take the wind out of someone's sail让人泄气

把亏欠和祝福缝在一句里，体面底下全是旧情。

I just want to wish you everything I couldn't ...

对旧人、旧同事道别时说；正式贺词里也可，但更私人。

I hope you get all the things I never could give you. ／ All I want is to wish you what I failed to give.

中性

I just want to 连读，couldn't give you 放慢，句尾轻收。

I just want to wish you everything I couldn't offer here. 我只想祝你得到我在这儿给不了你的东西。

把忠诚说成别无二选，既是夸旧主，也是示弱。

In spite of everything, there's only one ... I'd ...

对老东家表忠、或承认自己只认一个人时用；正式场合也能说。

After all this, I'd still work for only one person. ／ Whatever happened, I'd work for no one else.

中性

In spite of 连读，only one man 重读，I'd 轻读。

In spite of everything, there's only one boss I'd go back to. 不管怎样，只有一个老板我愿意再跟。

用抽掉风帆的比喻说被浇了冷水，画面感十足又不失风度。

take the wind out of someone's sail

被人抢先一步或泼冷水时说；日常闲聊可用，正式报告别用。

You really knocked the wind out of me. ／ That took the wind right out of my sails.

口语

kind of 轻读，took the wind 重读，out of my sail 连读。

His news really took the wind out of my sail. 他带来的消息一下子把我浇没了劲。

听到情敌的姓氏就顺口编排成偷马贼，尖酸得几乎优雅。

I knew a ... once, a ....

听到熟人的姓就想顺口损一句时用；对当事人或其家人说就是当面挑衅。

I knew one of those once, a horse thief. ／ I once met a Smith, a pickpocket.

口语

knew a 连读，once 稍停，horse thief 一字一顿。

I knew a Carter once, a used-car salesman. 我认识过一个姓卡特的，是卖二手车的。

用最狠的话说最深的独占，是老板也是情人的宣言。

I'd ... if you ... anybody else.

对最亲近的搭档半真半假地宣示独占时用；对普通同事说会吓到人，别乱用。

I'd hate it if you worked for anyone else. ／ You don't work for anyone but me.

口语

I'd kill 重而快，anybody else 慢下来，句尾压住。

I'd cry for a week if you moved to another team. 你要是跳到别的组，我能哭一星期。