a pressing engagement要紧的约会

把创作者最深的恐惧一句话说穿，直白得像条行规。

Never let another X do Y. He may ...

提醒别人防着同行时用；当面说朋友会偷，会显得不信任。

Never hand your draft to a rival. ／ Keep your ideas to yourself around other writers.

中性

Never let another 连读，steal it 收得干脆。

Never let another team read your proposal. They may copy it. 别让别的团队看你的方案，他们会照抄。

一个词就能点燃她，把自尊和执念全暴露出来，短促有力。

I hate that word! It's a ...

别人用错词、戳到痛处时用；对长辈或客户发火要三思。

Do not call it that. It is a return. ／ That word is exactly what I refuse.

口语

hate that word 加重，It's a return 逐词重读。

I hate that word! Call it a comeback year, not a recovery. 我讨厌那个词！该叫翻身年，不叫复苏。

把看烂稿说成一种消遣，自嘲里带着职业的傲慢。

Sometimes it's interesting to see just how X can be.

看别人的失败作品或操作时用；当着作者面说会伤人。

It is fascinating to watch how badly this can go. ／ You have to admire how low it can sink.

口语

just how bad 与 bad writing 之间稍停，重读 bad。

Sometimes it's interesting to see just how bad a sequel can be. 有时候看看续集能烂到什么地步，也挺有意思。

把躲债说成「有约」，越轻描淡写越显出他的窘迫。

I had no pressing engagement, except with ...

半开玩笑地承认自己闲着、躲不开某件事时用；正式场合别这么油。

I had nothing pressing, unless you count the creditors. ／ No plans, except dodging the finance office.

口语

pressing engagement 连读，finance office 放慢收尾。

I had no pressing engagement, except with my tax forms. 我没什么要紧事，除了要和报税表打交道。

给一只猴子的葬礼配上「庄重」，越正经越好笑。

It was all done with great X.

一本正经地描述荒诞场面时用；真在丧事上调侃会失礼。

The whole thing was carried off with great ceremony. ／ They handled it with surprising solemnity.

literary

all done 连读，great dignity 两词都重读。

The office farewell was all done with great dignity. 这场办公室欢送会办得格外隆重。

先挑错再补一句「你不是专业的」，安慰听着像补刀。

Maybe it's a little ..., but you're not a professional X.

想委婉挑毛病又踩了对方一脚时用；职场反馈里慎用，容易得罪人。

It has some rough spots, but you are not a pro yet. ／ A few flaws here and there, though you are no professional.

中性

Maybe it's 轻带，but 后放慢，professional writer 收尾。

Maybe the slides are a little dense, but you are not a designer. 幻灯片也许是挤了点，可你毕竟不是设计师。