put a silk hat on a pig糟蹋好东西

一句大白话道尽走投无路：正经日子过不下去，只能亡命躲藏。

go on the lam in order to get away from someone

半开玩笑说自己要躲起来时能用；正式报告或对长辈说会显得太江湖。

I have to disappear to get away from him. ／ I'm going into hiding to dodge this guy.

口语

on the lam 连读，in order to 轻快带过，句尾下沉。

I went on the lam in order to get away from the debt collectors. 为了躲开催债的，我跑路了。

一个土味比喻就判了死刑：好东西配错人，只剩荒唐。

X is like putting a silk hat on a pig

拒绝一个明显不合适的人选时用；对当事人说会很伤人，别当面讲。

That's like putting a tuxedo on a goat. ／ You'd be gilding a pig.

口语

silk hat 稍重读，on a pig 收住，讽刺感才落地。

Hiring him to run the gallery is like putting a silk hat on a pig. 让他管画廊，就跟给猪戴丝绸礼帽一样。

承认他坏，却用一句反问堵住所有办法，无奈里带着冷意。

What am I supposed to do? Shoot him?

表示「除了这个极端办法我还能怎样」时用；真在商量处置人时别说。

What do you want me to do, get rid of him? ／ Should I just throw him out?

口语

bad seed 连读，Shoot him 升调反问，别念成陈述。

He keeps breaking the rules. What am I supposed to do, shoot him? 他老是犯规。我能怎么办，把他毙了？

用出门的一个小动作把长期活在被追杀里的恐惧写得极具体，不用一个怕字。

before I get to X I look over both shoulders

形容自己长期提心吊胆时能用；对朋友聚会里当笑话说可以，别用来轻描淡写真危险。

I check over my shoulder every time I step outside ／ I can't walk to the car without looking twice

口语

both shoulders 两个词都重读，before 轻快带过。

Before I open my email now, I take a deep breath first. 现在开邮箱之前，我都会先深吸一口气。