as merry as the day is long快活得没法形容

拿两个人各取一半来拼一个理想男人，比喻又损又准，一句就定了全场的调子。

be made in the midway between A and B

拿两个人对比、打趣地设想「各取一半」时用；对不熟的人这样说会显得刻薄。

He'd be fine if you split the difference. ／ Half of each would make one good man.

literary

in the midway 连读，between 重读，句尾降调收住。

Put him and his partner together and you would have one decent manager. 把他和他搭档合一块儿，就能凑出个像样的经理。

长辈一句断言，把「嘴厉害就没人敢娶」说得又直又狠，是全章最好记的一句。

thou wilt never ... if thou be so ...

熟人之间半开玩笑地劝人别太冲时用；对长辈或客户这样说会失礼。

You will scare every man off with that mouth. ／ No one will marry you if you keep on like that.

literary

wilt never 连读，shrewd of thy 一带而过，never 要重读。

You will never get a date if you are so sharp with everyone. 你对谁都这么冲，怕是约不到人了。

把「宁可不享福」说得这么家常，拒绝里带着自嘲，一句就能让人记住她的脾气。

I had rather do A than accept B

用更差的选择来表明拒绝时用；赌气地说很自然，写正式意见别这么用。

I would sooner sleep on the floor. ／ I'd rather do without than settle for that.

literary

had rather 弱读成 I'd rather，woollen 双元音拉长。

I had rather stay single than marry someone I cannot talk to. 我宁可单身，也不嫁一个聊不来的人。

白昼有多长、快活就有多久，把小小的天堂想象说成一句顺口的民谣。

as merry as the day is long

形容一整段时间都快活时用；语气偏文学，日常聊天会显得做作。

as happy as can be ／ happy all day long

literary

as merry as 连读，day is long 三个词轻快带过。

That summer we were as merry as the day is long. 那年夏天，我们天天都快活得没边儿。

被夸一句领会尖刻，她只回一句「我又不瞎」，用最平常的事反将一军。

I have a good eye for ...

笑着表明自己看得清、不会被糊弄时用；正经解释场合别用这种自夸。

I am not blind, you know. ／ I can tell what is going on.

literary

good eye 连读，church by 连读，by daylight 轻快收尾。

I have a good eye for excuses, so save them. 借口我一眼就看穿，就别编了。