on the sly偷偷地

用一句反問把自己的名字變成籌碼，既狡猾又滴水不漏。

No need for mine. If I did, it mightn't be right, might it?

不想透露身份、又想堵住對方追問時用；對信任的人這樣講會顯生分。

My name wouldn't help you anyway. ／ I could give you a name, but it might be false.

口語

mightn't be 連讀，might it 句尾上揚。

No need for my name; it might not be the right one anyway. 不用問我的名字，反正說了也未必是真的。

用一條法律義務壓過去，禮貌的問句裡全是施壓。

You realise that you're duty-bound to do X?

提醒對方有義務配合時用；對平級同事這樣說會顯得居高臨下。

You know you are obliged to hand it over? ／ You understand that you have a duty to give it?

正式

duty-bound to 連讀，any evidence 重讀，句尾上揚。

You realise you're duty-bound to report it? 你明白你有義務上報吧？

一句說盡多年積怨和復仇的耐心，冷得沒有一絲猶豫。

I waited my time to pay someone back.

說自己忍了很久終於要出手時用；對朋友這樣講會顯得記仇太重。

I bided my time until I could get even. ／ I waited for the day I could settle the score.

口語

waited me time 快讀，pay 'er back 重讀，come now 收住。

We waited our time to pay them back, and it's come. 我們一直等著向他們討回來，現在機會到了。

街頭女人的委屈和恨意全在三個“她害的”裡，重複句式一路逼出後面的報復。

It wasn't his fault. It was all hers, ...ing ... and ...ing ...

抱怨被人搶走什麼、並把責任全推給第三者時用；正式場合或有孩子在旁邊時不要照搬這種粗俗腔調。

It wasn't his doing; she turned him against me. ／ She took him from me, that's what happened.

口語

'is / 'ers 弱讀吞音，gettin' / turnin' 尾音丟掉，三個分句遞進。

It wasn't his fault. It was all hers, turning him against me. 不是他的錯。全怪她，把他調轉過來對付我。