in a jiffy一转眼

用 my predecessor 和 some sort of prejudice 把怀疑说得克制，像医生的口吻。

someone had some sort of ... against ...

谨慎地转述别人的成见时用；直接指责当事人的场合别说。

He seemed to have a grudge against her. ／ My predecessor disliked her for some reason.

正式

predecessor 重读，some sort of 一带而过。

My predecessor had some sort of problem with the new supplier. 我的前任对新供应商似乎有些看法。

把抽象的邪气写成正在围拢的东西，一句就把压迫感说满。

I feel all the ... gathering around.

形容气氛不对、心里发毛时用；正式报告或轻快场合别用。

I can feel the evil closing in on this house. ／ Something dark is gathering around us.

literary

wickedness 放慢加重，gathering around 连读收尾。

I felt all the tension of the room gathering around me. 我觉得满屋子的紧张都朝我压过来。

一句半真半假的让步，把道歉变成一场心理较量，听着又冷又妙。

You'd get it, if you ...

半开玩笑地试探对方敢不敢坚持时用；正式道歉的场合别用。

You would get one if you insisted. ／ Ask again and you might get it.

口语

You'd get it 轻快，stuck out for it 重读后半句。

You'd get an apology, if you asked nicely. 你要是好好开口，或许能得到一句道歉。

用一句吐槽式玩笑消解翻旧病历的压抑，人物一下就活了。

From his handwriting, [someone] must have been ...

调侃字迹或作风老派时用；对当事人当面说可能失礼。

Judging by his handwriting, he must have been two hundred. ／ That handwriting suggests he was two hundred years old.

口语

From his 连读，200 years old 重读收尾。

From his handwriting, the author must have been 90. 看那笔迹，作者怕是有九十岁了。