set the wheels of justice in motion讓司法機器轉起來

一句 took that to heart 寫出期待，也預告了這份期待後來的落空。

I took that to heart. I thought I was going to ...

說自己把別人的話當真、滿懷期待時用；帶點自嘲也可以。

I took him at his word. I thought my turn had come. ／ I believed it and thought I would get my shot.

中性

took that to heart 連讀，thought I was going to 放慢。

I took that to heart. I thought I was going to get the job. 我把那話當真了，以為這份工作穩了。

把責任攬在自己身上又不推脫，一句 I didn't 收得極重。

I felt it was up to me to ..., and I didn't.

自責沒做成該做的事時用；對同事或朋友說都很重。

I thought it was on me to stop it, and I failed. ／ I believed the job was mine, and I let it go.

中性

up to me 連讀，句尾 I didn't 降調收住。

I felt it was up to me to speak up, and I didn't. 我覺得該由我站出來說話，可我沒說。

一句辭職式的陳述，比長篇控訴更能說明他有多失望。

Since ..., I have given up ...

講某件事之後自己徹底改變了做法時用；語氣要平。

I haven't practiced criminal law since that trial. ／ That trial ended my career in criminal law.

中性

Since his trial 後稍停，have given up 連讀。

Since that winter, I have given up driving at night. 那個冬天之後，我就再沒在夜裡開過車。

把「推翻判決」翻譯成人話，一句話拆掉法律術語的迷霧。

They are saying they ... with ...

替別人解釋術語、把話說白時用；語氣可以很平靜。

They are simply disagreeing with the judge. ／ All it means is that they see it differently.

中性

are saying 弱讀，disagree with 連讀。

They are saying they disagree with the plan, not with you. 他們是在說不同意這個方案，不是針對你。

messed up 和 derailed 連用，把失控的畫面說得很具體。

it's all gotten messed up and derailed again.

形容事情反覆搞砸、又回到原點時用；口語裡很常見。

It all fell apart and went off the rails again. ／ Everything got tangled up and derailed once more.

口語

messed up 連讀，derailed 重讀。

The trip was all gotten messed up by the weather. 行程被天氣攪得一團糟。

用 yet 一轉，把前面所有票數論證全掀翻，短而有力。

Yet ... was reversed.

講結果和推理相反時用；適合收尾或轉折處。

And still the case was reversed. ／ Yet the ruling was overturned anyway.

中性

Yet 後稍停，reversed 重讀收尾。

Yet the decision was reversed after all. 可到頭來決定還是被推翻了。