make ends meet勉强维持生计

把恐惧说成不公，一句话既是诉求也是危险的动员口令。

Someone said (people) shouldn't have to ...

替某群体鸣不平、转述主张时用；拿它煽动对立，现实中极易越界。

He told them no kid should grow up afraid here. ／ His line was that they shouldn't live in fear.

中性

shouldn't have to 连读，scared 拖长收尾。

She said kids shouldn't have to cross town just to feel safe. 她说孩子们不该为了安全感还得穿城而过。

用“像我们的”而不是“是我们的”，一个词泄露了占有背后的心虚。

We made it like it was ours again.

回忆自己一度夺回某样东西时用；把公共资源说成“我们的”会惹争议。

For a while we owned that street again. ／ We had it feeling like home again.

口语

made it like 连读，ours 重读。

For one summer we made it like it was ours again. 有年夏天，我们真把它弄得像又属于我们了。

不带一个脏字却把人的嘴堵死，是压制场面最体面的一句狠话。

When I want your opinion, I'll ask for it.

被人乱插话、乱出主意时用；对平级同事说会显得居高临下。

Nobody asked for your two cents. ／ I'll ask when I need your input.

口语

opinion 后停半拍，ask for it 一板一眼。

When I want your opinion on the design, I'll ask for it. 设计上需要你意见时，我自然会问你。

把面子和冲动摆上天平，脏话反而衬出说话人真正怕的是丢人。

You're gonna embarrass us.

拦人别冲动、怕当众出丑时用；脏话版本只在熟人之间说。

You'll make us all look ridiculous. ／ Don't drag us down with you.

口语

gonna 轻读，embarrass 重音在第二音节。

Calm down, you're gonna embarrass the whole team. 冷静点，你会让全队跟着丢人。

把赌注和羞辱捆在一起，一句话既下战书又定输赢后的等级。

A hundred bucks say I ...

拿钱打赌、放狠话时用；把人称作 my bitch 极具侮辱性，别在现实中说。

Fifty bucks says I win this one. ／ I'll bet you I come out on top.

口语

A hundred bucks 快读，say I 连读。

Twenty bucks say I finish it before you do. 赌二十块，我肯定比你先弄完。

一句因果把一个人的行动变成某种运动的起点，听来像解释，其实是宣言。

That's why (someone) started (something).

解释某件事的由来时用；把复杂起因归给一个人，容易显得在造神。

That's what got the whole thing going. ／ That's where it all began for him.

中性

That's why 连读，D.O.C. 逐字母念清。

That's why she started the whole project. 她搞起整个项目，就是因为这个。