a matter of national security事關國家安全

把對手的意圖說成講故事，一句話點出 V 的目的不是躲，而是讓人看見。

He wanted us to know ..., or at least a part of it.

揣測別人為什麼故意放出訊息時用；正式彙報也很合適。

He meant for us to learn the story. ／ He wanted at least part of it told.

中性

wanted us to 連讀，at least a part 重讀，收尾放平。

She wanted us to know the truth, or at least a part of it. 她想讓我們知道真相，至少知道一部分。

一句官腔就把真相鎖進保險櫃，冠冕堂皇裡全是封口的意圖。

The contents of ... are a matter of national security.

形容某件事被上綱上線、禁止議論時用；多帶諷刺。

This falls under national security. ／ The file is a state secret.

正式

contents of 連讀，national security 逐詞加重。

The budget figures are a matter of national security now. 現在連預算數字都成了國家安全問題。

用 blatant 一詞把罪名釘死，法律腔裡帶著毫不掩飾的威脅。

a blatant violation of ...

要指出明目張膽的違規時用；日常說會顯得像在唸檔案。

a clear breach of the rules ／ an outright violation of the code

正式

as well as 連讀，blatant 重讀，violation of 連讀。

That is a blatant violation of the safety code. 那是公然違反安全守則。

勸人忘掉一件事，其實是命令封口，客氣裡藏著威脅。

put it out of your mind

勸人或命人別再去想某件麻煩事時用；對受害者說會顯得輕慢。

Put it out of your head. ／ Try to forget all about it.

中性

put it 連讀，out of your 弱讀，mind 重讀收尾。

You should put it out of your mind and rest. 你該把它從腦子裡放下，好好休息。

用黎明比喻新時代，鼓動性十足；放在實驗日記裡更顯冷血。

This could be the dawn of a new age.

形容某個突破帶來新局面時用；被濫用了會顯得像口號。

This might mark the beginning of a new era. ／ We could be at the dawn of something big.

正式

This could 連讀，dawn of a 連讀成 dawn-ova，new age 放緩。

This vaccine could be the dawn of a new age for medicine. 這種疫苗可能開啟醫學的新時代。

先用 Whoever 抹掉一個人的過去，再把他變成工具，冷酷到極點。

Whoever he was, he is now ...

要強調某人的身份已不重要、只看當下價值時用；很冷酷，慎用。

Whoever he used to be, he matters now. ／ His past does not matter; his use does.

正式

Whoever he was 連讀，key to our dream 放慢加重。

Whoever she was, she is now the key to this deal. 不管她以前是誰，她現在就是這筆交易的關鍵。

兩次否定把恐懼壓成短句，越是平淡，越讓人後背發涼。

Not with ... There were no ...

描述某件反常又說不清的事時用；語氣要平，才有分量。

Not with eyes, and yet he saw me. ／ There were no eyes at all.

literary

Not with 吞掉 t，There were no 連讀，eyes 重讀。

Not with words. There were no words at all. 不是用語言。根本沒有語言。