up to his ears深陷其中

先立条件再下判词，把官腔顶回去，一句里既有坚持也有威胁。

If X is not A, you are doing B

替人辩解、把话说到最重时能用；正式场合别拿它顶撞上司。

You are punishing an innocent man. ／ Cross that line and the blame is yours.

中性

前半压住说条件，guillotine 放慢加重，威胁感才出来。

If he is not guilty, and I say he is not, you are punishing the wrong man. 如果他没罪——我说了他没罪——那你就是在罚一个不该罚的人。

把一场婚外情换算成利害，一句就点出谁最怕真相。

If X is convicted, Y is up to his ears in Z

分析利害、看穿动机时能用；正式报告里少用这种口语说法。

If she goes down, he goes down with her. ／ Once she is convicted, the scandal swallows him.

中性

If 从句轻轻带过，up to his ears 连读，nasty 重读。

If the deal goes public, our partner is up to his ears in trouble. 一旦这笔交易曝光，我们的合作方就会深陷麻烦。

血案谈判忽然收在一句轻描淡写的自伤，冷面幽默全靠不慌。

I seem to have + 过去分词

轻描淡写汇报糗事时能用；正式场合别拿它当认真道歉。

I appear to have cut myself. ／ It seems I have hurt myself.

口语

seem to have 连读含糊，letter opener 读平稳，越平静越可笑。

I seem to have glued my hand to the report. 我好像把自己的手粘在报告上了。

先丢一句狠话，再补一个「每一处都恨」的细节，把抽象的恨落到身体上，杀气立刻具体。前半句短、后半句收，节奏很干净。

I hate ... Every little bit of it.

对某人或某事厌恶到极点时用，语气强烈；对朋友半开玩笑说也要看关系，否则会很伤人。

I hate you, all of you. ／ I can't stand a single thing about you.

口语

hate you 连读，Every little bit of you 逐词重读。

I hate this plan. Every little bit of it. 我讨厌这个计划，从头到尾每一处都讨厌。