an exercise in power权力的操演

用一句体面的挖苦收尾，把对女主人的不满包在「安慰」里。

My only consolation is that ...

想礼貌地表达不满、又不想撕破脸时用；对当事人别说。

My only comfort is that the week is nearly over. ／ The one good thing is that we can leave soon.

正式

only 重读，consolation 四音节放稳。

My only consolation is that lunch starts at twelve. 我唯一的安慰是十二点就开饭。

把「唯一」放在句首，夸得具体，也顺手数落了其他人。

the only people who've done something

想肯定少数人、同时点出多数人的冷淡时用；场合要私下。

She is the only one who's tried to help. ／ They are the only people who've bothered to call.

中性

only 重读，who've 轻读成 who-uv。

You are the only people who've made any attempt to fix it. 你们是唯一试着去修好它的人。

两个短句把职责说成信条，冷静里透着殖民者的自信。

We're out here to do something and to do something

谈职责、使命或立场时用；日常闲聊说会显得太正式。

We're here to help and to keep things calm. ／ The job is to do right and keep order.

正式

isn't 重读，do justice 连读。

We're out here to listen and to keep the peace. 我们来这里是为了倾听、维持安宁。

把一场聚会拆穿成权力表演，抽象词下得准，分量重。

an exercise in (power / patience / vanity)

评论某件事其实在展示某种东西时用；指责具体的人要慎用。

The meeting was an exercise in patience. ／ It was an exercise in vanity, nothing more.

正式

exercise in 连读，superiority 重音在 or。

The review was an exercise in patience for everyone. 这次评审对所有人来说都是一场耐心的考验。

把争论拉回最简单的信念，平静却把儿子的立场照得很小。

put someone on earth to do something

谈信念、使命时用；在不信教的场合说会显得突兀。

We are here to help, not to judge. ／ We were put here to look after each other.

literary

put us 连读，fellow men 稍慢。

We are put on earth to help, not to score points. 我们活在世上是为了帮忙，不是为了争输赢。

自问自答的逼问，把「你们要我怎样」的委屈一下推出来。

What do you want me to do? (Do something?)

被逼到墙角、想反问对方时用；对上级或长辈别用这种语气。

What do you want me to do, quit? ／ Do you expect me to give it all up?

口语

want me 连读，career 重音在 eer。

What do you want me to do, work all night? 你想让我怎样，通宵干活吗？