by heart背得滾瓜爛熟

先說想睡，再說沒得睡，轉折越輕越顯疲憊，英式牢騷就這麼說。

I could have done with ... myself, but ...

自己也很累卻還得赴約時用，熟人之間抱怨，正式場合少用。

I could have used a nap myself. ／ A nap would have been nice, but I am due out.

中性

could have 連讀，重音落在 nap 與 theatre。

I could have done with a break myself, but the shift is short-staffed. 我自己也想歇會兒，可這班人太少。

罵到一半卡殼，重複的 damned 暴露他詞彙有限又火氣上頭，滑稽得真實。

Ought to be ashamed of yourselves, doing ... like ...

長輩責罵晚輩失態時用，帶偏見色彩，現代場合要避開。

You ought to be ashamed, carrying on like that. ／ Have you no shame, shouting like that?

口語

ashamed of 連讀，兩次 damned 之間故意停頓。

You ought to be ashamed of yourselves, yelling like that in a library. 你們該害臊，在圖書館裡那樣大喊大叫。

一邊是死亡一邊是喧鬧，用 while 對舉，指責的分量全壓在這一句裡。

People are ... while others are ...

譴責兩邊待遇懸殊、有人不知輕重時用，語氣很重。

Soldiers are dying while officers are out celebrating. ／ One side suffers while the other plays.

正式

losing their 連讀，while 後稍停，重音落在 drunkards。

Staff are losing their weekends while managers are roaring about bonuses. 員工在犧牲週末，經理卻在為獎金喧鬧。

前一句還板著臉，這句忽然轉為長輩式溫和，勳章一句就把敵意化開。

I hope you enjoy ... You've earned it.

對辛苦過的人表示肯定時用，真誠又不過分熱絡。

Enjoy it, you've worked for this. ／ You deserve a good rest after that.

中性

two boys 連讀，earned it 收得短而肯定。

Enjoy the trip, you two; you have earned the break. 你們倆旅途愉快，這趟休息是應得的。

把人稱“大猩猩”地趕去讀信，損人裡帶著親熱，舊式英國味十足。

Read it, you big ape.

跟很熟的朋友玩笑催他做事時用，陌生人絕對別這麼叫。

Just read it, you great lump. ／ Read it yourself, you big oaf.

口語

read it 連讀，big ape 兩個詞都重讀。

Open it, you big ape; it is not going to bite. 快開啟，你這大塊頭，它又不會咬人。