start off on the right foot开个好头

把一堆规矩浓缩成开好头三个字，既是提醒也是下马威。

To work for [someone], you must start off on the right foot.

劝新人、朋友第一次上门做事时用；对平级或长辈说会显得爱教训人。

Start off on the right foot and things get easier. ／ Get the first day right.

中性

start off 连读，on the right foot 三词一顿，落点稳。

Start off on the right foot and ask plenty of questions. 开局要走对路，多问问题总没错。

用最重的病做最凉的反讽，越是心疼的语气越听得出刀锋。

Someone's been at death's door.

夸张地说谁病得厉害时用；真探病或对病人本人说会显得不厚道。

He was at death's door last winter. ／ She looked half dead with the flu.

口语

death's door 连读，dear boy's 轻轻带过，反讽靠平调。

After the fever he said he had been at death's door. 退烧后他说自己当时都快不行了。

用一句猜测把人损个彻底：你清醒，就等于没生意可做。

You're [state]. [Thing] must be [state].

熟人之间半开玩笑地揶揄对方近况时用；对不熟的人说会显得冒犯。

You look relaxed, so work must be quiet. ／ You're smiling, so nothing can be urgent.

口语

sober 重读，must be 轻快连读，slow 收尾下沉。

You're early. Traffic must be kind today. 你今天来这么早，路上肯定顺畅得很。

用报纸腔把挖苦说得一本正经，「想象力发炎」这种假医学术语越是客观就越损。

[Someone], it is reported, is suffering from [mock ailment].

朋友吹牛过头时用这种假正经的讽刺打趣；对上级或在正式场合说，会显得阴阳怪气。

He is said to be suffering from a bad case of wishful thinking. ／ Reports say he is down with a severe attack of vanity.

正式

it is reported 插在中间稍作停顿，enflamed imagination 连着念，grandeur 重读收尾。

My brother, it is reported, is suffering from a highly enflamed ambition. 据报道，我弟弟得了野心高度发炎。