the answer to all her prayers求之不得的好事

把孩子的崇拜说得赤裸裸，一句话就把全片的价值排序倒了过来。

being X was better than being Y

聊起自己真心向往的选择时能用；当着正经场合说这种话要小心。

being a fireman was cooler than being a banker ／ acting felt better than studying law

口语

being 轻读，gangster 重音在前，than 一带而过。

Being my own boss was better than climbing someone else's ladder. 自己当老板，比在别人手下往上爬强。

somebody 对 nobodies 的对仗，一句话写透了街区的野心。

being somebody in a place full of nobodies

想说自己想在人群里出人头地时能用；正式演讲里别这么口语。

standing out in a room full of strangers ／ being someone in a town of nobodies

中性

somebody 与 nobodies 对照，两个词都要重读。

He wanted to be somebody in an office full of nobodies. 他想在一个全是无名小卒的办公室里混出个名堂。

用慢写权力：不是走不动，而是没人配让他让路。

it was only because someone didn't have to ...

替某个看着慢的动作找理由时能用；对上级这么讲要当心。

it was only because he never had to rush for anyone

中性

only because 连读，didn't have to 里 have 弱读。

It was only because nobody could tell him to hurry. 那只是因为没人敢催他。

把童年那种被整条街罩着的得意说得又轻又满，一句话就把归属感写成运气。

I was the luckiest X in the world

回忆自己最得意的一段日子时能用；对长辈或正式场合说会显得孩子气，别拿来谈工作成绩。

I was the happiest boy on the block ／ I felt like the luckiest man alive

口语

luckiest 重音在第一音节，in the world 连读带过。

I was the luckiest kid in that house, and I knew it. 我是那家里最被宠的小孩，我自己也知道。