strong suit強項

用虛擬條件句推理對方處境，平靜一句就把哈利的心思露了出來。

If you didn't ..., you wouldn't be ...

用反推的方式點破對方處境時用；對不熟的人說會顯得太咄咄逼人。

If nothing had changed, you wouldn't be sitting here. ／ If you were still together, you wouldn't need me.

中性

didn't 重讀，wouldn't be 弱讀，句尾輕輕上揚。

If you didn't want the job, you wouldn't be at the interview. 你要是不想要這份工作，就不會來面試了。

用 Second of all 擺出第二點，把界限劃得乾脆又不失分寸。

It is none of your business why ...

別人越界打聽隱私、要劃清界限時用；對上級或長輩用會很衝。

That is not your concern. ／ Why we split up is none of your business.

中性

none of your business 一氣唸完，business 落重音。

It is none of your business how much I earn. 我掙多少錢跟你沒關係。

把一場荒唐的指控引用得一本正經，越嚴肅越好笑。

One day, [someone] says to me, "..."

轉述別人說過的一句荒唐話時用；講嚴肅故事時別用這種腔調。

One day, he just says to me, "..." ／ So the other day he tells me, "..."

口語

says to me 輕快帶過，引號裡的話放慢加重。

One day, my boss says to me, "You never take holidays." 有一天，我老闆跟我說：「你從來不休假。」

把生活小事升級成法庭判決，誇張的正式用詞一下把荒唐感放大。

I'm sorry. I need a judge's ruling on this.

朋友間爭論雞毛蒜皮時能用，自帶喜劇效果；嚴肅場合別用會顯得不認真。

I'm going to need a second opinion on this. ／ This calls for an official ruling.

口語

I'm sorry 後稍停，judge's ruling 連讀，on this 收尾下壓。

I need a judge's ruling on whether this counts as dessert. 這算不算甜點，我需要法官來裁決。