这场戏：生日午餐被安排前途
第 2 章 · 共 22 章 · 3'35"
生日午餐上，尼尔许的愿只是「一个答案」，爸爸却当场递上早就安排好的法学院录取，还说 And you can take that to the bank（这事板上钉钉）。紧接着又送上一辆红色敞篷车，说是他眼里的酷。想学一句把话说死、表示「绝对靠谱」的英语，这一句最实用。
「说实话、其实」用 The truth is 开头最自然
come true 愿望成真The truth is 说实话、其实put it out there 把想法说出去
「这事板上钉钉」英语说 take that to the bank
An answer to 对……的答案all arranged 全都安排妥了to the bank 板上钉钉、绝对可靠
❝ 独白 · 5 句 尼尔的旁白
几句短句叠出被父亲支配的窒息感。
尼尔二十二岁生日，全家照例在那家餐厅吃生日午餐：爸爸、妈妈、姐姐南希，还有女朋友萨莉。吹蜡烛时许愿，尼尔说自己只想要「一个答案」——关于自己的人生的答案。爸爸当场递上布拉德福德法学院的录取通知，说面试都安排好了，And you can take that to the bank（这事板上钉钉），还补一句「我替咱们俩拿定主意」（for the both of us）。饭后礼物是一辆红色敞篷车，爸爸说是 his idea of cool（他眼里的酷）。尼尔心里清楚，这全是爸爸的安排。这些说法适合谈计划、讲承诺，也适合形容被人替你安排人生的时候。
A1–C2 是欧标等级。点一个等级后，比它高的卡片会变淡，播放到那里不会自动暂停。
“And you can take that to the bank.”
这事板上钉钉。
一句俚语把父亲的笃定说得不容置疑。
You can take that to the bank.
向人打包票时能用；对上级或写正式文书别这么随意。
You can count on it. ／ That's a sure thing.
口语
take that to the bank 连成一串，bank 收尾下压。
You can take it to the bank: the train is never late. 这你尽管放心，这趟车从不晚点。
“The truth is, you should always tell your wish.”
真相是，愿望就该说出来。
先立论再给规矩，语气像随口讲人生道理。
The truth is, you should ...
想认真给人建议时能用；正式报告里少用这种口语开场。
Honestly, you should always say it out loud. ／ The fact is, you're better off telling her.
中性
The truth is 轻带，should 重读。
The truth is, you should apologize first. 说实话，你该先去道歉。
“- Well, I can be sure for the both of us.”
那我来替咱们俩拿定主意。
一句话把父亲的掌控和好意一起说尽。
I can be sure for the both of us.
替别人拍板时能用；对方明显不情愿时这样说很压人。
I'll make the call for both of us. ／ I can decide for the two of us.
中性
both of us 连读，us 轻收。
If you can't choose, I'll be sure for the both of us. 你选不了，那我替咱俩定了。
“Put on earth by the grace of God, to keep me from going insane.”
上帝开恩把她放到这世上，专为不让我发疯。
用一句半开玩笑的夸张，把妹妹的分量说得又亲又重。
Put on earth by the grace of God, to keep me from going insane.
夸张地夸某个亲人或朋友对自己多重要时能用；葬礼等严肃场合不要这么开玩笑。
Heaven sent her just to keep me sane. ／ She was put here to stop me losing my mind.
口语
by the grace of God 一气带过，insane 尾音收住。
My roommate was put here to keep me from going crazy. 我室友就是来让我别发疯的。
- As usual, it was all about him. His idea of cool. Red was his color. Not mine. It was his pet phrase on the license plate. Clearly he was excepting me to become him.
——跟往常一样，全是围着他转。 他眼里的酷。 红色是他的颜色。不是我的。 车牌上还印着他那句口头禅。 显然他指望我变成他。
下一章 · 03be wired天生就这样这场戏：病房里的举牌测知觉字面是「拿到银行去」，实际是「绝对可靠、板上钉钉」，意思是这话你可以完全当真。戏里爸爸用它强调法学院的录取已经稳了。
用 come true，主语是愿望、梦想：if I tell her, it won't come true 就是「说出去就不灵了」。注意是愿望自己 come true，不是人来 come true。
表示「早该……的时候了」，常带点催促、不满：it was high time for an image change 就是「早该换换形象了」。
就是「跟往常一样、照旧」。戏里尼尔用 As usual, it was all about him 吐槽这顿饭又是围着爸爸转。
更强调「完全想不到、一点概念都没有」。戏里 You have no idea how hard it was... 就是「你根本想不到这有多难」。
