这场戏：临终承诺一路缩水
第 1 章 · 共 27 章 · 2'54"
父亲临终把约翰叫到床边，说继母和妹妹们一年只有五百英镑，让他一定要帮她们；约翰连说 I promise（我答应）。可他一转身和妻子范妮商量，三千英镑一路缩水，最后有人说 Twenty pounds now and then（时不时给二十英镑）就够 discharge my promise（兑现承诺）了。想学怎么找借口少掏钱，这段最经典。
「兑现承诺」说 discharge my promise
discharge my promise 兑现承诺、了结诺言all at once 一次性、一下子Let alone 更别提……了
「不与人来往」说 keep no company
on earth 到底、究竟keep no company 不与人来往much more able to 更有能力做……
达什伍德先生临终把儿子约翰叫到床边：诺兰庄园按法律全归约翰，继母和妹妹们一年只有五百英镑，勉强够 live on（靠它过活），嫁妆一分没有。他让约翰一定要帮她们，约翰连着答应 I promise，还说这份礼能 discharge my promise（兑现承诺）。父亲去世后，约翰和妻子范妮商量给多少：本打算给三千英镑，可范妮一步步往下压，说买年金反而怕被 taken in（吃亏），又说时不时给二十英镑就够兑现承诺了。最后范妮振振有词：四个女人有五百英镑还不够吗？不与人来往、没有马车，已经很舒坦。想学「兑现承诺」「割舍」「上当」，这段最见人心。
A1–C2 是欧标等级。点一个等级后，比它高的卡片会变淡，播放到那里不会自动暂停。
“One had rather on such occasions do too much than too little.”
这种时候，宁可多给，也别给少了。
一句就把人情往来的分寸说成格言，宁可过头也不亏待，听着体面又老练。
One had rather ... than ...
在人情、礼数上拿不准分寸时用；谈正经合同条款别这么含糊。
Better to give too much than too little. ／ Err on the side of generosity.
正式
had rather 连读，too much 与 than 之间轻顿，尾句降调。
On such occasions one had rather give too much than too little. 这种场合，宁可多给，也别给少了。
“What brother on earth would do half so much for his real sisters?”
世上有哪个做兄弟的，会为亲姐妹做到一半这么多？
用一句反问把慷慨捧上道德高地，听着像夸人，其实是逼人掏钱。
What ... on earth would ...?
用反问替自己抬价或施压时用；对上级或生人这样问会显得咄咄逼人。
Who on earth would do half as much? ／ What man alive would go that far?
中性
on earth 重读，half so much 连读，问句尾音上扬。
What friend on earth would do half so much for you? 世上哪个朋友会为你做到一半这么多？
“People always live forever when there is an annuity to be paid them.”
人只要年年有年金可拿，就总能活成老寿星。
一句冷幽默把年金领取者的小算盘说穿，刻薄得让人想笑又笑不出。
People always ... when there is ...
调侃要长期出钱、对方却迟迟不来结账时用；在丧事场合别说。
They always outlive the money you promise. ／ An annuity keeps everyone remarkably alive.
中性
always 与 live forever 重读，when there is 轻快带过。
People always live forever when someone else is paying. 只要别人掏钱，人总能活得特别长。
“What on earth could four women want for more than that?”
四个女人到底还要什么，难道还不够吗？
把四个女人的需求一口否掉，on earth 一句就把轻蔑摆到台面上。
What on earth could ... want ...?
嫌对方要求过分、当面反问时用；用在谈判里会立刻激怒对方。
What more could anyone want? ／ What on earth do they expect?
口语
on earth 重读压低，want 稍拖，收尾语气下沉。
What on earth could they want for more than that? 他们到底还想要什么，难道还不够吗？
“Their housekeeping will be nothing: no carriage, no horses, hardly any servants, and they'll keep no company.”
她们几乎没什么开销：没有马车，没有马，几乎不雇仆人，也不跟人来往。
把别人的日子压缩成一串「没有」，越数越刻薄，一句话就定了她们该过得多寒酸。
no X, no Y, hardly any Z
替自己省钱、把对方开销说得微不足道时用；这样数落别人的生活很伤人。
They have no carriage, no horses, hardly any servants. ／ No expenses, no staff, no company.
口语
no 逐项列举时逐个重读，will be nothing 收得干脆。
They have no car, no holidays, hardly any expenses. 他们没车、没假期，几乎没什么开销。
“They will be much more able to give you something.”
她们反倒更有余力给你点什么了。
把「帮她们」悄悄翻成「她们该给你」，一句话就暴露了这份精明的底色。
be much more able to ...
暗讽有人把施恩说成占便宜时用；当面点破容易翻脸。
They'll be in a better position to give you something. ／ They can afford to give you more.
中性
much more able 重读，give you 连读，句尾轻降。
Once they settle in, they will be much more able to pay you back. 等她们安顿下来，就更有余力还你钱了。
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下一章 · 02not to be borne忍无可忍这场戏：母女被迫搬出诺兰指「兑现承诺、了结诺言」，比 keep a promise 更正式。戏里约翰说给钱就能 discharge my promise，就是「兑现我对父亲的承诺」。
说 live on。戏里说继母和妹妹们一年五百英镑 barely enough to live on，就是「勉强够靠它过活」。
指「上当、吃了亏」。戏里担心对方活得比年金期限还长，说 we'd be completely taken in，就是「我们就亏大了」。
加在疑问词后加强语气，表示「到底、究竟」。戏里反问四个女人到底还想要什么，用的就是 what on earth。
指「割舍、拿出（钱）」，part with 一笔钱就是把它交出去。戏里说总比一下子 parting with 1,500 强。
