sit tight原地等着

拿恐龙当参照，把天文尺度拉进人脑，一句话就有画面。

A X, bigger than the Y that ..., is headed at Z.

对需要立刻听懂严重性的人说；写正式报告换成更冷静的说法。

A storm, bigger than anything we've seen, is headed our way. ／ A rival, stronger than the one that beat us, is coming.

中性

bigger than 连读，headed 的 d 轻，at Earth 直接收尾。

A storm, bigger than the one in 2005, is headed straight at the coast. 一场比 2005 年那场还大的风暴，正径直扑向海岸。

一个条件句把后果砸到桌上，没有形容词，却比渲染更重。

If it isn't + 过去分词, the entire X dies.

对必须把最坏结果讲清楚的人说；安慰人时不要用。

If it isn't stopped, the whole thing falls apart. ／ Unless it gets deflected, the planet is gone.

中性

if it isn't 连读，dies 重读并降调收尾。

If it isn't fixed now, the whole release dies. 如果现在不修，整个发布就完了。

前半句是威胁，后半句是庇护，一句话把权力和忠诚都摆明。

X will claim ..., so make sure ...

对要担责的人提前交代后果时用；跟朋友闲聊会显得吓人。

They'll call it a breach, so get a lawyer ready. ／ The feds will make a case of it, so line up counsel.

中性

will claim 连读，breach of 连成一块，so make sure 加快。

The auditors will call it a violation, so make sure we have a lawyer ready. 审计会把它定为违规，所以务必让我们备好律师。

一堆口语碎词里包着尖锐质问：说真话怎么就成了罪。

How is it X if we just ...?

对说你违规的人反驳时用；正式辩论要删掉 like、you know。

How is that a crime if we're just being honest? ／ Since when is the truth illegal?

口语

How is it 连读，like、you know 一带而过，truth 重读。

How is it a leak if we just shared what everyone already knew? 如果只是分享大家都知道的事，怎么算泄密呢？

lousy 一个词把轻视全带出来，反问加抱怨，怨气还挺真实。

You won't even give me a lousy X?

对熟人或同事半开玩笑地抱怨被怠慢时用；对上级别用。

You won't even throw me a lousy mention? ／ Not even a lousy thank-you?

口语

won't even 连读，lousy 加重，Come on 降调。

You won't even give me a lousy reply? 你连个敷衍的回复都不肯给我？

五个词就是一个决定，没有铺垫，紧迫感来自它有多短。

We need to move fast.

对内催进度、定调子时用；对客户要补上具体时间。

We need to move now. ／ We've got to move fast on this.

中性

need to 连读成 need-ta，fast 短促收尾。

We need to move fast on this contract. 这份合同我们得赶紧推进。