knock on wood敲木頭求好運

一句老派的交朋友標準：真正的朋友不挑時辰，也不會為了一頓飯湊熱鬧。它把人情和客套分得很清，短、好記，換個場合照樣能用來分辨誰是真心的。

If someone is really your friend, he ...

用來判斷誰是真朋友、拒絕虛情假意的應酬時用，對熟人隨口說，語氣帶點老練。

A real friend shows up whether there's food or not. ／ True friends don't need an invitation to dinner.

口語

Listen 輕起，really 重讀，comes after dinner 放慢收尾。

If someone is really your friend, they help you move, not just show up for the party. 一個人要是真拿你當朋友，會來幫你搬家，而不是隻來吃席。

把等待獎金的心情說成一個精巧的比喻：沒拆開的信封裡裝著無限可能，一拆就落地。它講的其實是所有沒揭曉的希望——拖著不面對，正是因為它還允許你做夢。

As long as ..., you're a ...

形容結果揭曉前那種甜蜜的懸念時用，對誰都合適，語氣從容又帶點自我安慰。

While it's still unknown, anything is possible. ／ Keep the box closed and you can dream a little longer.

中性

As long as 連讀，envelope's closed 平穩帶過，you're a millionaire 放慢加重。

As long as the results aren't out, you can still hope for the best. 只要成績還沒出，你就還能往好處想。

一句毫不含糊的祝福兼判斷：把結婚說成人生能攤上的頭等好事。它沒有保留、沒有條件，正因為直白，聽起來格外暖，也帶著那個年代對婚姻的篤定。

That's the best thing that could happen to you.

對別人的好訊息表達百分百支援時用，適合對朋友、家人說，正式場合可換成更剋制的說法。

That's the luckiest thing that could happen to you. ／ Nothing better could ever come your way.

口語

That's 輕讀，best thing 重讀，could happen to you 順下來收尾。

Getting that job is the best thing that could happen to you. 拿到那份工作，是你能遇到的最好的事。

一句把擇偶標準歸零的話：漂亮、條件都靠後，喜歡才是根本。它既是長輩式的勸告，也是替朋友卸下包袱的寬慰，短得可以當口頭座右銘。

The main thing is that ...

替人理清重點、把複雜選擇歸結到一條根本標準時用，對朋友或晚輩都合適。

What matters most is that you like her. ／ Everything else aside, you have to like her.

中性

The main thing 輕快，is that you like her 逐詞放慢。

Forget the salary for a moment—the main thing is that you enjoy the work. 先別管薪水——最要緊的是你喜歡這份工作。