Subject：I wish that you would put your cards on the table.

迷你對話

A: Terry, you are my best friend. So I will treat you tonight. But, of course, I need you to do me a small favor.

Terry，你是我最好的朋友了。所以我今天晚上要款待你，但是，當然，我需要你幫我一個小忙。

B: What do you really want to say? I wish that you would put your cards on the table.

你到底想說什么呀？我希望你干脆把話挑明。

地道表達

put one’s card on the table

1. 解詞釋義

我們漢語中有句話是“打開天窗說亮話。”在英語中也有一個類似的表達：put one’s card on the table。其意思和中文的“攤牌”非常相似。用來表示“有什么事情直說，公開談論，擺在桌面上來攤牌，把自己的打算全盤拖出”的意思。其英文解釋為：be open and honest, reveal one’s position or intentions, to be completely straightforward and open, conceal nothing。

2. 拓展例句

e.g. We can only reach agreement if we both put our card on the table.

我們雙方只有攤開來說才能達成協議。

e.g. Perhaps you will make some progress if you put your card on the table.

如果你開誠布公,也許會取得某些進展。

Ps ：do sb a favor的意思是“幫某人一個忙”。幫某人一個小忙，不大費勁的，在favor面前加上small，如果是費勁的，在favor面前加上big。例如：

It's sound policy to do a favor before seeking one. 先助人后求助是良策。

Will you do me a favor and phone for me ? 你能否幫個忙給我打個電話？