leverage
leverage — 名詞
1. the extra force that a lever gives you when you use it to lift, move, or open so
槓桿作用
使用槓桿獲得的額外力量
the extra force that a lever gives you when you use it to lift, move, or open something heavy or stuck.
The construction worker used a long metal bar to gain leverage on the heavy stone.
建築工人用一根長鐵棒來獲得槓桿作用，以便移動那塊大石頭。
get leverage on + object
Tamar placed the fulcrum closer to the rock and gained enough leverage to lift it.
Tamar 將支點移近岩石，獲得了足夠的槓桿作用將它抬起。
A crowbar gives you the leverage you need to pry open a wooden crate.
撬棍能提供你所需的槓桿作用來撬開木箱。
Without proper leverage, trying to lift the corner of the cabinet will strain your back.
如果沒有適當的槓桿作用，試圖抬起櫃子角落會讓你的背部受傷。
- mechanical advantage
the technical term for the force multiplication a lever provides
- purchase
a firm grip or hold that gives you the power to move something
2. the power to control or affect what people do or how a situation develops, often
影響力
控制或影響他人行為的力量
the power to control or affect what people do or how a situation develops, often because you have something they want.
The union used the threat of a strike as leverage in salary negotiations.
工會以罷工作為威脅，在薪資談判中爭取影響力。
use + something + as leverage (in + context)
Lucía gained bargaining leverage by showing data on the company's falling profits.
Lucía 透過顯示公司獲利下滑的數據，獲得了談判上的影響力。
bargaining leverage
Smaller countries often form alliances to gain more leverage against larger trading partners.
較小的國家常結盟以獲得對大型貿易夥伴更多的影響力。
The CEO's knowledge of the market gave her significant leverage during the board meeting.
執行長對市場的了解讓她在董事會議上擁有顯著的影響力。
- weakness
the state of having no bargaining power
用法筆記
Often followed by over, with, or in. The subject is usually a person, group, or factor that holds something of value (e.g., information, resources, a threat) that the other party needs.
常見錯誤
3. a calculation that compares how much a company has borrowed to the total worth o
負債比率
公司債務與資產價值的比例
a calculation that compares how much a company has borrowed to the total worth of its assets, used as a measure of financial risk.
The bank reviewed the company's leverage ratio before approving the loan.
銀行在批准貸款前審查了該公司的負債比率。
leverage ratio
High leverage means the firm has borrowed heavily compared to what it owns.
高負債比率意味著該公司相較於其擁有的資產，借貸了大量資金。
Ravindra explained that the airline's leverage was dangerously high after the new plane purchases.
Ravindra 說明這家航空公司在購買新飛機後，負債比率高得危險。
Investors avoid companies with excessive leverage during economic downturns.
投資人在經濟低迷時期會避開負債比率過高的公司。
- gearing
the British English equivalent of the financial leverage ratio
用法筆記
Frequently used in finance with modifiers such as high, low, excessive. Often appears as leverage ratio or degree of leverage.
常見錯誤
4. the strategy of taking out loans to fund investments, with the aim of earning mo
融資槓桿
借錢投資以放大報酬的操作方式
the strategy of taking out loans to fund investments, with the aim of earning more from the investment than the loan costs.
The investment firm used leverage to acquire a chain of hotels during the market downturn.
該投資公司在市場低迷期間利用融資槓桿收購了一家連鎖飯店。
use leverage to + infinitive (purpose)
Real estate investors rely on leverage by taking out a mortgage to buy a property.
房地產投資人運用融資槓桿，透過申請房貸來購買物業。
rely on leverage by + gerund
Christopher warned that excessive leverage could wipe out the fund if property prices fell.
Christopher 警告說，如果房價下跌，過度的融資槓桿可能讓基金血本無歸。
The company funded its expansion through leverage rather than selling new shares.
該公司透過融資槓桿而非發行新股來擴張業務。
- borrowing
a neutral term without the strategic implication of amplifying returns
- debt financing
more formal; opposite of equity financing
- equity financing
raising money by selling shares instead of borrowing
用法筆記
Distinguish from noun/3: sense 3 describes the static ratio of debt to value, while sense 4 describes the active strategy of using debt as a financial tool. The verb form (verb/2) mirrors this active strategy.
