put at ease放下戒心

用最和善的口氣列出自己三樣最可怕的屬性，笑容和冷酷同框，反派自我介紹的天花板。

Despite my ... demeanor, I am unfeeling, inflexible and morally neutral.

自嘲式地強調自己公事公辦時能用；真心道歉或職場溝通裡別說，太嚇人。

I'm friendly, but entirely impartial. ／ Smiling, and completely without feeling.

正式

despite my cheery demeanor 連讀，morally neutral 放慢收。

Despite my friendly tone, I am strictly neutral on this. 儘管我語氣友好，這事我嚴格中立。

口語裡夸人重要，馮特拉卻拿來合理化那艘回收大船。

someone is a big deal：某人很重要

調侃某人排場大或地位高時能用，語氣俏皮；正式場合說會失禮。

You're a VIP. ／ You matter a lot.

口語

big deal 兩個詞都咬住，別滑過去。

Stop shrinking. Your work is a big deal to the team. 別老往小了說。你的工作對團隊很重要。

最客氣的承諾聽起來最可怕：溫柔口徑配上不容拒絕的處置，反派的標誌。

We will fix you right up.

帶點威脅或反諷地表示「會收拾你」時能用；對客戶或病人別說，會被當真。

We'll sort you out, don't worry. ／ We'll have you fixed in no time.

正式

fix you 連讀，right up 輕快上揚收。

We'll fix that attitude right up. 你那態度很快就會被我們糾正過來。

先揚的「不過」把氣氛從緊張放鬆下來，一句樸實的認可，反而最暖。

But, hey, you really did it.

朋友完成難事後真心誇一句時能用；對上級邀功式地說會顯得越位。

You actually pulled it off. ／ Credit where it's due, you did it.

口語

But, hey 輕快，really did it 重讀收。

But, hey, you really pulled it off. 不過，嘿，你還真把它做成了。