"at a stretch" 是一个常用的英语副词短语,核心含义是“连续地;不间断地;一口气地”,强调某个动作或状态在没有休息、停顿的情况下持续进行。
英文释义:without stopping or resting(没有停止或休息)。
侧重描述“持续的连贯性”,通常用于说明“连续做某事的时长/数量”。
作为副词短语,修饰动词或动词短语,通常置于句末;常与表示“时间长度”或“数量”的成分连用(如“for + 时间”“数字 + 单位”),说明连续的具体时长或数量。
工作/学习场景:
He worked for 12 hours at a stretch to meet the deadline.(他连续工作12小时赶截止日期。)
I can’t focus on my homework for more than an hour at a stretch—I need breaks!(我没法连续专注做作业超过1小时——我需要休息!)
运动/活动场景:
She ran five miles at a stretch without slowing down.(她一口气跑了5英里,没减速。)
The kids played video games for three hours at a stretch until their parents told them to stop.(孩子们连续玩了3小时游戏,直到父母让他们停下。)
日常行为:
Can you hold your breath for a minute at a stretch?(你能连续憋气一分钟吗?)
不要与其他含“stretch”的短语混淆:
stretch oneself:竭尽全力(如:I stretched myself to finish the task. 我竭尽全力完成任务。)
at full stretch:全力以赴;尽最大努力(如:We were working at full stretch to get ready for the party. 我们全力以赴准备派对。)
总结:"at a stretch" 关键是“连续无中断”,用在需要强调“动作连贯性”的场景中,直观传达“没休息、一口气做完”的状态。