hinge
hinge — noun
1. a small metal or strong-plastic part that connects a door, window, or lid to its
a small metal or strong-plastic part that connects a door, window, or lid to its frame, so it can swing open and shut
The old wooden door swung on its rusty hinges.
collocation: rusty hinges / door hinge
Liang bought new brass hinges for the kitchen cabinets.
collocation: brass hinge / cabinet hinge
Adaeze oiled the squeaky hinge on the garden gate.
A broken hinge made the wardrobe door hang crooked.
The carpenter replaced the old hinge on the shed door with a new stainless-steel one.
文法句型
a [adjective] hinge
hinge + of + noun
常見錯誤
2. the single key event, factor, or decision that determines how a situation will d
the single key event, factor, or decision that determines how a situation will develop — for example, the battle that decides a war, or the moment that changes a person's career
The peace treaty was the hinge that ended decades of conflict.
pattern: 'the hinge that [causes an outcome]'
Historians see that battle as the hinge of the entire war.
collocation: hinge of the war
For Putri, that job interview was the hinge of her career.
The court's decision became the hinge on which the case turned.
Climate scientists called the summit the hinge of the planet's future.
- turning point
the moment when a situation begins to change significantly; more common and less formal than 'hinge'
- linchpin
the person or thing that holds everything together; slightly different in meaning — it keeps a system stable rather than determines its direction
- crux
the most important part of a problem or argument; more about disputes and logic than events
文法句型
the hinge of + noun
the hinge on which + clause
用法筆記
Almost always used in a singular form within a definite or possessive phrase — 'the hinge of something' — to highlight the one decisive element in a chain of events.
常見錯誤
hinge — verb
1. to depend entirely on one specific thing for success, a decision, or a result —
to depend entirely on one specific thing for success, a decision, or a result — for example, a project's future depending on whether the money arrives
The whole project hinges on whether the bank approves the loan.
hinge on + whether-clause
Dahlia's promotion hinges on the results of this quarter.
Our vacation plans hinge on the weather forecast this weekend.
The success of the event hinges on Ziad's team finishing the setup on time.
Everything hinges upon the result of the medical test tomorrow.
- depend on
the most common and neutral alternative; works for both events and personal reliance
- rest on
slightly more formal; emphasises that the outcome is supported by the condition
- be contingent on
formal register; used in legal, academic, or technical contexts
- revolve around
suggests the condition is the central concern, not necessarily the only deciding factor
- be independent of
the opposite meaning — not affected by a particular condition
文法句型
hinge on + noun phrase
hinge on + whether/if clause
hinge upon + noun phrase
用法筆記
The preposition 'on' or 'upon' is always required — 'hinge' alone does not carry the dependent meaning. 'Upon' is a slightly more formal variant of 'on' that appears more often in writing. The subject is typically an abstract noun (success, future, decision, outcome). The condition it depends on is frequently expressed with a whether-clause or a noun phrase.
常見錯誤
2. (of a door, window, or lid that has hinges) to swing inward or outward around it
(of a door, window, or lid that has hinges) to swing inward or outward around its hinged edge when pushed or pulled
The heavy iron gate hinged open as Caio pushed it.
pattern: hinge + open + [cause]
Each panel of the folding screen hinges outward when you pull it.
The trapdoor hinged upward and a ladder appeared below it.
The window hinges inward, so you have to pull it from the top.
文法句型
hinge + adverb (open/shut/outward/inward)
用法筆記
Subject must be something that has a hinge attached. The verb describes the movement of that object around its hinged edge, not sounds like creaking or speed of motion.
常見錯誤
3. to fix a hinge onto something, or to connect one object to another using a hinge
to fix a hinge onto something, or to connect one object to another using a hinge, so that it can swing open and shut
Christopher hinged the new door to the frame himself.
pattern: hinge + [object] + to + [frame]
The craftsman hinged the lid of the wooden chest with great care.
Mira carefully hinged the cabinet door so it would close smoothly.
Each panel is hinged to the next one, allowing the screen to fold flat.
- attach with hinges
a clearer, more explanatory phrase; good for giving instructions
- mount on hinges
suggests the hinge is the method of mounting; used for gates and large doors
文法句型
hinge + noun + to + noun
be hinged to + noun
用法筆記
Common in DIY, woodworking, and construction contexts. The passive form ('be hinged to') is frequent when describing how an object is designed rather than the act of installation.