make an ass of me把我当傻瓜耍

把“好运到不敢相信”摆成 wonder 与 madness 的对立，一句话立住整章的自我怀疑。

'tis wonder that X, yet 'tis not Y

遇到好到不真实的事，想说明自己没昏头时用。

It is a wonder, yet it is no delusion. ／ This feels unreal, but I am not fooling myself.

literary

'tis 弱读成一个音节，wonder 与 madness 对照重读。

It is wonder that I got the offer, yet it is not a mistake. 我拿到这个 offer 确实像奇迹，但这不是搞错了。

把“拍马屁”反过来说成伤害，一句悖论拆穿奉承，比直接骂人还狠。

the better for X and the worse for Y

想讽刺身边只会吹捧、不肯说实话的人时套用。

I do better with critics than with flatterers. ／ His praise hurts me more than any insult.

中性

better 和 worse 一升一降，foes 与 friends 对称重读。

I am the better for my critics and the worse for my fans. 批评我的人让我进步，捧我的人反而让我退步。

把抽象的“良知”塞进口袋，劝人破例的俏皮话，画面感与幽默都在。

put your X in your pocket

想半开玩笑地劝人破例一次时，对熟人说；正式场合别用。

Put your principles aside for once. ／ Pocket your pride and take the deal.

口语

grace 重读，in your pocket 连读，for this once 放慢收尾。

Put your conscience in your pocket and accept the free upgrade. 先把良心放一放，接受这个免费升级吧。

用「摸得到、看得见」给荒唐的处境找证据，越认真越显出误会的好笑与心酸。

This pearl she gave me, I do feel it and see it.

半开玩笑地为自己的判断找实据时用；正式论证要有更多依据，别只凭感觉。

She gave me this pearl; I can touch and see it. ／ I hold the proof in my hand.

literary

This pearl she gave me 平推，I do feel it 重读，and see it 放慢收住。

This receipt she gave me, I do feel it and see it. 这张收据是她给我的，我摸得到也看得见。

用「送狗又要回」戳破假客气，一个荒诞比喻把耍赖说得又准又好笑。

This is to give a dog and in recompense desire my dog again.

半开玩笑地拆穿假慷慨时用；正式谈判里说会得罪人，别用。

That is giving a gift and then demanding it back. ／ You give with one hand and take with the other.

口语

This is to give a dog 平推，and in recompense 稍顿，desire my dog again 放慢收住。

This is to give a dog and in recompense desire my dog again, that discount is no discount. 这就像把狗送人再要回去，那点折扣根本不算折扣。