barking up the wrong tree找错方向

把私情和生死摆在一句话里对撞，急脾气和轻重缓急全出来了。

I don't care if ..., ...!

对方拿私事耽误正事时用；对上级或长辈这样说会显得太冲。

I don't care what you feel, this comes first. ／ Whatever is going on between you two, we have bigger problems.

口语

don't care 连读，if you've been 弱读，at stake 重读收尾。

I don't care if you're tired. The deadline is at stake! 我不管你累不累。截稿时间要紧！

把公私之争说成一句诛心之问，听着又急又好笑。

Are you going to let X come between us?

抱怨对方被外人影响时用；拿它压人会很伤感情，慎用。

Don't let her get between us. ／ Are you really choosing her over us?

口语

going to 缩成 gonna，come between us 连读成一串。

Are you going to let a rumor come between us? 你要让一句流言夹在咱们中间吗？

一句法律指控把私人恩怨升级成罪名，威慑力十足。

You are obstructing justice.

指责对方干扰调查时用；日常小事这样说会显得小题大做。

You're interfering with an investigation. ／ That's obstruction, and you know it.

正式

You and the 连读，obstructing 重音在 -struct，justice 放平。

Hide that file and you are obstructing justice. 你要是藏起那份文件，就是在妨碍司法。

威胁句里带着一股滑稽的节奏，暴躁又好笑，是脱口而出的狠话。

You say that again, I'll ... in the ....

对挑衅自己的人放狠话时用；对长辈或正经场合说会立刻失控。

Say it again and see what happens. ／ You talk like that again, I'll hang up.

口语

again 重读，kick you 连读，teeth 短促爆破。

You say that again, I'll hide your keyboard! 你再说一遍，我就把你的键盘藏起来！

用文雅的称呼包裹质问，客气话说得越漂亮，威胁就越明显。

My good man, are you trying to make me out a ...?

被当面质疑、又想不失体面地压回去时用；对上级说会显得挑衅。

Are you calling me a liar? ／ You're not suggesting I would lie?

正式

My good man 连读带腔，trying to 弱读，liar 重读上扬。

My good man, are you trying to make me out a fool? 老兄，你这是在把我当傻子吗？