at the drop of a hat一有机会就

一句玩笑式的「店规」，把安慰说成规矩，既体面又贴心。

I have a strict policy that ...

半开玩笑地安慰朋友时用；正式场合或对上级别说这句。

My rule is that no one cries alone here. ／ Nobody sulks alone in this house.

口语

strict policy 重读，nobody cries alone 三个重音，presence 轻收。

I have a strict policy that nobody eats lunch alone on Fridays. 我有个铁规矩：周五没人可以一个人吃午饭。

用最平常的句式说出了她想掌控生活的全部心思，轻，却沉。

make things as ... as possible

表达想尽量简化某件事时用；谈判或正式文书里更适合用尽可能的措辞。

I want to keep things as simple as possible. ／ I need to simplify everything.

中性

as simple as possible 一气读出，重音落在 simple 和 possible。

Let's make the instructions as simple as possible. 我们把说明写得越简单越好。

把「就一次」翻出新意，成了全家看重小事的最好理由。

You only have X once

劝人珍惜某次机会时用；说正事时可换成更正式的说法。

You only turn one once. ／ This day comes only once.

中性

only 和 once 重读，first birthday 连读。

You only have your first concert once. 头一回看演唱会一辈子就一次。

用夸张的例外制造画面，把荒唐事说得好笑又不点破。

everything but ...

熟人之间夸张描述荒唐场面时用；正式汇报里千万别这么说。

He'd tried everything but the kitchen sink. ／ They drank everything but the furniture.

口语

everything but 连读，shoes 收尾咬清。

They ate everything but the plates. 他们什么都吃了，差点没把盘子也啃了。