take a toll造成很大損耗

一個 combined 把難度抬到全山之上，數字感就是壓迫感。

A has more X than all the others combined.

想強調某樣東西遠超同類總和時用；正式報告裡也站得住。

It beats all the others put together. ／ No other route comes close in difficulty.

中性

more hard pitches 連讀，every other 輕快帶過，combined 收重音。

This project has more deadlines than the other three combined. 這個專案的截止日期比另外三個加起來還多。

用 futile 和 in terms of 兩個詞把多年的懷疑說得剋制又清楚。

I always thought it was futile in terms of ...

說多年來的懷疑或不看好時用；口氣偏理性，適合復盤。

I never believed the whole thing was doable. ／ Finishing it always seemed pointless to me.

中性

always 弱讀，futile 重讀，in terms of 連讀放輕。

I always thought it was futile in terms of finishing on time. 我一直覺得，想按時完成根本是白費勁。

把最狠的否定說得像朋友拍肩，一句就帶著不服氣的回擊。

This is a pipe dream.

說某件事不切實際時用；帶調侃或勸阻，別對上級這樣說。

That's never going to happen. ／ You're chasing a fantasy.

口語

pipe dream 緊連，man 輕帶，Come on 尾音下壓。

Buying a house this year is a pipe dream. 今年買房純屬白日做夢。

一句短評點破長年堅持背後的消耗，畫面正好落在傷口上。

Living on ... takes a huge toll.

說長期壓力慢慢把人拖垮時用；對同事、家人都能說。

It slowly wears you down. ／ The lifestyle comes at a heavy price.

中性

Living on 連讀，huge toll 兩個重音後收住。

Living on four hours of sleep takes a huge toll. 天天只睡四個小時，代價極大。

不形容傷口，只把鏡頭推給腳，一句話就讓代價自己說話。

This is what X does to Y.

指著實物講長期代價時用；口語有力，正式場合也能接受。

Look what this place did to us. ／ That's the price this work demands.

中性

what El Cap 連讀，does to 弱讀，feet 重讀收尾。

This is what a winter of climbing does to your hands. 這就是一整個冬天攀巖對手乾的事。

坦白說出懷疑，反而讓信任顯得真實，不是喊口號。

There were times I thought ...

回顧一段不輕鬆的關係或合作時用；敘事裡很自然。

Sometimes I questioned his judgment. ／ At points I thought he had lost it.

中性

There were times 連讀，totally 重讀，crazy 尾音稍揚。

There were times I thought my partner was totally crazy. 有幾次我覺得我搭檔簡直是瘋了。