make an oyster of someone把某人变成牡蛎

把「笑别人」和「轮到自己」扣成一句，讽刺干净利落，点题极准。

become the argument of one's own scorn

说某人自打嘴巴、成了自己嘲笑的那种人时用；对本人说会很难堪。

He became the butt of his own joke. ／ He turned into the thing he mocked.

literary

argument of his 连读，own scorn 两个实词加重。

By buying the same car he became the argument of his own scorn. 他买了同一款车，成了自己从前嘲笑的那种人。

拿「士兵」和「正字法」硬碰，一个粗一个文，把人的变化写得又准又好笑。

be wont to do something, now be turned ...

对比某人从前的样子和现在的变化时用；说人变假了带点调侃。

He used to talk straight; now he talks like a rule book. ／ Once plain, now all polish.

literary

wont to 连读，turned orthography 拖慢一点。

She was wont to speak plain, now she is turned diplomacy. 她从前直来直去，如今满口外交辞令。

把满口辞令比成一桌怪菜，听着就腻，批评人装腔最生动的一句。

someone's words are a fantastical banquet

吐槽别人说话浮夸、堆砌辞藻时用；当面对人说等于当面羞辱。

His speech is all garnish, no meat. ／ Too many fancy dishes, no plain bread.

literary

fantastical banquet 连读，strange dishes 两个实词加重。

The ad copy was a fantastical banquet of empty slogans. 那条广告文案像一桌花哨宴席，全是空口号。

用「先把我变成牡蛎」当条件，荒诞又自信，把发誓不谈恋爱说得妙趣横生。

till someone does X, they shall never do Y

用一个荒唐条件来强调绝不可能时用；带赌咒口气，别对上级说。

Not until pigs fly will I do that. ／ They will never make a fool of me.

literary

made an oyster 连读，such a fool 放慢加重。

Till they make an oyster of me, I will never join that club. 除非他们把我变成牡蛎，否则我绝不入那个会。

grace 一词前后呼应，一挑剔一被青睐，把挑剔鬼的口气写得淋漓尽致。

till all X be in one Y, no Y shall come in my grace

半开玩笑地开出一堆不可能条件时用；认真择偶这样讲会显得苛刻。

Unless she has everything, I am not interested. ／ No one measures up to my list.

literary

all graces 连读，come in my grace 一词一顿。

Till all graces be in one flat, no flat will come in my grace. 除非所有好处都聚在一套房上，否则哪套都入不了我的眼。

把琴弦说成羊肠，把听音乐说成勾魂，粗俗又诗意，反衬得极妙。

Is it not strange that ... should ...?

感叹某件事奇妙得不可思议时用，语气带调侃；正式演说显不庄重。

Strange that mere strings can move us so. ／ Who would think music could do that?

literary

sheep's guts 连读，hale souls out 三个词连成一串。

Is it not strange that a song should hale souls out of a crowd? 一首歌竟能把人群的魂儿勾走，你说怪不怪？