set something at naught全然不顾

把体面与自知装进一个条件句，话说得软，立场却一点没退。

If there was any ... I should be sensible of it.

被人当面指责、又要体面回应时用；朋友间随口辩解别说这么重。

If I had done anything improper, I would know it. ／ Any real fault in my conduct would not escape me.

正式

If there 轻连读，impropriety 重音在第二音节，句尾放平。

If there was any real mistake in my report, I would be the first to admit it. 要是我的报告真有错，我第一个承认。

不说「你错了」，只问对方还信不信自己的判断，逼人自省。

Do you not begin to doubt your own ...?

想委婉拆对方台、要他自己反省时用；对上级这样问容易得罪人。

Have you started to question your own judgment? ／ Do you still trust your own prudence?

正式

Do you not 连成一句，doubt your own 连读，句尾上扬。

Do you not begin to doubt your own reasoning here? 你就不觉得自己的道理站不住脚了吗？

the sooner…the better 一句成谚，把长辈那种世故的关切说得很顺口。

The sooner ..., the better.

劝人早点经历某事、早点做准备时用；正式报告里换成 the earlier the better。

The earlier she learns how the world works, the better. ／ Sooner is better than later for lessons like this.

中性

The sooner 与 the better 都重读，中间语速放快。

The sooner you start saving, the better. 你越早开始存钱越好。

用最克制的两个名词收束一段往事，比任何哭诉都重。

The result was only ... and ...

总结一段糟糕的后果时用；日常闲聊别把话说得这么重。

All it brought was ruin and despair. ／ Nothing came of it but ruin and grief.

literary

only 略重，ruination 与 despair 之间稍停。

The result was only wasted time and a lot of apologies. 结果只有白白浪费的时间和一通道歉。

先骂一句亲昵的 sly thing，再一针见血点破真正动机，机锋十足。

It was X she wanted, not Y.

看穿朋友心思、半开玩笑地点破时用；对不熟的人说 sly 会变成真冒犯。

It was the people she came for, not the place. ／ She came for them, not for Delaford.

口语

sly thing 连得俏皮，It was 轻读，not Delaford 重读收。

It was your cooking he came for, not the conversation. 他来是冲你的厨艺，可不是来聊天的。

一句 funds for luxuries 把清贫说得体面，又顺手贬了对方。

There are no funds for ...

替人诉苦又暗含轻视时用；当面说 poor thing 有时让人难堪。

There's no money at home for such things. ／ They can't afford such finery at home.

口语

funds for 连读，luxuries 重音在前，poor thing 放轻收。

There are no funds for a bigger car this year. 今年拿不出钱换更大的车。

前半句数落人，后半句抬出旧身份，两句话就把家世压人一头。

He used to be ...

用过去的身份压人、提醒对方你也有些来历；对平辈说会显得摆谱。

He was an M.P. in his day. ／ He once sat in Parliament.

口语

used to 连读成 yoosta，M. P. 两个字母分开念。

He used to be the head of the department. 他当年可是部门主管。