turncoat墙头草

把待客说成倒贴花销，一句调侃里全是宾主之间的机锋。

The fashion of the world is to ...

开玩笑说大家都躲的事你偏要做时用；对上司说要有分寸。

The way of the world is to avoid cost. ／ Everyone dodges the bill, and here you are facing it.

正式

fashion of the world 连读，重音落在 avoid 和 cost。

The fashion of the world is to split the bill, and you grab it first. 大家的习惯是各付各的，你却先抢着买单。

把「不屑」当成会吃东西的活物，抬杠抬成了一个有画面的比喻。

Is it possible X should die, while ...?

半开玩笑地反驳对方说某事会消失时用；正式场合别说这种话。

How could disdain die with you around to feed it? ／ As long as you exist, disdain will never starve.

literary

while she hath 连读，meet food 之间稍停再收。

Is it possible your doubts should die while the news keeps feeding them? 只要消息不断喂着，你的怀疑怎么可能消失？

用一件更荒唐的小事压过表白，把拒绝说得又冷又俏。

I had rather A than B

要表达宁可选荒唐小事也不接受某件事时用；对认真表白的人别用。

I would sooner A than B ／ I'd take A over B any day

literary

had rather 连读，than 后放慢，句尾下沉。

I had rather stay home than sit through that meeting. 我宁愿待在家里，也不想开那个会。

把自己比成鸟、把对方比成兽，一句回敬又快又狠。

A ... of mine is better than a ... of yours.

对手讥笑你话多时回敬用；真吵架这样说不利于收场。

Better a quiet bird than a loud beast. ／ My chirping beats your roaring.

口语

bird of my 连读，better than 弱读，重音在 tongue。

A bird of her tongue beats a beast of his any day. 她那张鸟嘴，哪天真比他那张兽嘴强。

拿马速比嘴速，把对方的伶牙俐齿反过来当成一匹快马。

I would (that) ... had the speed of ...

半开玩笑地嫌对方话太快时用；认真指责会伤人，慎用。

I wish my car had the speed of your mouth. ／ If only my legs moved as fast as your tongue.

口语

would my 连读，speed of 弱读，tongue 收得干脆。

I would my typing had the speed of your talking. 我真希望我打字有你说话这速度。