trust and respect信任與尊重

一句冷話把大人的姿態和孩子的倔強同時釘住，畫面感極強。

I'm not interested in ...ing to ...

要對方轉過來好好說話時用；對上級或長輩這樣講會顯得頂撞。

I'm not talking to the back of your head. ／ Turn around if you want to talk.

口語

interested in 連讀，back of your 連讀，head 稍重收尾。

I'm not interested in talking to the back of your head, so look at me. 我可不想對著你的後腦勺說話，轉過來看我。

把兩個大詞拆成三記短句，說教的分量和語氣全在這停頓裡。

There has to be ... And ...

要鄭重強調一段關係或合作的前提時用；拿來壓人就成了說教。

It takes trust and respect. ／ There has to be some give and take.

中性

has to be 連讀，trust 後略停，Am I right 上揚。

There has to be trust. And honesty. Am I right? 那就得有信任，還有誠實。我說得對吧？

用一句低調的老式說法宣告去意，灑脫裡透著一股準備走的勁。

I'm not long for ...

半開玩笑地說自己在某處待不久時用；對上司說要離職會顯得突兀。

I won't be here much longer. ／ My time here is almost up.

口語

not long for 連讀，here 稍拖長收尾。

Don't count on me staying; I'm not long for this job. 別指望我留下，這份工作我幹不久。

把半信半疑拆成一句話，既給面子又當場拆臺，機靈得很。

You had me until ...

假意認同到某一處就翻臉時用；對嚴肅的請求這樣說會顯得敷衍。

You almost had me there. ／ I was with you until that last part.

口語

had me until 連讀，number three 逐詞加重。

Nice story, but you had me until the talking dog. 故事不錯，但講到會說話的狗我就信不下去了。

用誇張的時間跨度把一個人的怪癖說成資歷，認真到好笑。

He's been ...ing since ...

要突出某人做某事很久、資歷驚人時用；說反話時語氣要跟上。

He's been doing this for years. ／ She's been obsessed with it since she was little.

口語

studying meteorology 連讀，since pre-school 輕快收尾。

He's been cooking since he was ten. 他十歲起就開始做飯了。

把冷場當梗再抖一次，喜劇演員的自嘲和不服氣全在裡頭。

That was a waste of a ...

自嘲某次努力白費了時用；正式彙報裡這樣講會顯得輕浮。

That bit went nowhere. ／ All that effort for nothing.

口語

that was a 連讀，waste of a bit 逐詞頓開。

Nobody laughed, so that was a waste of a joke. 沒人笑，這個笑話算是白講了。