sit tight and assess按兵不动先评估

一句话把总统的傲慢和问题的重心全摆出来，干脆利落。

Tell me about it and then tell me why ...

要对方先讲事实再讲动机时用；对上级这样说会显得咄咄逼人。

Give me the facts, then tell me why you came to me. ／ Tell me what happened, and then tell me what you want.

正式

两个 tell me 之间停顿，why 重读，句尾压下来。

Tell me about the delay and then tell me why I wasn't told. 说说为什么延误，再告诉我为什么没人通知我。

用一个所有人都懂的历史坐标，把无法想象的数字说清楚。

it will have the power of ...

要把抽象数字讲得吓人时用；日常聊天里说会显得夸张。

It will hit with the force of a billion bombs. ／ The impact would equal a billion Hiroshimas.

中性

a billion 重读，Hiroshima bombs 放慢，句尾降。

This leak would have the power of a full system crash. 这个泄露的破坏力相当于整个系统崩溃。

gravity 一半是修辞一半是真话，双关藏在严肃里。

I don't think you understand the gravity of ...

提醒人低估了风险时用；对上级或客户说会显得冒犯。

I don't think you grasp how serious this is. ／ You don't seem to see how bad this is.

正式

don't 轻读，gravity 重读，situation 收得稳。

I don't think you understand the gravity of this decision. 我觉得你没明白这个决定有多严重。

五个词把「可能」两个字彻底删掉，短得像判决。

It is going to happen.

需要斩钉截铁确认一件事时用；不确定时别说，会显得武断。

It's not a question of if, it's when. ／ There is no maybe about it.

中性

is going to 连读，happen 重读，句尾不升。

Don't plan around a miracle. It is going to happen. 别指望奇迹。它一定会发生。

一句把拯救世界的议题拉回个人账本，人物的格局全露了。

What is this gonna cost me?

要问代价、判断划不划算时用；用在公益或人情事上会显得计较。

What's this going to cost me? ／ How much is this going to set me back?

口语

gonna 弱读成一词，cost me 连读，句尾上扬。

Before we start, what is this gonna cost me? 开始之前先问一句，这要我花多少钱？

用一个像稳重的短语，把不作为包装成了决策。

at this very moment, I say we sit tight and assess

想暂缓行动、先观察时用；真该立刻行动时用它就是推脱。

Let's hold and see what develops. ／ For now, we wait and watch.

正式

at this very moment 连读，sit tight 重读，assess 收尾。

At this very moment, I say we sit tight and assess. 此时此刻，我主张先按兵不动，评估一下。