in earnest

With a purposeful or sincere intent

正经的：带有认真或坚定的目的的

settled down to study in earnest for the examination.

坚定决心认真坐下来复习准备考试

Serious; determined

坚定不移的；严肃的

“Both sides are deeply in earnest, with passions that approximate those of civil war”(&b{Conor Cruise O'Brien})

“双方都很坚决认真，象是鼓足劲要打一场内战”(&b{康纳·克鲁斯·奥布赖恩})