double or quits要麼翻倍要麼免賬

一句文化對照：同樣的傷，有人藏起來，有人偏要亮出來。

X would do A to show that B.

對朋友半開玩笑地比較兩種習慣時用，正式道歉場合別用。

A Frenchman would keep the scar hidden. ／ Most men would grow the moustache instead.

中性

would 輕讀，重音落在 shave 和 scar 上。

My neighbour would wash his car every Sunday to show that he cares. 我鄰居每週日都洗車，就想讓人知道他在乎。

把冒失說成本分，一半自嘲一半護短，立場很穩。

My dear X, [group] cause [thing].

替某類人開脫、又想留點幽默時用，正式聲明裡不要說。

Soldiers will be soldiers. ／ It's what soldiers do.

中性

soldiers 重讀，cause 與 military 連成一串。

My dear Anna, engineers cause little chaos. 親愛的安娜，工程師嘛，總得製造點小混亂。

把鬍子寫成先頭部隊，畫面感全靠一個 preceded by。

I saw X, preceded by Y.

誇張地形容某人的派頭或陣仗時用，寫正經報告別用。

he walked in, followed by his ego ／ she arrived, trailed by cameras

literary

preceded by 連讀，重音落在 moustaches。

The CEO entered, preceded by three assistants. 那位總裁進門，三個助理先到。

承認分歧又不傷和氣，把界線說得體面。

That's one of the points where we differ.

和熟人笑著承認看法不同時用，談判決裂時不要用。

that's where we part ways ／ we'll have to agree to differ

中性

where we differ 連讀，differ 收得乾脆。

That's one of the points where we differ, and I still like you. 這就是我們分歧之一，不過我還是喜歡你。