wheels start rolling開始盤算起來

用「輪子轉起來」的畫面寫貪念萌生，比直說想錢生動得多。

The wheels started rolling (in someone's head)

說某人開始盤算、動了念頭時用；多帶點看穿或調侃。

The gears started turning in his head. ／ You could see the cogs turning.

口語

重讀 wheels 和 money，rolling 輕快帶過。

Once he heard about the bonus, the wheels started rolling in his head. 一聽說有獎金，他腦子裡就開始盤算起來了。

用 would 加 anything 把「怎麼說都行」的底線說穿，冷靜又可怕。

Someone would say anything they wanted.

揭穿某人毫無原則、只為利益開口時用；當面說等於罵人。

He'd tell them whatever suited him. ／ He would swear to any version they liked.

中性

would 弱讀，重讀 anything 和 wanted。

He would say anything they wanted just to get the room. 為了拿到那個房間，他們想聽什麼他就說什麼。

一句話否掉整段證詞，口語又利落，是很難反駁的常識。

Nobody has that good of a + 名詞.

質疑對方描述太誇張時用；對長輩或正式文書換成 no one。

No one's eyes are that good. ／ Nobody can see that far.

口語

重讀 Nobody 和 eyesight，句末下沉。

Nobody has that good of a memory for faces. 誰的記性也沒好到能記住所有臉。

用望遠鏡做極限對比，把「不可能看見」釘死，邏輯漂亮。

I doubt if you could have even + 過去分詞.

用極端假設否定對方說法時用；正式書面可說 It is doubtful that ...。

You couldn't have seen that even with a telescope. ／ Not even binoculars would help.

中性

重讀 even 和 binoculars，前半稍停。

I doubt if you could have even read the sign from there. 我看你站那麼遠，就算眯著眼也讀不出那塊牌子。

由法官親口說出「從沒聽過」，為下一句的動搖埋下伏筆。

... was one I'd never heard before.

想強調某事罕見、前所未聞時用；後面通常接具體是什麼。

That was a speech unlike any I'd heard. ／ I had never heard an argument like that.

正式

重讀 never 和 before，I'd 輕讀。

Her closing speech was one I'd never heard before. 她的結束髮言是我從沒聽過的那一種。

承認被打動又馬上補一句「沒露出來」，把法官的剋制和人心一起寫出來。

It did get to me, but I don't think I showed it.

承認被觸動又不想承認失態時用；談心或自省都合適。

It hit me, though I kept a straight face. ／ It moved me more than I let on.

中性

did 重讀表強調，but 後放慢，showed it 輕收。

The old photos did get to me, but I don't think I showed it. 那些老照片確實讓我動了情，可我覺得我沒露出來。