Johnny-on-the-spot来得正是时候

用最客气的句式当面嘲讽，夸得越认真，打脸越响。

I must say that I am rather astonished by ...

想客气地挖苦对方时用；真心称赞的场合别用 rather astonished 这种腔调。

I am rather surprised by how fast you came. ／ I must say, your timing is remarkable.

正式

must say 连读，rather astonished 重读，finest 收住。

I must say that I am rather astonished by your sudden interest. 我得说，你突然这么上心，真让我吃惊。

把一句老式俏皮话丢给全副武装的警察，紧张场面瞬间变成喜剧。

I hadn't expected you to be quite so ...

半开玩笑地指出对方来得出乎意料时用；正式汇报里别这么油。

I did not expect you to be this quick. ／ You were faster than I expected.

口语

hadn't expected 吞音，Johnny-on-the-spot 一气呵成。

I hadn't expected you to be quite so quick with the answer. 没想到你答得这么快。

先亮底牌再补一刀，警察的得意全压在这句轻飘飘的嘲弄里。

We were here before you even started.

抢先一步后调侃对手时用；对陌生人这样称呼容易挑衅过头。

We got here first, better luck next time. ／ You were too late from the start.

口语

before you 连读，Bad luck 分开念，chummy 轻挑。

We booked the table before you even called. Bad luck. 你还没打电话我们就订好位子了。运气不好。

用「你和我」划出一条界线，暴露的其实是说话人自己的偏见。

You can't expect someone to act like you or me.

把某人的行为归因于身份、划清界限时用；这类话常带偏见，慎用。

You can't expect him to behave like us. ／ Don't judge him by our standards.

中性

can't expect 连读，like you or me 三词等重。

You can't expect a rookie to act like a veteran. 你不能指望新人像老手一样行事。

一句别扭又温柔的话，硬要在恐怖分子身上找出人的部分。

Some part of X is human.

为一个人留余地、反对把人一棍子打死时用；替罪行开脱时别用。

Part of him is still human. ／ There is something human left in him.

中性

him's 缩读成一词，human 重读并稍作停顿。

Part of him is still human, whatever he has done. 不管他做过什么，他身上总有一部分还是人。

一句旁观者的总结，把救命之恩说成甩不掉的牵连。

For better or worse, someone is stuck with someone.

承认某段关系已成事实、好坏都得接受时用；劝人分手时这么说太消极。

For better or worse, she is tied to him now. ／ Good or bad, she is in it with him.

中性

for better or worse 连读，stuck with him 收在重音上。

For better or worse, we are stuck with each other now. 不管好坏，我们现在是绑在一起了。