nelson

nelson — noun

1. a wrestling technique in which the attacker, positioned behind the opponent, sli

1.名詞B2
釋義

a wrestling technique in which the attacker, positioned behind the opponent, slides an arm beneath each of the opponent's shoulders and pushes against the rear of the head to gain control — using one arm alone produces a half nelson, while using both arms produces a full nelson

例句

Christopher put his opponent in a tight half nelson and pinned him to the mat.

in a half nelson / full nelson (wrestling hold)

The referee stopped the match when Min's arm was caught in a full nelson.

同義詞
  • wrestling hold

    a broader category; nelson is one specific type of hold

  • grappling hold

    used in martial arts contexts beyond wrestling; less specific than nelson

  • headlock

    similar in that it controls the head and neck, but a headlock is usually applied from the side rather than from behind

文法句型

in a half nelson / full nelson

put someone in a nelson

escape from a nelson

用法筆記

Almost always appears as part of the compound terms 'half nelson' (one arm) or 'full nelson' (both arms). The hold is performed from behind the opponent, making it a dominant controlling position in wrestling and combat sports.

常見錯誤

❌He put a nelson on his opponent.
✅He put his opponent in a nelson.
💡A nelson is a position someone is placed into, not an object applied to someone.
❌She caught him with a nelson.
✅She trapped him in a nelson.
💡The correct verb pattern uses 'in' to describe the hold as a position, not as a thrown object.

2. a difficult or unpleasant situation that a person or organisation cannot get out

2.名詞C1
釋義

a difficult or unpleasant situation that a person or organisation cannot get out of, as if trapped by an invisible force

例句

The small bakery was caught in a financial nelson as debts grew faster than sales.

caught in a [adjective] nelson (figurative)

Sana felt trapped in a full nelson of family duties, unable to refuse anyone.

同義詞
  • trap

    broader and more common; nelson adds the idea of being held from behind, unable to see a way out

  • deadlock

    focuses on a standstill between two parties rather than one-sided entrapment

  • stranglehold

    similar metaphor of being choked or squeezed; slightly stronger in intensity

反義詞
  • escape

    the opposite action or state, not a situation itself

文法句型

in a [adjective] nelson

caught in a nelson of [something]

用法筆記

Always used figuratively, extending the wrestling metaphor. Nearly always appears with a modifying adjective (e.g., 'financial nelson', 'emotional nelson') or a prepositional phrase ('a nelson of obligations'). This sense is much less common than the wrestling sense and is primarily found in informal or journalistic English.

常見錯誤

❌The company is in a nelson.' (no modifier)
✅The company is in a financial nelson.
💡This sense nearly always needs an adjective or 'of'-phrase to clarify the type of difficulty.
❌He escaped the nelson of debt.
✅He escaped from the nelson of debt.
💡The preposition 'from' carries over from the wrestling sense.