saddle
saddle — noun
1. the narrow sitting surface on a bike or motorbike that supports the rider
the narrow sitting surface on a bike or motorbike that supports the rider
Sana adjusted the height of her bicycle saddle before starting the long ride.
collocation: adjust the saddle
The leather saddle on Caleb's vintage motorcycle was worn from years of use.
typical object: leather saddle
Ezra replaced his old bicycle saddle with a wider one for long-distance comfort.
The racing saddle on Ryan's motorbike weighed less than a kilogram.
- seat
more general term for any sitting surface; saddle is the specific term for bikes and cycles
2. a leather or fabric seat that is strapped onto a horse's back for a rider to sit
a leather or fabric seat that is strapped onto a horse's back for a rider to sit on while riding
Amira brushed the dust off her horse's saddle before the afternoon ride.
possessive: horse's saddle
Naoko bought a new saddle with extra padding for her trail horse.
Folake checked the leather straps on the saddle before her daughter mounted the horse.
The old saddle stand in the barn held three heavy Western saddles.
3. the activity or occupation of riding a horse, especially used in the fixed phras
the activity or occupation of riding a horse, especially used in the fixed phrase 'in the saddle'
Linh spends every weekend in the saddle, training for the regional jumping competition.
fixed phrase: in the saddle
After ten hours in the saddle, Élise's legs were sore but she felt happy.
After months out of the saddle, Kian was eager to go riding again.
Gabriela's grandfather spent thirty years in the saddle as a cattle rancher.
- horseback riding
direct and more common alternative; 'in the saddle' is slightly more idiomatic or dramatic
- equestrianism
formal term for the sport or skill of horse riding
用法筆記
The phrase 'in the saddle' is nearly always used in this sense. It cannot be replaced with 'on the saddle' or 'at the saddle'.
常見錯誤
4. a position of power, leadership, or authority, used in the fixed phrase 'in the
a position of power, leadership, or authority, used in the fixed phrase 'in the saddle'
With an experienced leader in the saddle, the company felt more secure.
fixed phrase: in the saddle (figurative)
The older manager refused to step down, saying he was still firmly in the saddle.
adverb modifier: firmly in the saddle
With Daichi back in the saddle, the project finally moved forward.
The board wants a younger person in the saddle to lead the company.
- in charge
more direct and less metaphorical; 'in the saddle' adds a forceful, commanding tone
- at the helm
similar nautical metaphor for being in control of an organization
- in control
plain and neutral term for having authority
- out of the saddle
opposite idiom meaning no longer in control
用法筆記
This sense always appears in the phrase 'in the saddle'. Distinguish from sense 3 ('RIDING ACTIVITY') by context: sense 4 refers to power in an organization or group, not to riding a horse.
常見錯誤
5. a thick piece of meat cut from the middle section of an animal's back, especiall
a thick piece of meat cut from the middle section of an animal's back, especially from a lamb, deer, or hare
Esteban roasted a saddle of lamb with rosemary and garlic for the holiday dinner.
typical dish: saddle of lamb
The restaurant's specialty is a slow-cooked saddle of venison served with red wine sauce.
collocation: saddle of venison
The chef recommended the saddle of hare with a side of roasted vegetables.
Jin ordered a whole saddle of lamb for the family celebration dinner.
- loin
related cut from the lower back, while the saddle extends further up the backbone
用法筆記
Chiefly used in British English cooking contexts. The saddle includes both loins and is considered a premium cut.
6. a low, curved dip between two higher mountain peaks, shaped roughly like a horse
a low, curved dip between two higher mountain peaks, shaped roughly like a horse's saddle
The hikers stopped to rest at the saddle between the two peaks before continuing upward.
preposition pattern: saddle between [two peaks]
Zayd set up his tent in the sheltered saddle where the wind was less strong.
From the mountain saddle, the climbers could see both valleys stretching below them.
A stream began at the saddle and ran down the eastern side of the hill.
saddle — verb
1. to put a riding seat onto the back of a horse and fasten it in place so the anim
to put a riding seat onto the back of a horse and fasten it in place so the animal is ready to ride
Sivan saddled her horse quickly and rode out before sunrise.
direct object: saddled + her horse
Zola asked her brother to saddle the pony while she packed the water bottles.
Mia helped her father saddle the horses before their morning trail ride.
Lukas saddled his pony every morning during summer camp at the ranch.
- tack up
more general equestrian term meaning to put all riding gear (saddle, bridle, etc.) on a horse
- unsaddle
to remove the saddle from a horse
文法句型
saddle + noun (horse/pony/mule)
用法筆記
The object is always the animal being prepared for riding, not the saddle itself. To 'saddle a horse' means to put a saddle on the horse.
常見錯誤
2. to give someone an unwanted or heavy responsibility, task, problem, or debt that
to give someone an unwanted or heavy responsibility, task, problem, or debt that is difficult to manage
Eleni was saddled with the task of organizing the entire office move by herself.
passive construction: was saddled with + task
The manager saddled the team with unrealistic deadlines and ignored their concerns.
active: saddled [someone] with [something]
Tara was saddled with her brother's school fees after their parents lost their jobs.
The new law saddled small businesses with expensive paperwork requirements.
文法句型
saddle + person + with + noun phrase
用法筆記
Almost always appears in the pattern 'saddle someone with something'. The passive form ('be saddled with') is extremely common. The burden can be a task, debt, responsibility, or problem.