the stones钻石

先否后转再给出条件，一句话把伤情、后果和紧迫全说明白。

he's not ..., but he will be if ...

说明事情还没糟透、但再拖着就完了时用；正式汇报偏口语。

He's breathing, but he won't be for long without help. ／ She's fine now, but she won't be if we wait.

中性

not dead 连读，but he will be 重读 will，if 前稍停。

The car works, but it won't be if you ignore that noise. 车还能开，可你再不理那声响就开不了了。

把唯一的指望压在一个挨打的人身上，绝望里带一点侥幸。

Maybe he can tell us who ...

抱着试试看的态度提一个办法时用；对亲近的人说别太冷。

Maybe he knows who did it. ／ He might be able to name whoever tipped them off.

口语

Maybe he 连读，who the fuck 吞音，set us up 收尾降调。

Maybe the receipt can tell us who paid. 也许这张收据能告诉我们是谁付的钱。

用夸张到荒唐的比喻拆穿逼供：打久了，什么假话都能逼出来。

If you beat someone long enough, he'll tell you ...

反驳严刑逼供、说明逼出来的话不可信时用；话很冲，正式场合别用。

Torture any man long enough and he'll confess to anything. ／ Beat him enough and he'll claim he sank the Titanic.

口语

beat this prick 连读，Long enough 重读，he'll 弱读。

Question a scared kid long enough and he'll admit to anything. 把一个吓坏的孩子问久了，他什么都会认。

在一屋子争吵里一把拽回主线，先办急事，直奔钻石。

first things first. Who's got ...?

场面太乱、要抓重点时用；带脏字，正式场合把 fuckin' 去掉即可。

First things first, where is the money? ／ Before anything else, who has the keys?

口语

first things first 三词连读，Who's got 缩成一词。

First things first, who signed off on this? 先说最要紧的，这事是谁批的？