場合這樣比喻也清楚。
Every stage stands alone, like legs of a relay. ／ Each section is a race in itself.
中性
its own challenge 重讀，like the stages of a race 連讀帶下來。
Each subject is its own challenge, like a separate race. 每一科都是單獨的挑戰，就像各自一場比賽。
下一章 · 06get back on that horse重新振作再來這場戲：巖壁生活與心理自愈意思是「瀕臨、眼看就要」，後面接即將發生的事。片裡說 always on the verge of slipping off，就是「始終懸在滑落的邊緣」。
in a single push。push 在這裡指一次連續的行動，in a single push 就是一口氣做完、中途不停，攀巖裡指一次不間斷登頂。
crown jewel。crown 是王冠，jewel 是寶石，crown jewel 原指王冠上的寶石，引申為「最珍貴、最核心的那件東西」。
意思是「按計劃推進、不脫軌」。track 是軌道，stay on track 就是保持在既定進度上，工作、訓練、旅行都能用。
take turns 是「輪流做同一件事」，主語通常是人；in turn 是「依次、反過來」，多用來連線先後順序，兩者不能混用。
