don't come running to me別跑來找我

用同一個詞把走路和說話兩件事縫在一起，既描繪了流浪，也順手自嘲話多。它畫面清楚，語氣輕鬆，適合形容漫無目的地過日子的人。

I ramble through ..., and occasionally at ...

用來自嘲愛閒逛或話多時用，對熟人說得隨意；正式場合別這麼說自己，會顯得不夠穩重。

I wander the hills and talk too much at parties. ／ I drift through the countryside and hold forth indoors.

口語

ramble 重讀，through the hills 順帶，occasionally 後稍頓接上 dinner parties。

I ramble through the market and then ramble on the phone. 我在市場裡閒逛，然後又在電話裡東拉西扯。

不直接生氣，只把意外說出來，反而比抗議更有殺傷力。它用一句輕嘆回應被制止，把委屈和抗議都包在平靜裡，是關係裡很妙的軟釘子。

I never thought you'd tell me to ...

被熟人制止或冷落時半抱怨地用，語氣放平；對上級或陌生人說會顯得陰陽怪氣，慎用。

I never expected that from you. ／ I did not think you would be the one to say it.

口語

I never thought 平穩，you'd tell me to 連讀，shush 輕輕收住。

I never thought you'd tell me to wait outside. 我真沒想到你會叫我到外面等。

把一個冷門的用詞規則說成一句斷言，像在給人上語文課，偏偏又有點道理。它適合用來糾正別人用詞，也適合自嘲愛掉書袋。

The only thing that ... is ...

想強調某件事獨一無二、順便糾正別人時用，語氣要平；對不熟的人說容易顯得愛說教。

A brook is the one thing that babbles. ／ Only a brook can truly babble.

中性

The only thing 稍快，babbles 重讀，a brook 放慢收尾。

The only thing that melts that fast is ice cream. 能化得那麼快的只有冰淇淋。

一句從詩裡借來的句子，把流水寫成會低語的東西，讓眼前的風景立刻帶上時間與記憶的分量。它適合在描述自然時引用，也適合表達故地重遊的心情。

and again I hear these waters rolling from ... with ...

描述自然景色或故地重遊時引用，偏書面和文學；日常閒聊裡用會顯得文縐縐，要看場合。

Once more I hear the streams come down from the hills. ／ Again these waters speak to me from the heights.

literary

and again 輕起，rolling 拉長，soft inland murmur 逐漸放輕收尾。

Once more I hear these waters rolling from the old hills. 我再次聽見這些水從熟悉的山間滾滾而來。