“under pressure”是英语中高频使用的短语,核心含义围绕“压力状态”展开,具体理解需结合语境,以下是详细解析:
字面直译为“在压力之下”,可引申为:
1、 (心理/精神上)处于压力中;感到压力大(最常见);
2、 被迫(做某事);受外界压力影响;
3、 (物理上)在压力作用下(较少见)。
结构:主语 + be / feel / remain + under (much/a lot of) pressure
强调“当前的压力状态”,常搭配压力来源(如work, exams, deadlines等)。
He’s been under a lot of pressure at work since his promotion.
(自从升职后,他工作压力一直很大。)
Students often feel under pressure before final exams.
(学生期末考前常感到压力大。)
The team remained calm under pressure and won the game.
(球队在压力下保持冷静,最终赢了比赛。)
表示“被迫/受压力做某事”,强调“外界压力推动行动”。
The company is under pressure to cut costs after losing a major client.
(失去大客户后,公司被迫削减成本。)
Parents are sometimes under pressure to send their kids to private schools.
(父母有时会被迫送孩子去私立学校。)
The government is under increasing pressure to address climate change.
(政府面临越来越大的压力,需解决气候变化问题。)
指物体受物理压力(如气压、水压)作用,多用于科技/实验场景。
Water boils at a higher temperature under pressure.
(水在压力下沸点更高。)
The gas is stored under high pressure in the cylinder.
(气体在高压下储存在钢瓶中。)
put sb under pressure:给某人施加压力
e.g. Don’t put him under pressure—he’s already nervous.
(别给他人压力,他已经很紧张了。)
work under pressure:在压力下工作(常用于求职描述)
e.g. I thrive when working under pressure—it helps me focus.
(我在压力下工作会更出色——它能让我集中注意力。)
be under immense/enormous pressure:压力极大
e.g. The CEO is under enormous pressure to turn the company around.
(CEO面临巨大压力,需扭转公司局面。)
be stressed out(更口语,强调“疲惫的压力”)
feel pressured(更强调“被施压的感觉”)
be in a high-pressure situation(更具体,“处于高压情境”)
“under pressure”是状态短语,不强调“施压的动作”(动作需用“pressure sb to do”);
可灵活搭配程度副词(如much, a lot of, immense),强化压力的大小;
口语中常用“under the pressure”吗?不——通常省略定冠词“the”,直接说“under pressure”。
综上,“under pressure”是描述“压力状态”的万能短语,覆盖心理、社会、物理等场景,掌握其搭配(尤其是“under pressure to do sth”)能大幅提升表达的准确性~