go to the devil叫某人滾蛋

一句彙報把否認和偽造連成一體，替後面談價鋪好了臺階。

I mentioned the matter to ..., and she denies ...

向人轉述自己問過誰、對方怎麼答時用；正式彙報很常見。

I raised it with her, and she denies it. ／ I asked her, and she says she never wrote it.

正式

denies having written 連讀，anything of the sort 收尾。

I mentioned the matter to the manager, and he denies any part in it. 我跟經理提了這件事，他否認與此有關。

用問句遞刀，表面禮貌，其實是在套對方是否真的不在乎。

there would be no objection if ...?

試探對方態度時用；客氣卻有目的，談判桌上很常見。

You wouldn't object if he passed it on? ／ I take it you have no objection?

正式

no objection if 連讀，句尾上揚表示試探。

There would be no objection if we moved the date? 我們把日期改一下，應該沒問題吧？

喬伊斯不問真假也不問價錢，只問條件，一句話就把話題推到了交易上。

Under what circumstance would someone be induced to ...?

詢問對方要什麼條件才肯做時用；正式、留餘地，適合談判。

What would it take for him to part with it? ／ On what terms would he hand it over?

正式

induced to 連讀，part with the letter 一頓一收。

Under what circumstance would they be induced to sell? 要什麼條件他們才肯賣？

不還價也不客套，一句老式咒罵把整場交易當場掀翻。

Tell your friend to go to the devil.

被開出離譜條件時用；粗魯不客氣，正式場合絕不能說。

Tell your friend to get lost. ／ He can go to hell for all I care.

口語

go to the devil 連讀，devil 重讀落點。

Tell him to go to the devil; we won't pay that. 叫他一邊兒去，這個價我們不付。

先斬後奏卻說得體面周全，中間人的手段全在這句話裡。

I took the liberty of ...

先做了再告知對方時用；禮貌得體，商務往來很常見。

I took the liberty of arranging it. ／ I hope you don't mind; I went ahead.

正式

took the liberty of 連讀，lunch with you 平穩收句。

I took the liberty of booking a table for eight. 我自作主張訂了一張八人桌。

一個反問點破她的處境：她連門都出不去，遑論親自送錢。

Do you suppose ... can just ... whenever ...?

指出對方想得太隨意時用；帶責備，語氣相當衝。

Do you think she can come and go as she likes? ／ She can't simply walk out, you know.

口語

walk out 連讀，whenever 重讀，句尾上揚。

Do you suppose you can just leave whenever you feel like it? 你以為想走就能隨便走嗎？

一句直問戳穿熱心裡藏著的私心，也是這場交易最要緊的問題。

What are you getting out of this?

懷疑對方另有所圖時用；直白犀利，對熟人問會顯得不信任。

What's in it for you? ／ What do you stand to gain?

口語

getting out of 連讀，this 重讀收句。

What are you getting out of all this help? 你這麼熱心，到底圖什麼？