wheels start rolling开始盘算起来

用「轮子转起来」的画面写贪念萌生，比直说想钱生动得多。

The wheels started rolling (in someone's head)

说某人开始盘算、动了念头时用；多带点看穿或调侃。

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

口语

重读 wheels 和 money，rolling 轻快带过。

Once he heard about the bonus, the wheels started rolling in his head. 一听说有奖金，他脑子里就开始盘算起来了。

用 would 加 anything 把「怎么说都行」的底线说穿，冷静又可怕。

Someone would say anything they wanted.

揭穿某人毫无原则、只为利益开口时用；当面说等于骂人。

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

中性

would 弱读，重读 anything 和 wanted。

He would say anything they wanted just to get the room. 为了拿到那个房间，他们想听什么他就说什么。

一句话否掉整段证词，口语又利落，是很难反驳的常识。

Nobody has that good of a + 名词.

质疑对方描述太夸张时用；对长辈或正式文书换成 no one。

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

口语

重读 Nobody 和 eyesight，句末下沉。

Nobody has that good of a memory for faces. 谁的记性也没好到能记住所有脸。

用望远镜做极限对比，把「不可能看见」钉死，逻辑漂亮。

I doubt if you could have even + 过去分词.

用极端假设否定对方说法时用；正式书面可说 It is doubtful that ...。

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

中性

重读 even 和 binoculars，前半稍停。

I doubt if you could have even read the sign from there. 我看你站那么远，就算眯着眼也读不出那块牌子。

由法官亲口说出「从没听过」，为下一句的动摇埋下伏笔。

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

想强调某事罕见、前所未闻时用；后面通常接具体是什么。

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

正式

重读 never 和 before，I'd 轻读。

Her closing speech was one I'd never heard before. 她的结束发言是我从没听过的那一种。

承认被打动又马上补一句「没露出来」，把法官的克制和人心一起写出来。

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

承认被触动又不想承认失态时用；谈心或自省都合适。

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

中性

did 重读表强调，but 后放慢，showed it 轻收。

The old photos did get to me, but I don't think I showed it. 那些老照片确实让我动了情，可我觉得我没露出来。