“off balance”是一个常用的英语短语,核心含义是“失去平衡”,可用于物理层面(身体不稳)或抽象层面(心理/节奏被打乱)。以下是详细解析:
“off balance”本质是形容词短语(也可写作复合形容词“off-balance”),表示“不在平衡状态”,具体分为两类场景:
指因外力、环境或自身动作导致身体不稳,无法保持平衡。
搭配:常与“be”“get”“go”等系动词连用,或用“knock/throw sb off balance”(把某人弄失衡)。
例子:
She stepped on a loose stone and went off balance,nearly falling down.(她踩到一块松动的石头,差点摔倒,失去了平衡。)
The strong wind knocked him off balance as he walked along the cliff.(他沿着悬崖走时,强风把他吹得站不稳。)
更常见的用法是形容人或事物“不知所措、乱了阵脚、节奏被打乱”,强调“意外或突发情况导致无法正常应对”。
常见搭配:
throw/catch/knock sb off balance:使某人不知所措/打乱某人的节奏;
be off balance:处于混乱/失衡状态。
例子:
The unexpected resignation of the CEO threw the entire company off balance.(CEO突然辞职,让整个公司乱了阵脚。)
Her sarcastic comment caught me off balance—I didn’t know how to respond.(她的讽刺评论让我措手不及,我不知道该怎么回应。)
The team’s quick counterattack kept the opponents off balance throughout the game.(球队的快速反击让对手整场比赛都无法找到节奏。)
当“off balance”连写为“off-balance”时,可直接修饰名词,强调“失衡的、不符合常规的”:
He took an off-balance shot at the basket and surprisingly made it.(他失衡状态下投了个篮,居然进了。)
The reporter’s off-balance question made the politician stumble.(记者的突兀问题让政客语塞。)
on balance:总的来说;权衡利弊后(如:On balance, the project was a success. 总的来说,这个项目是成功的。)
“off balance”的核心是“打破平衡”,无论是身体的物理平衡,还是心理、计划、节奏的抽象平衡。记住常见搭配(如“throw sb off balance”)能快速掌握其用法,结合语境理解是关键。