take a toll造成很大损耗

一个 combined 把难度抬到全山之上，数字感就是压迫感。

A has more X than all the others combined.

想强调某样东西远超同类总和时用；正式报告里也站得住。

It beats all the others put together. ／ No other route comes close in difficulty.

中性

more hard pitches 连读，every other 轻快带过，combined 收重音。

This project has more deadlines than the other three combined. 这个项目的截止日期比另外三个加起来还多。

用 futile 和 in terms of 两个词把多年的怀疑说得克制又清楚。

I always thought it was futile in terms of ...

说多年来的怀疑或不看好时用；口气偏理性，适合复盘。

I never believed the whole thing was doable. ／ Finishing it always seemed pointless to me.

中性

always 弱读，futile 重读，in terms of 连读放轻。

I always thought it was futile in terms of finishing on time. 我一直觉得，想按时完成根本是白费劲。

把最狠的否定说得像朋友拍肩，一句就带着不服气的回击。

This is a pipe dream.

说某件事不切实际时用；带调侃或劝阻，别对上级这样说。

That's never going to happen. ／ You're chasing a fantasy.

口语

pipe dream 紧连，man 轻带，Come on 尾音下压。

Buying a house this year is a pipe dream. 今年买房纯属白日做梦。

一句短评点破长年坚持背后的消耗，画面正好落在伤口上。

Living on ... takes a huge toll.

说长期压力慢慢把人拖垮时用；对同事、家人都能说。

It slowly wears you down. ／ The lifestyle comes at a heavy price.

中性

Living on 连读，huge toll 两个重音后收住。

Living on four hours of sleep takes a huge toll. 天天只睡四个小时，代价极大。

不形容伤口，只把镜头推给脚，一句话就让代价自己说话。

This is what X does to Y.

指着实物讲长期代价时用；口语有力，正式场合也能接受。

Look what this place did to us. ／ That's the price this work demands.

中性

what El Cap 连读，does to 弱读，feet 重读收尾。

This is what a winter of climbing does to your hands. 这就是一整个冬天攀岩对手干的事。

坦白说出怀疑，反而让信任显得真实，不是喊口号。

There were times I thought ...

回顾一段不轻松的关系或合作时用；叙事里很自然。

Sometimes I questioned his judgment. ／ At points I thought he had lost it.

中性

There were times 连读，totally 重读，crazy 尾音稍扬。

There were times I thought my partner was totally crazy. 有几次我觉得我搭档简直是疯了。