God forbid但愿千万别

先划出界限再给客人台阶，一句客气话里全是戒备。

We are not used to ..., but you're welcome here.

不想被突然打扰、又得保持礼貌时用；对朋友说会显得生分。

We don't get many visitors this late. ／ You're welcome, though we keep early nights.

中性

not used to 放平，you're welcome here 微微上扬。

We are not used to guests after ten, but come in. 我们十点后不常有客人，不过进来吧。

把『喝不下』说成酒在肚里造反，用词古怪又生动。

It rebels my stomach.

婉拒吃喝时用，带点幽默；正式宴席上别用会显得挑剔。

It turns my stomach. ／ My stomach won't take it.

口语

rebels 重读，my stomach 稍停，后半句放缓。

None for me; it rebels my stomach tonight. 我不喝了，今晚这酒让我反胃。

用两个对称分句把缺席变成虔诚，反驳得有理有节。

I did X when I could, and when I could not I did Y.

被指责不守规矩、想说明自己另有坚持时用，语气要稳。

I showed up whenever I could, and prayed when I couldn't. ／ When I could not go, I kept faith at home.

正式

两个 when I could 前后呼应，重音落在 surely 和 prayed。

I helped when I could, and when I could not I sent money. 能帮的时候我都帮了，帮不上时我就出钱。

先给定论，再抬出对方的信仰压人，温和的句式下是硬钉子。

Your house is not a church; your theology must tell you that.

用对方的准则反驳对方时用，很有效但很伤人；日常慎用。

This is a home, not a church, and you know it. ／ By your own rules, this is not a church.

正式

not a church 重读，theology 稍抬，收尾下沉。

This is an office, not a home; your contract must tell you that. 这是办公室不是家，你的合同该告诉你这点。

用『没有更巧的手』夸人，把对旧物的怀念说得又暖又硬。

A sweeter hand never touched ...

真心夸人手艺、怀念旧物时用，带感情；客套场合会显得夸张。

No finer hand ever touched it. ／ I have never seen better work.

literary

sweeter hand 连读，never touched 略微加重。

My grandmother made this; a sweeter hand never touched wood. 这是我奶奶做的，再没有更巧的手碰过木头。

用 dream not 加木屋的朴素意象，暗示对方图的是排场。

I think, sometimes, someone dreams not ...

含蓄点破别人野心时用，带讽刺；当面说就是撕破脸。

Sometimes I think he wants more than this. ／ I suspect his dream is not a simple one.

literary

sometimes 后停顿，dreams not 连读，句尾放低。

I think, sometimes, he dreams not of the job but the title. 我有时觉得，他想的不只是这份差事，而是头衔。