常見錯誤
leverage — 動詞
1. to use something you already have — such as skills, money, contacts, or technolo
善用；活用
利用既有資源創造更好成果
to use something you already have — such as skills, money, contacts, or technology — to create a better result or reach a new goal.
The startup leveraged its social media followers to attract customers without paying for ads.
這家新創公司善用其社群媒體追蹤者來吸引客戶，無須支付廣告費用。
leverage + [resource] + to + [purpose]
Tuan leveraged his coding skills to build a mobile app that helped local farmers.
Tuan 善用他的寫程式技能打造了一款幫助當地農民的手機應用程式。
The charity leveraged its partnership with local grocery stores to expand the food delivery program.
該慈善機構善用與當地雜貨店的合作關係，擴大了食物運送計畫。
Élise leveraged her network of former colleagues to find a job in a different industry.
Élise 善用她前同事的人脈網絡，在另一個行業找到了一份工作。
Schools can leverage free online tools to create interactive lessons for students at home.
學校可以善用免費的線上工具，為在家學習的學生製作互動課程。
- use
a neutral, all-purpose verb; leverage adds the idea of getting extra value
- capitalize on
suggests taking advantage of an opportunity; slightly more formal
- exploit
has a negative connotation of unfair advantage; not a direct synonym
- utilize
more formal; common in academic and technical writing
- waste
to fail to take advantage of a resource
文法句型
leverage + noun phrase
leverage + noun phrase + to-infinitive
用法筆記
Common in business, technology, and personal-development contexts. The object is typically an existing asset (skill, relationship, data, platform). Avoid using this verb in formal academic writing, where employ or utilize may be preferred.
常見錯誤
2. to acquire a business or asset with borrowed funds, counting on future earnings
舉債收購
借貸資金來購買投資標的
to acquire a business or asset with borrowed funds, counting on future earnings to repay the debt.
The private equity firm leveraged its retail chain purchase with a large bank loan.
該私募股權公司以一筆大額銀行貸款來舉債收購這家零售連鎖店。
leverage + purchase + with + [source of debt]
Jack leveraged his rental portfolio by taking out a second mortgage to buy another building.
Jack 透過申請第二順位房貸來購買另一棟建築，以此舉債擴充他的租賃組合。
The company decided not to leverage its expansion plans after interest rates went up sharply.
這家公司在利率大幅上升後，決定不舉債擴張其業務計畫。
Yumi's firm leveraged a struggling competitor and integrated it into their own operations.
Yumi 的公司舉債收購了一家陷入困境的競爭對手，並將其整合到自己的營運中。
- finance with debt
a literal paraphrase; less common in everyday business talk
- buy out with borrowed funds
descriptive but not a single-verb synonym
文法句型
leverage + noun phrase (acquisition target)
用法筆記
Frequently used in the passive form (was leveraged) in news about corporate takeovers. The related noun form is leveraged buyout (LBO). Distinguish from verb/3: this sense involves debt used to acquire a specific asset, while verb/3 focuses on amplifying returns on any financial position.
常見錯誤
3. to use financial instruments or strategies — such as margin trading, options, or
槓桿操作
以金融工具放大投資報酬或風險
to use financial instruments or strategies — such as margin trading, options, or derivatives — to multiply the potential gain (or loss) from an investment beyond what your own money would produce alone.
Some traders leverage their positions by buying options instead of actual shares.
有些交易者透過買進選擇權而非實際股票來進行槓桿操作。
leverage + [financial position] + by + [method]
Tendai warned that leveraging in forex can multiply losses just as fast as gains.
Tendai 警告說，在外匯進行槓桿操作，虧損的速度可能和獲利一樣快。
The hedge fund leveraged its bet on rising oil prices through futures contracts.
該避險基金透過期貨合約對油價上漲進行槓桿操作。
Lauren decided not to leverage her stock portfolio after the market showed signs of instability.
Lauren 在市場出現不穩定跡象後，決定不對她的股票投資組合進行槓桿操作。
- trade on margin
a specific form of leverage where you borrow from a broker to buy securities
- magnify exposure
describes the effect rather than being a direct verb synonym
文法句型
leverage + noun phrase (investment/position)
用法筆記
Distinguish from verb/2: verb/2 means buying assets with borrowed money (the debt is used for the purchase itself), while verb/3 means magnifying exposure to price movements using financial contracts (margin, derivatives) without necessarily owning the underlying asset. This sense is common in trading, hedge funds, and speculative investing.