muscle
muscle — noun
1. the stretchy substance found inside people and animals that becomes shorter and
the stretchy substance found inside people and animals that becomes shorter and firmer when you use it, allowing your arms, legs, and other parts to move
Mateo felt his arm muscle tighten as he lifted the heavy box onto the shelf.
collocation: muscle tighten/relax
Regular stretching helps keep your leg muscles flexible and free from injury.
Feng's shoulder muscles ached after he spent the whole afternoon painting the ceiling.
The human heart is a muscle that pumps blood through the body every second.
常見錯誤
2. a muscle that has been hurt by being stretched or twisted too far, causing sharp
a muscle that has been hurt by being stretched or twisted too far, causing sharp pain
Amira sat out of the match because she had a pulled muscle in her thigh.
collocation: pulled muscle
The physiotherapist told Aarav to rest his torn muscle for at least one full week.
Nellie felt a sharp pain in her lower back and worried she had strained a muscle.
Sleeping in a bad position can give you a stiff neck muscle in the morning.
用法筆記
Frequently used with verbs like 'pull', 'strain', 'tear', or 'twist' to describe how the injury happened. The past participle form ('pulled muscle', 'strained muscle') often acts as an adjective before the noun.
常見錯誤
3. the ability to get what you want or to make others follow your wishes, especiall
the ability to get what you want or to make others follow your wishes, especially because of your money, position, or connections
The corporation used its financial muscle to push the new policy through parliament.
collocation: financial muscle
Walid's political muscle grew stronger after he helped so many local community groups.
collocation: political muscle
Without enough economic muscle, the small nation could not compete in global markets.
The union decided to show its muscle by organizing a strike across all factories.
- power
overlaps almost completely; 'muscle' emphasises the ability to force compliance, while 'power' is broader
- influence
softer connotation — influence persuades, while muscle compels
- clout
more informal; often used in political or business contexts
- leverage
focuses on using what you have to gain advantage over others
- weakness
the opposite of having power or influence
用法筆記
Commonly paired with adjectives like 'financial', 'economic', 'political', and 'military'. The phrase 'flex one's muscles' (also literal sense) is a fixed idiom meaning to show off power or strength.
常見錯誤
4. strong people who are paid to protect someone, to threaten others, or to make su
strong people who are paid to protect someone, to threaten others, or to make sure that orders are obeyed
The gang brought some muscle along to make sure nobody caused trouble at the meeting.
Adisa worked as hired muscle for a private security company in the city.
collocation: hired muscle
The landlord sent his muscle to collect the unpaid rent from the shops.
Matthew knew a man who worked as muscle for a loan shark in the nearby town.
用法筆記
Always uncountable — 'muscle' refers to the group collectively, not an individual. You cannot say 'a muscle' for a single enforcer. Use 'muscle' as a mass noun: 'bring muscle', 'hire muscle'.
常見錯誤
muscle — verb
1. to push, pull, or move something heavy or difficult using great physical effort
to push, pull, or move something heavy or difficult using great physical effort
Olivia muscled the heavy suitcase into the overhead compartment on the train.
pattern: muscle + object + adverb/preposition
Matthew muscled the stuck door open by pushing hard against it with his shoulder.
The movers muscled the piano up the narrow stairs, stopping several times to rest.
Amihan muscled the sofa across the room to make space for the new dining table.
文法句型
muscle + object + adverb/preposition
用法筆記
Usually followed by a preposition or adverb indicating direction ('into', 'through', 'up', 'across', 'open'). The focus is on the physical effort required, not the technique.
常見錯誤
2. to move through a crowd or into a position by pushing people aside or using your
to move through a crowd or into a position by pushing people aside or using your body with force
Mateo muscled his way through the crowd to get to the front of the concert stage.
pattern: muscle one's way + preposition
A journalist tried to muscle into the press room but security stopped her at the door.
pattern: muscle into [place/situation]
The new intern tried to muscle onto the project team, but the manager told her to wait.
Walid muscled past the other shoppers to grab the last discounted television set.
- tiptoe
moving carefully and quietly, the opposite of forceful movement
文法句型
muscle + adverb/preposition
muscle one's way + adverb/preposition
用法筆記
Often followed by 'through', 'past', 'into', or 'onto'. The reflexive pattern 'muscle one's way' is very common. This sense has a negative or aggressive connotation — it implies the person is being pushy or rude.