a yes man應聲蟲

一句把立場包裝成時代潮流的漂亮話：既承認自己讓位，又順手把自己說成識時務的人。它適合任何需要體面地接受變化、又不願顯得被淘汰的場合，誇了別人，也保住了自己。

This is the age of ..., and I always ride with the times.

面對新上位的人或新局面時用，姿態大方，適合公開表態，別在真心不服氣卻又裝不來的場合用。

The future belongs to the young, and I go along with it. ／ It is their turn now, and I keep up with the times.

正式

the age of youth 放慢，always 加重，ride with the times 一帶而過。

This is the age of new tools, and I always ride with the times. 現在是新工具的時代，我一向順應潮流。

被人當面說不喜歡，他不生氣，反而順勢把話接過來：謝謝你的坦白，問題我記下了，接下來看我的。一句裡既有風度又有戰意，是處理當眾難堪時最漂亮的反擊。

I thank you for being so frank; at least I know my problem now.

被人當面批評或回絕時用，語氣平靜，適合談判和較勁，別用來堵得對方下不來臺。

Thanks for the honesty; now I know what to work on. ／ At least I know where I stand, and that is something.

正式

I thank you 平讀，so frank 稍重，entirely up to me 放慢收尾。

I thank you for being so frank; at least I know what to fix. 謝謝你這麼直率，至少我知道該改什麼了。

先認對方是老闆，再當面劃清底線：我服從位置，但不服從到一味點頭。短短一句把職場裡最難拿的分寸講清了，既表了態，也留了骨氣。

I am not going to be a yes man. No, sir.

向新上司或強勢的一方表態時用，語氣要堅決，適合當面講清底線，別在純客套的場合說。

I will not simply agree with everything you say. ／ Do not expect me to nod along to whatever you decide.

口語

not going to 連讀，yes man 咬清，No, sir 收得乾脆有力。

I am not going to be a yes man, not even for the boss. 我不做應聲蟲，對老闆也不做。

新官上任最硬的一句通告：不繞彎子，不講條件，把身份和結果一次說清。它把權力攤在桌面上，讓所有還想討價還價的人都閉了嘴，是衝突戲裡最痛快的一句收束。

I'm the manager, and you don't work here anymore.

正式宣佈決定、終結爭論時用，語氣要硬，適合掌權者對越界的人說，別在還能和平協商時提前亮這張牌。

I run this place, and you are done here. ／ I am in charge, and your time here is over.

口語

I'm the manager 平讀，and 前稍頓，don't work here anymore 逐詞加重。

I am in charge here, and this meeting is over. 這裡我說了算，這個會到此為止。