a matter of national security事关国家安全

把对手的意图说成讲故事，一句话点出 V 的目的不是躲，而是让人看见。

He wanted us to know ..., or at least a part of it.

揣测别人为什么故意放出消息时用；正式汇报也很合适。

He meant for us to learn the story. ／ He wanted at least part of it told.

中性

wanted us to 连读，at least a part 重读，收尾放平。

She wanted us to know the truth, or at least a part of it. 她想让我们知道真相，至少知道一部分。

一句官腔就把真相锁进保险柜，冠冕堂皇里全是封口的意图。

The contents of ... are a matter of national security.

形容某件事被上纲上线、禁止议论时用；多带讽刺。

This falls under national security. ／ The file is a state secret.

正式

contents of 连读，national security 逐词加重。

The budget figures are a matter of national security now. 现在连预算数字都成了国家安全问题。

用 blatant 一词把罪名钉死，法律腔里带着毫不掩饰的威胁。

a blatant violation of ...

要指出明目张胆的违规时用；日常说会显得像在念文件。

a clear breach of the rules ／ an outright violation of the code

正式

as well as 连读，blatant 重读，violation of 连读。

That is a blatant violation of the safety code. 那是公然违反安全守则。

劝人忘掉一件事，其实是命令封口，客气里藏着威胁。

put it out of your mind

劝人或命人别再去想某件麻烦事时用；对受害者说会显得轻慢。

Put it out of your head. ／ Try to forget all about it.

中性

put it 连读，out of your 弱读，mind 重读收尾。

You should put it out of your mind and rest. 你该把它从脑子里放下，好好休息。

用黎明比喻新时代，鼓动性十足；放在实验日记里更显冷血。

This could be the dawn of a new age.

形容某个突破带来新局面时用；被滥用了会显得像口号。

This might mark the beginning of a new era. ／ We could be at the dawn of something big.

正式

This could 连读，dawn of a 连读成 dawn-ova，new age 放缓。

This vaccine could be the dawn of a new age for medicine. 这种疫苗可能开启医学的新时代。

先用 Whoever 抹掉一个人的过去，再把他变成工具，冷酷到极点。

Whoever he was, he is now ...

要强调某人的身份已不重要、只看当下价值时用；很冷酷，慎用。

Whoever he used to be, he matters now. ／ His past does not matter; his use does.

正式

Whoever he was 连读，key to our dream 放慢加重。

Whoever she was, she is now the key to this deal. 不管她以前是谁，她现在就是这笔交易的关键。

两次否定把恐惧压成短句，越是平淡，越让人后背发凉。

Not with ... There were no ...

描述某件反常又说不清的事时用；语气要平，才有分量。

Not with eyes, and yet he saw me. ／ There were no eyes at all.

literary

Not with 吞掉 t，There were no 连读，eyes 重读。

Not with words. There were no words at all. 不是用语言。根本没有语言。