an open secret公开的秘密

用排名做筹码，把私心包装成功劳，语气越自信越可疑。

got us to X, will get us to Y

表抱负和承诺时用；对团队可以，对被你得罪的人说显得空。

I brought this team to second, and I can take it to first. ／ We were close last year; I will finish the job.

中性

number four 重读，number one 上扬。

I got this team to second place, and I will get us to first. 我把这支队伍带到第二，接下来要带大家拿第一。

一句自我辩护把贪腐动机说成理想，越朴素越让人脊背发凉。

I wanted to make a difference

解释自己初心时用；对朋友、面试都能说，替错误开脱就别用。

I wanted to change things. ／ I just wanted to matter.

中性

wanted to 连读，difference 重读。

I wanted to make a difference, so I chose teaching over banking. 我想做点有意义的事，所以没去银行，选择了教书。

一句质问从指控个人转向整个群体，受害者的口吻把对立推到顶点。

what did you people do to us

感到被一群人伤害时用；对熟人可以，对具体个人会显得过重。

What have you all done to us? ／ Look what your people did to us.

口语

did you people 连读，us 压低收尾。

What did you people do to us by hiding that report? 你们把那份报告藏起来，到底把我们害成什么样？

到最后一刻还在拿孩子当筹码，一句话暴露他把自己和权力绑得有多深。

I can still get X into ...

求情或交换条件时能用；拿别人的前途当筹码说出口会让人反感，别学。

I can still pull some strings for her. ／ I could still make a call on that.

口语

still 重读，Harvard 两个音节说清楚，别吞尾音。

I can still get your son into that program if we talk today. 只要我们今天谈，我还能把你儿子弄进那个项目。