massage
massage — verb
1. to press and move your hands over a person's skin and muscles in a repeated way,
to press and move your hands over a person's skin and muscles in a repeated way, especially to help them relax or to reduce pain or stiffness in their body.
After the long run, Sofia asked her partner to massage her sore legs.
direct object referring to a body part
The therapist gently massaged the baby's back to help her fall asleep.
therapeutic context with gentle pressure
Hui massaged her own shoulders to relieve tension from sitting at a desk.
Ravindra's grandfather visits a clinic every week to have his knees massaged.
The sports coach massaged Eitan's calf after he pulled a muscle during training.
文法句型
massage + body part
massage + someone
用法筆記
Frequently used with a specific body part as the direct object (massage + back/shoulders/neck/legs). The person receiving the massage can also be the object (massage + someone), though specifying the body part is more common.
常見錯誤
2. to adjust figures, facts, or other information in a dishonest way so that they s
to adjust figures, facts, or other information in a dishonest way so that they seem more favourable than the truth allows.
The company was caught massaging its profit figures to attract investors.
collocation: massage figures / massage numbers
Politicians sometimes massage the unemployment data before a general election.
collocation: massage data
The accountant refused to massage the sales report, even when her boss insisted.
Amira noticed that the budget had been massaged to hide the department's overspending.
- falsify
stronger and more formal; implies deliberate and serious fraud
- manipulate
broader; can be neutral or negative; not limited to numerical data
- doctor
informal; similar meaning but often implies direct alteration of a document or recording
- report honestly
the opposite action of presenting truthful information
文法句型
massage + figures/numbers/data/results
用法筆記
Always carries a negative, disapproving tone. Common in business and political contexts. The object is always an abstraction (figures, data, statistics, truth, results), never a person or physical thing.
常見錯誤
massage — noun
1. a treatment in which someone rubs or presses parts of your body with their hands
a treatment in which someone rubs or presses parts of your body with their hands, usually to help you relax or to reduce pain or stiffness in your muscles.
A good massage can help you sleep better after a stressful week.
Théo booked a ninety-minute massage at the hotel spa during his holiday.
collocation: book a massage
The doctor said that regular massage might help with Sirin's lower back pain.
Ezra's shoulders felt much better after a deep-tissue massage.
Roya gives her husband a short neck massage every evening to help him unwind.
用法筆記
Used as both a countable noun (I had two massages this month) and an uncountable noun (Massage can help with muscle pain). Common before a body part to specify the area (a back massage, a foot massage).