deflect

deflect — verb

1. to make something move in a different direction by hitting it, or to turn aside

1.動詞及物 / 不及物B1
釋義

to make something move in a different direction by hitting it, or to turn aside after a collision

例句

The goalkeeper managed to deflect the ball with just his fingertips.

deflect + ball in sports context

A piece of metal in Private Chen's vest deflected the bullet and saved his life.

deflect + projectile for protection

同義詞
  • divert

    broader — can mean changing use or attention, not just physical course

  • ricochet

    specifically describes bouncing off a surface, usually at an angle

  • bounce

    more general — implies coming back up after hitting a surface; deflect is more about changing direction sideways

反義詞
  • absorb

    to take in the force of something rather than sending it elsewhere

文法句型

deflect + object (transitive)

deflect (intransitive, often + off/from)

用法筆記

Common in sports reporting and physics contexts. The intransitive use is frequent, often paired with 'off' ('the ball deflected off the post').

常見錯誤

❌The ball deflected the wall.
✅The ball deflected off the wall.
💡When describing the ball's own change in direction, use 'off' to name the object it hit.
❌The mirror deflected the light.
✅The mirror reflected the light.
💡'Reflect' means to send back light or an image; 'deflect' means to change course, not necessarily back toward the source.

2. to persuade or force someone to abandon a planned course of action

2.動詞及物B2
釋義

to persuade or force someone to abandon a planned course of action

例句

Nothing could deflect Jiwoo from her goal of becoming a doctor.

deflect + from + noun phrase (goal)

The principal tried to deflect Tamás from his plan to leave school early.

deflect + from + noun phrase (plan)

同義詞
  • deter

    stronger — suggests creating fear or doubt to stop someone

  • discourage

    softer — makes someone less willing, not necessarily stopping them entirely

  • dissuade

    more formal; focuses on persuading someone not to act

反義詞
  • encourage

    to give support or confidence to someone to keep going

  • motivate

    to provide a reason for someone to act

文法句型

deflect + somebody + from + noun/-ing

用法筆記

Typically followed by 'from' and either a noun ('goal', 'plan', 'path') or a gerund ('doing something'). The subject is usually an external force — criticism, opposition, offers — rather than a physical obstacle.

常見錯誤

❌She deflected him to drop the class.
✅She deflected him from dropping the class.
💡The correct pattern is 'deflect someone from doing something', not 'to do something'.

3. to prevent criticism, blame, or difficult questions from reaching or affecting y

3.動詞及物B2
釋義

to prevent criticism, blame, or difficult questions from reaching or affecting you

例句

The company director tried to deflect questions about the failed project.

deflect + questions

Felix tried to deflect the criticism by changing the subject whenever the error came up.

deflect criticism by changing topic

同義詞
  • avoid

    more general; does not specify how the person keeps something away

  • dodge

    more informal; suggests quick, clever movement to escape something

  • evade

    suggests skill or cunning in escaping something unwanted

反義詞
  • face

    to deal with something directly rather than avoiding it

  • welcome

    to accept something such as questions or criticism openly

文法句型

deflect + noun (criticism, blame, questions, attention)

用法筆記

The object is typically an abstract noun such as 'criticism', 'blame', 'questions', 'scrutiny', or 'attention'. The person who deflects keeps the unwanted thing away from themselves without necessarily naming someone else.

常見錯誤

❌She deflected the report about the mistake.
✅She deflected questions about the mistake.
💡You deflect the attention or criticism directed at something, not the thing itself.

4. to redirect blame or criticism towards someone else in order to avoid personal r

4.動詞及物B2
釋義

to redirect blame or criticism towards someone else in order to avoid personal responsibility

例句

Instead of admitting his mistake, Rafael deflected the blame onto his teammate.

pattern: deflect + onto + someone

After the budget was leaked, Maeve deflected the blame onto the newest member of her team.

pattern: deflect + blame + onto + person

同義詞
  • shift

    more general; can be neutral ('shift the discussion')

  • divert

    can mean redirecting attention or resources, not only blame

  • pass the buck

    informal idiom specific to shifting responsibility

反義詞
  • accept

    to take responsibility willingly

  • own

    informal; to admit and take responsibility for one's actions

文法句型

deflect + noun + onto + noun (someone else)

用法筆記

Often occurs in the pattern 'deflect something onto someone'. Unlike sense 3, this sense involves actively naming or targeting another person or group as the responsible party. Common in political debates and workplace conflicts.

常見錯誤

❌She deflected her mistake to her assistant.
✅She deflected the blame for her mistake onto her assistant.
💡You deflect 'blame' or 'responsibility', not the mistake itself, and the target is introduced with 'onto'.