wheels are in motion机器已经转起来了

把一桩联姻拆成三个分句和一个祭坛比喻，愤怒说得有条有理。

X owns A, you own B, and I'm supposed to ..., is that it?

想让对方自己承认一桩见不得人的安排时用；语气很冲，别对客户说。

You get the factory, he gets the land, and I get married, is that it? ／ So I am the price of this deal, is that it?

口语

三个分句都用升调往前推，human sacrifice 重读，is that it 降收。

She gets the credit, you get the title, and I do the work, is that it? 她拿功劳，你得头衔，活全我干，是这么回事吗？

用热狗和芥末两个笑话般的头衔，把一桩大生意贬成了小贩结亲。

As if X were being offered in marriage to Y.

想反唇相讥、说对方把事讲俗了时用；正式谈判里太刻薄。

You make it sound like a market stall deal. ／ As if two shops were being merged.

literary

vulgar 重读，As if 轻起，hot dog dynasty 与 mustard king 都对仗着念。

You make it sound like a schoolyard trade, as if we were swapping marbles. 你说得像小学生做交易，好像在换弹珠。

四个字把赚钱降格成边角料，野心和傲气全在其中。

X is the by-product.

想说明自己真正在意的是别的、钱只是顺带时用；对投资人说会被误解。

Profit is just a side effect. ／ The money is a by-product of the work.

正式

Money 重读，by-product 放慢并降调，整句要淡定。

Fame is the by-product; the work is the point. 名气只是副产品，作品本身才是重点。

用最正式的说法表最硬的态度，越礼貌越没有商量余地。

I have no intention of doing something.

郑重地表明绝不做某事时用；对朋友说会显得生硬、有距离。

I am not going to marry Elizabeth Tyson. ／ I have no plans to marry her.

正式

no intention 重读，of 弱读，Elizabeth Tyson 一字一字念清。

I have no intention of moving to another city. 我压根没打算搬到别的城市。

用虚拟语气把「只为钱」这条路否掉，顺势替自己的野心找理由。

If X were all there was to Y, it'd hardly be worthwhile ...

想反驳「只图钱」的指责、抬高自己做事的理由时用；听着有点冠冕堂皇。

If money were the whole point, none of this would be worth it. ／ If profit were everything, I would not bother.

正式

were all there was 连读，hardly 重读，worthwhile 拖长。

If grades were all there was to school, it'd hardly be worth going. 要是上学只为了分数，那去学校就太不值当了。

把做生意的好处一口气列成日常生活，反问里全是理直气壮。

What's wrong with ... that gives people X, Y and Z?

想为一件有争议的事辩护、列举好处时用；语气强，容易显得说教。

What's so bad about something that builds schools and parks? ／ What is wrong with a drive that leaves people better off?

正式

libraries、hospitals 逐项重读，反问句尾上扬。

What's wrong with a hobby that gives people friends and fresh air? 一个能带来朋友和新鲜空气的爱好，有什么不对？

把公司和家混成一句，既像辩解，也像一句提早认输的独白。

No one would ever understand it.

想说某样东西只有自己懂、别人进不来时用；拿来搪塞家人会伤人。

No one else would ever get it. ／ Nobody outside would understand this place.

中性

This is my home 一句一顿，No wife would ever 连读，understand it 降收。

This workshop is my home; no one else would understand it. 这间工作室就是我的家，别人不会懂的。