Johnny-on-the-spot來得正是時候

用最客氣的句式當面嘲諷，誇得越認真，打臉越響。

I must say that I am rather astonished by ...

想客氣地挖苦對方時用；真心稱讚的場合別用 rather astonished 這種腔調。

I am rather surprised by how fast you came. ／ I must say, your timing is remarkable.

正式

must say 連讀，rather astonished 重讀，finest 收住。

I must say that I am rather astonished by your sudden interest. 我得說，你突然這麼上心，真讓我吃驚。

把一句老式俏皮話丟給全副武裝的警察，緊張場面瞬間變成喜劇。

I hadn't expected you to be quite so ...

半開玩笑地指出對方來得出乎意料時用；正式彙報裡別這麼油。

I did not expect you to be this quick. ／ You were faster than I expected.

口語

hadn't expected 吞音，Johnny-on-the-spot 一氣呵成。

I hadn't expected you to be quite so quick with the answer. 沒想到你答得這麼快。

先亮底牌再補一刀，警察的得意全壓在這句輕飄飄的嘲弄裡。

We were here before you even started.

搶先一步後調侃對手時用；對陌生人這樣稱呼容易挑釁過頭。

We got here first, better luck next time. ／ You were too late from the start.

口語

before you 連讀，Bad luck 分開念，chummy 輕挑。

We booked the table before you even called. Bad luck. 你還沒打電話我們就訂好位子了。運氣不好。

用「你和我」劃出一條界線，暴露的其實是說話人自己的偏見。

You can't expect someone to act like you or me.

把某人的行為歸因於身份、劃清界限時用；這類話常帶偏見，慎用。

You can't expect him to behave like us. ／ Don't judge him by our standards.

中性

can't expect 連讀，like you or me 三詞等重。

You can't expect a rookie to act like a veteran. 你不能指望新人像老手一樣行事。

一句彆扭又溫柔的話，硬要在恐怖分子身上找出人的部分。

Some part of X is human.

為一個人留餘地、反對把人一棍子打死時用；替罪行開脫時別用。

Part of him is still human. ／ There is something human left in him.

中性

him's 縮讀成一詞，human 重讀並稍作停頓。

Part of him is still human, whatever he has done. 不管他做過什麼，他身上總有一部分還是人。

一句旁觀者的總結，把救命之恩說成甩不掉的牽連。

For better or worse, someone is stuck with someone.

承認某段關係已成事實、好壞都得接受時用；勸人分手時這麼說太消極。

For better or worse, she is tied to him now. ／ Good or bad, she is in it with him.

中性

for better or worse 連讀，stuck with him 收在重音上。

For better or worse, we are stuck with each other now. 不管好壞，我們現在是綁在一起了。