in your pocket任其擺佈

兩個反問把送禮的人架在桌上：先問動機，再問資格，不動聲色地拆穿慷慨背後的交換。

Why do you come to me? Why do I deserve this ...?

別人突然給出大好處時用，語氣平靜卻警惕；關係親近的人之間說會顯得見外。

Why me, and what is this really for? ／ What did I do to earn this generosity?

正式

Why do you come to me 放慢，deserve this generosity 加重收尾。

Why do you come to me? Why do I deserve this promotion? 你為什麼來找我？我憑什麼得到這次升職？

Why do you come to me? Why do I deserve this kindness? 你為什麼來找我？我憑什麼受這份好意？

把「不」說成終局判決，不留討價餘地。短句加正式稱呼，客氣裡全是不可動搖。

My no is final.

鄭重地終結一次談判時用，語氣剋制；對熟人這樣收尾，可能顯得太冷。

My answer is no, and that is final. ／ This decision is not open for discussion.

正式

my no 稍頓，is final 一字一頓收尾。

My no is final; I hope you find another partner. 我的拒絕是最終的，祝你另找合夥人。

My no is final, so let us not revisit it. 我的拒絕是最終的，咱們別再翻來覆去談它。

用一句平實的判斷把職業高低撇開，只看人本身，劃清了評判行當與評判人的界限。

It doesn't make any difference to me what a man does for a living.

表示不因職業評斷他人時用，語氣平靜；在敏感話題裡說，容易被聽成預設縱容。

What someone does for work does not change how I see them. ／ Their job makes no difference to me.

中性

any difference 連讀，for a living 放慢收尾。

It doesn't matter to me what someone did before this job. 這人在做這份工作之前幹過什麼，我不在乎。

It makes no difference to me where a person grew up. 一個人在哪裡長大，對我來說沒區別。

把政治人脈說成口袋裡的零錢：隨手就能用。比喻冷而精確，權力感撲面而來。

I need those ... that you carry in your pocket, like nickels and dimes.

形容某人隨手可動用的人脈或資源時用，帶半開玩笑的敬畏；對當事人本人說會顯得冒犯。

He keeps his contacts like loose change. ／ Those favors are pocket money to him.

正式

in your pocket 連讀，like nickels and dimes 放慢收尾。

She keeps those editors in her pocket, like spare keys. 她把那些編輯揣在兜裡，就像備用鑰匙。

He treats his old classmates like spare change. 他把老同學當成隨手可掏的零錢。