An unintentional missile

"The others found their chairs and slid neatly into them. Except - inevitably - for Carson Clinkscales, who managed to trip over what appeared to be his own feet. The ensign fell to his right, and his left arm, windmilling for balance, took Lieutenant Commander McGinley's GSN cap off her head. The heavy peaked cap catapulted across the conference table, hit the polished surface, slid past Andreas Venizelos' reaching hand with demonic precision, and struck a carafe of ice water dead center. The unintentional missile had just enough kinetic energy to knock the carefe over, and water exploded from it as the top some steward had neglected to fasten properly popped clear. Three different people clutched for the carafe, bot none reached it, and Captain Greentree gasped as the container rolled off the table and an ice-cold fountain inundated his lap."

Weber, D. In Enemy Hands 169.

Innocent lampshades

"Those of you who wish to practice with the parasol may take one from the cupboard, but work outside, please. A sufficient number of innocent lampshades have already been sacrificed."

Sebold, G. Shanghai Sparrow 103.

A gentle garrote

The two-toned priority buzz of Honor's bedside com yanked her awake with all the gentleness of a garrote.

Weber, D. Flag in Exile 383.

The crack of seven

It was the crack of seven and he was allergic to the concept of two seven o'clocks in one day.

Pratchett, T. Raising Steam 69.

A good man with his hands

Not particularly overburdened intellectually, Erkum was huge, even by Mardukan standards, and "a good man with his hands" as long as the target was in reach of hand weapon. Give him a gun, and the safest place to be was between him and the enemy.

Weber, D. & Ringo, J We Few  14.

Competitively incompetent

"I wonder, sometimes, which of you is the least competent," he said abruptly. "The competition is so fierce I can't make up my mind between you."

Weber, D. War Maid's Choice 2.

Незабываемая ночь - Unforgetable night

Для молодого и здорового мужчины есть много способов проснуться.  Самый приятный - это когда тебя целуют в ушко и нежно говорят: "Дорогой...спасибо, это была незабываемая ночь..."  Как ни странно, самый ужасный - точно такой же.  Только голос при этом мужской и говорит с кавказским акцентом.

For a young and healthy man, there are many ways for waking up.  The most pleasurable, is when someone kisses your ear and affectionately says: "Darling...thank you, that was an unforgettable night..."  Ironically, the worst way for waking up is identical.  The difference is that the voice is male and speaks with a Caucasian accent.

Лукьяненко, С.  Черновик 168.