on the chance that抱着万一的希望

一句平常的办案交代，却把「碰碰运气」的侦探思路说得又稳又实在。

on the chance that ...

想表达抱着万一的希望去做某事时用；正式文书里别用这么口语的说法。

in case someone saw you ／ on the off chance that someone noticed

中性

重音落在 circulate 和 saw，on the chance that 一气连读。

I'll ask around on the chance that someone remembers her. 我到处问问，说不定有人记得她。

把家庭秩序的崩塌比作机器卡进打蛋器，画面又准又刻薄。

throw an eggbeater into the wheels of ...

调侃谁打乱了别人井井有条的安排时用；对长辈或正式场合别这么说。

throw a spanner in the works ／ upset the whole applecart

口语

重读 eggbeater 和 wheels，Victorian 咬清三个音节。

Your surprise visit threw a wrench into our careful schedule. 你突然到访，把我们精心排好的日程全打乱了。

拿最狼狈的意外当爱情开场，一句话就叫人记住这段相遇。

The very first time I ..., ...

回忆第一次做某事、且当时出了意外时用；写正式叙述别这么逗趣。

The moment I met her, everything fell apart. ／ The first time we spoke, the lights went out.

口语

rather funny 轻快，very first 重读，fell right in on me 连读。

The very first time I drove alone, the tire went flat. 我第一次独自开车，轮胎就爆了。

冷静一句，点破亲情证词的分量，是法庭里最实用的常识。

A ... witness may be of more value.

讨论证据或判断谁的话更可信时能用；日常安慰人时别用，会显得太冷静。

An outsider's account often carries more weight. ／ A detached observer is harder to doubt.

正式

disinterested 重音在第二音节，may be of 连读，more value 收住。

A disinterested reviewer may be of more value than a loyal friend. 一个中立的评审，可能比忠实的朋友更有参考价值。