plain as the nose on your face明擺著

把老話講得又俏皮又扎心，一句就把母親的登門說成命運的玩笑。

when you least expect it, ... has a way of ...

勸人別急、感嘆事情突然發生時用；正經報告裡這樣說顯得輕佻。

Just when you least expect it, life surprises you. ／ Fate tends to show up unannounced.

中性

least expect 連讀，has a 輕快帶過，句尾 door 降調。

I ran into my old teacher when I least expected it. 我在最想不到的時候碰見了以前的老師。

喊全名再補一句反話，母親的失望和威壓一下全出來了。

I'd hardly call this ...

用反話表達不滿時用；對不熟的人這樣說會顯得刻薄。

I wouldn't exactly call this fine. ／ This is hardly what I'd call okay.

口語

hardly 重讀，call this 連讀，感嘆句尾往上挑。

I'd hardly call this finished. 這我可算不上完工。

順著對方的挖苦再補一刀，把未來女婿貶得不如一條魚。

I'd be happier if ...

半開玩笑地嫌棄某人時用；當著當事人的面說會傷人。

Honestly, I'd prefer the fish. ／ That would be an upgrade.

口語

happier if 連讀，the catfish 拖長，尾音帶笑。

I'd be happier if she dated anyone but him. 她跟誰都行，就是別跟他。

用一句被用爛的俗語點破出軌，末了還自嘲老套，格外好氣又好笑。

as plain as the nose on your face

說事情顯而易見到不用解釋時用；對傷心的人說會顯得輕慢。

It was staring me right in the face. ／ It couldn't have been more obvious.

口語

plain as 連讀，Cliché 稍作停頓，sorry 放輕收尾。

The lie was as plain as the nose on your face. 那謊話說得明擺著，誰看不出來。

搬出光速來勸人別急，一本正經的胡扯正是這個角色的味道。

nothing moves faster than ... / you may as well ...

用誇張道理勸人看開點時用；正式場合別拿它當論據。

There's nothing you can rush here. ／ You might as well take it easy.

口語

All I know is that 一氣呵成，speed of light 重讀，relax 拖長。

Nothing moves faster than bureaucracy, so you may as well relax. 官僚機構比什麼都慢，你還不如放輕鬆。