# How do you express these lines of dialogue in fiction in more natural-sounding English?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-express-these-lines-of-dialogue-in-fiction-in-more-natural-sounding-english/719470>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 7, 2015, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-express-these-lines-of-dialogue-in-fiction-in-more-natural-sounding-english/719470 "2015-05-07T12:01:29Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Melia\_Antiqua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a698b9/32.png) [@Melia\_Antiqua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melia_Antiqua)\
**Post date:** [May 7, 2015, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-express-these-lines-of-dialogue-in-fiction-in-more-natural-sounding-english/719470/1 "2015-05-07T12:01:29Z")

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I’ve translated some lines of dialogue in fiction from Japanese into English, which is one of my greatest passions. Any corrections or suggestions – no matter how small – would be appreciated. Incidentally, I might post similar questions via my “Reply” in this thread. Thanks.  
**Man** : You look awfully…not busy – for someone who’s supposed to look terribly busy. (jokingly)

**One of the Brass** : I’ll have you know, it’s a good sign for an organisation when top brass look all laid-back. We wouldn’t be if everything wasn’t running smoothly. (defensively)

**Woman A** : Well, that’s one way to put it, but … I don’t suppose this is an excuse for slacking off, is it? (sarcastically)

**Woman B** : Maybe life as an executive isn’t nearly as tough as it’s made out to be, after all. (light-heartedly)

**One of the Brass** : You don’t know the first thing about this job, do you – each one of you! All right, then I’ll allow you to tag along with me the whole day tomorrow. See for yourself how supposedly ‘easy’ everything is! (challengingly)

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**Author:** ![Cartoonacy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/848f3c/32.png) [@Cartoonacy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartoonacy)\
**Post date:** [May 7, 2015, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-express-these-lines-of-dialogue-in-fiction-in-more-natural-sounding-english/719470/2 "2015-05-07T20:00:18Z")

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It sounds perfectly fine to me.

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**Author:** ![ROBDOLPHIN66](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ed655f/32.png) [@ROBDOLPHIN66](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ROBDOLPHIN66)\
**Post date:** [May 10, 2015, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-express-these-lines-of-dialogue-in-fiction-in-more-natural-sounding-english/719470/3 "2015-05-10T19:51:57Z")

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I would change  
“each one of you!” to “any of you”