oblique
oblique — adjective
1. expressing something in a roundabout or hinted manner, so the listener has to wo
expressing something in a roundabout or hinted manner, so the listener has to work out what is really meant rather than being told plainly.
The minister made an oblique reference to the scandal without naming anyone involved.
common collocation: oblique reference to
Aunt Helen's oblique comment about 'some brides choosing simpler cakes' left Sofia feeling judged.
Through oblique hints in his letters, Felix warned his sister to leave the city.
The novel offers an oblique critique of modern office culture rather than a direct attack.
Reporters grew tired of the senator's oblique answers during the press conference.
- indirect
more neutral and everyday word for the same idea
- roundabout
informal; suggests taking a longer path to the point
- veiled
stronger; suggests deliberate hiding of meaning
- direct
stating something plainly and openly
- straightforward
easy to understand without extra effort
用法筆記
Subject is usually speech, writing, or behaviour (a reference, comment, hint, criticism, glance). Often carries a slight negative tone of evasion or mystery.
常見錯誤
2. leaning to one side rather than standing straight up or lying flat — for example
leaning to one side rather than standing straight up or lying flat — for example, a roof that tilts, or a line drawn diagonally across a page.
Mira drew an oblique line from the top corner of the page to the bottom edge.
describes a diagonal stroke or mark
The old barn had an oblique roof that sloped sharply toward the apple trees.
Sunlight fell at an oblique angle across the kitchen floor in the late afternoon.
Heavy rain fell in oblique sheets against the classroom windows.
Two oblique scars ran across the boxer's left cheek from old training accidents.
- straight
describes vertical or horizontal lines without tilt
- perpendicular
at a right angle, opposite of slanting
用法筆記
Frequently appears in technical or descriptive writing (geometry, architecture, design). Common collocation: 'at an oblique angle'.
常見錯誤
3. describing an angle that is not exactly 90°, so it is either narrower (acute) or
describing an angle that is not exactly 90°, so it is either narrower (acute) or wider (obtuse) than a right angle.
The geometry teacher asked the class to measure each oblique angle in the triangle.
math classroom context: triangle angles
The carpenter cut the roof beams to meet at oblique angles instead of square corners.
An oblique angle of 120° gave the bridge supports their unusual shape.
Surveyors had to record every oblique angle around the irregular plot of land.
- right
exactly 90°, the angle this sense excludes
用法筆記
Mathematical and technical use only. Distinguish from sense 2 (slanting): this sense applies specifically to the measure of an angle, not the orientation of a line or surface.
oblique — noun
1. the punctuation mark / used between words or numbers, for example to show altern
the punctuation mark / used between words or numbers, for example to show alternatives or to write fractions.
The editor told Priya to type the date as day, month, and year separated by an oblique.
instructional usage describing the / mark
The form used an oblique between 'he' and 'she' to include both readers.
shows the / between alternatives
The Oxford style guide on Mr. Khan's desk called the slash an oblique throughout.
Mr. Patel asked his students to replace each oblique in the document with the word 'or'.
- slash
the standard everyday term, especially in American English
- forward slash
common in computing contexts to distinguish from backslash
- solidus
very formal; used in printing and mathematics
用法筆記
Mostly British and formal. American English typically calls this mark a 'slash' or 'forward slash'.
2. a slanting muscle along each side of your waist that helps you twist your body a
a slanting muscle along each side of your waist that helps you twist your body and bend sideways.
The trainer told Aiko to tighten her obliques before each side bend.
usually plural: obliques
Strong obliques help dancers rotate their upper body smoothly.
After three weeks of training, Marco could feel his obliques becoming firmer.
The yoga instructor demonstrated a twist that stretches both the back and the obliques.
- side muscle
everyday descriptive term, not a technical name
- abdominal
broader; covers all stomach muscles, not only the side ones
用法筆記
Almost always plural ('obliques'). Common in fitness, dance, and medical contexts. Rarely used in the singular except in formal anatomical writing.
常見錯誤
oblique — adverb
1. in a direction that is roughly halfway between straight up and flat across, slop
in a direction that is roughly halfway between straight up and flat across, sloping at about a 45° angle.
The wooden beam was set oblique to the supporting wall for extra strength.
technical use describing how something is positioned
Hannah cut the fabric oblique so the pattern would flow across the dress.
The path runs oblique to the river, climbing slowly toward the cliffs.
The narrow staircase rises oblique to the back wall of the old farmhouse.
- obliquely
the much more common adverb form with the same meaning
- diagonally
everyday alternative for cutting or moving across corners
- straight
in a level vertical or horizontal direction
用法筆記
Very rare and formal. Most writers use 'obliquely' (the more standard adverb form) or rephrase with 'at an angle'.