crème de la crème精英中的精英

把「活法不對」說成「節奏不對」，一句就給對方留了臺階；建議聽起來像關心，不是在指責。

You need a little change of pace.

勸人換環境、換作息、換心情時用，語氣輕鬆，別用在別人正倒霉的時候。

You could use a change of scenery. ／ Time to shake up your routine.

中性

change of pace 連讀，pace 放慢重讀收尾。

You need a little change of pace after months at the same desk. 在同一張桌子前坐了幾個月，你需要換換節奏。

You need a little change of pace, so why not move closer to the water? 你需要換換節奏，乾脆搬到離水近點的地方吧。

一句門檻話，把地方抬成身份篩選器；說的人還沒進門，氣勢先到了。

Only the crème de la crème need apply.

半開玩笑地誇圈子高階、門檻高時用；對認真求職的人說就不合適了。

Only the best of the best make the cut. ／ This place is invite-only for a reason.

口語

crème de la crème 三詞一氣呵成，need apply 壓低聲收住。

Only the crème de la crème need apply for this private club. 這傢俬人會所，只有精英中的精英才夠格申請。

把朋友哄人的殷勤直接定性成「表演」，一個詞就拆穿了整套客套，損得乾脆。

That was the most ... display I've ever seen.

看不慣別人演、裝、討好時說，語氣刻薄，熟人損人可以，正式場合別用。

That was the most obvious act I have ever seen. ／ I have never watched such a performance.

口語

most sickening display 重讀，I've ever seen 放慢收尾。

That was the most shameless display I've ever seen at a dinner. 那是我在飯局上見過的最不要臉的一場作秀。

把追人的進展說成「磨損」，一個動詞就帶出耐心、算計和得意，坦率得有點好笑。

I think I'm wearing ... down.

追人、談判或說服別人慢慢鬆口時用；對長輩、正式場合別說，顯得在算計。

I think I'm slowly winning her over. ／ I can feel her resistance fading.

口語

think 稍輕，wearing her down 三詞連讀收尾。

I think I'm wearing her down with all these small favors. 我覺得靠這些小恩小惠，我快把她磨軟了。