这场戏：当面提出不结婚
第 5 章 · 共 19 章 · 3'37"
阿德拉当面对罗尼说 we're not going to be married（我们不结婚了），罗尼没吵，只淡淡回一句，两人客气得像在办手续。戏的后半段，众人忙着张罗远足和请客，只能说 put our shoulders to the wheel（齐心协力）。想学体面、冷静谈分手，这段最值得听。
「我们不结婚了」英语说 we're not going to be married
we're not going to be married 我们不结婚了You never said we would be married 你从没说过我们要结婚awfully English 太英国式了quite right to 做某事是对的
阿德拉找到罗尼，说有重要的话：她已经决定，两人不结婚了。罗尼出奇平静，只提醒她「你从没说过我们要结婚」；两人都没闹，阿德拉自嘲说 We're being awfully English about this（我们这样太英国式了）。他们决定先不告诉莫尔太太，过一两天再说，也先把这趟远足走完。随后话题转到远足行程、待客的酒菜和交通安排，有人说 now we must all put our shoulders to the wheel（现在大家都得齐心协力）。莫尔太太则感叹，人们对婚姻太小题大做，一个世纪又一个世纪过去，人还是不懂彼此。想学冷静谈分手、安排聚会时用的英文，这个片段很合适。
A1–C2 是欧标等级。点一个等级后，比它高的卡片会变淡，播放到那里不会自动暂停。
“we're not going to be married.”
我们不结婚了。
憋了几集才说出口的一句，用 be going to 平静地把关系收住。
We're not going to do something.
正式告知对方一个已定的决定时用；当面说之前最好先铺垫。
We're not going to move after all. ／ I'm not going to take the job.
中性
not going to 连读，married 收得轻。
We're not going to buy the house. 我们不买那房子了。
“We're being awfully English about this, aren't we?”
我们这样处理，太英国式了，是吧？
用自嘲给尴尬找台阶，awfully English 一下点破两人的克制。
We're being awfully (adjective) about this, aren't we?
自嘲自己太拘谨或太客套时用；对不熟的人说会显得做作。
We're being awfully formal about this, aren't we? ／ We're being very British about it.
口语
awfully 重读，aren't we 句尾上扬。
We're being awfully polite about this, aren't we? 我们这样太客气了，是吧？
“Now we must all put our shoulders to the wheel.”
那现在我们只好都出把力了。
一个老派习语把散漫的筹备说成齐心协力的任务，带点自嘲。
put our shoulders to the wheel
号召大家一起出力时用；年轻人日常说会显得有点旧派。
We all need to pull together. ／ Everyone has to pitch in.
正式
shoulders to the 连读，wheel 重读。
If we put our shoulders to the wheel, we'll finish by Friday. 大家一起使劲，周五就能干完。
“Of course, I have no earthly right to tell either of you what you can or cannot do.”
当然，我根本无权对你们两位指手画脚。
no earthly right 把「没资格」说得又重又体面，是老派英式的退让。
have no earthly right to do something
强调自己无权干涉时用；语气很正式，日常可换成 no right。
I have no right to interfere. ／ I have no business telling you what to do.
正式
no earthly right 连读，either of 连读。
I have no earthly right to choose for you. 我根本无权替你做选择。
“Century after century of carnal embracement, and we're still no nearer understanding one another.”
一个世纪又一个世纪的肉体结合，我们却还是没能更懂彼此。
把婚姻说成世纪级的徒劳，冷峻又无奈，是罗尼少见的坦白。
still no nearer doing something
感叹努力很久仍无进展时用；语气悲观，别在喜庆场合说。
We are still no nearer a solution. ／ Years later, we are no closer to an answer.
literary
Century after century 连读，no nearer 重读。
After months of talks, we are still no nearer an agreement. 谈了好几个月，我们离协议还是那么远。
下一章 · 06condescend to屈尊这场戏：探病聊起英国占印度字面是「把肩膀顶到车轮上」，就是大家一起使劲、齐心协力。有人张罗请客，说 now we must all put our shoulders to the wheel，意思是现在大家都得出把力。
说 no earthly right，比 no right 更重，带点自嘲。完整句是 I have no earthly right to tell either of you what you can or cannot do，我根本无权对你们指手画脚。
自嘲。阿德拉和罗尼分手分得太客气、太克制，她用这句说「我们这样处理太英国式了」，等于承认两人都在憋着，不把情绪摆到台面上。
「承办、着手去做」。有人问 why did you undertake such an extravagance，就是问「你为什么要办这么铺张的事」，undertake 指主动承担、张罗一件事。
说 too much fuss。莫尔太太说 too much fuss is made about marriage，意思是人们对婚姻太小题大做，fuss 就是没必要地大惊小怪。
