muscle
muscle — 名詞
1. the stretchy substance found inside people and animals that becomes shorter and
肌肉
身體中可收縮以產生動作的組織
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.
Mateo 抬起那箱重物放到架子上時，感覺到手臂肌肉繃緊了。
collocation: muscle tighten/relax
Regular stretching helps keep your leg muscles flexible and free from injury.
定期伸展有助於保持腿部肌肉靈活且不易受傷。
Feng's shoulder muscles ached after he spent the whole afternoon painting the ceiling.
Feng 花了一整個下午粉刷天花板之後，肩膀肌肉痠痛不已。
The human heart is a muscle that pumps blood through the body every second.
人類的心臟是一種肌肉，每秒鐘都將血液輸送到全身。
常見錯誤
2. a muscle that has been hurt by being stretched or twisted too far, causing sharp
肌肉拉傷
因過度拉伸或扭轉而受傷的肌肉
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.
Amira 因為大腿肌肉拉傷，只好坐在場邊觀賽。
collocation: pulled muscle
The physiotherapist told Aarav to rest his torn muscle for at least one full week.
物理治療師告訴 Aarav 需要讓撕裂的肌肉好好休息至少一週。
Nellie felt a sharp pain in her lower back and worried she had strained a muscle.
Nellie 感到下背部一陣劇痛，擔心自己可能拉傷了肌肉。
Sleeping in a bad position can give you a stiff neck muscle in the morning.
睡姿不良可能會導致早上醒來時脖子肌肉僵硬。
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
影響力；實力
憑藉金錢、地位等使人順從或達成目標的能力
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.
那家企業運用自己的金融影響力，推動新政策在國會過關。
collocation: financial muscle
Walid's political muscle grew stronger after he helped so many local community groups.
Walid 在幫助許多地方社區團體之後，政治影響力變得越來越大。
collocation: political muscle
Without enough economic muscle, the small nation could not compete in global markets.
若沒有足夠的經濟實力，這個小國就無法在全球市場上競爭。
The union decided to show its muscle by organizing a strike across all factories.
工會決定透過組織全工廠罷工來展示自己的力量。
- 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
打手；保鑣
受僱保護他人或恐嚇他人的壯漢
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.
幫派帶了一批打手到場，確保會議上沒有人鬧事。
Adisa worked as hired muscle for a private security company in the city.
Adisa 在市區一家私人保全公司擔任僱用保鑣。
collocation: hired muscle
The landlord sent his muscle to collect the unpaid rent from the shops.
房東派了他的打手到商店去收取未付的租金。
Matthew knew a man who worked as muscle for a loan shark in the nearby town.
Matthew 認識一個在鄰近小鎮為高利貸業者當打手的人。
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 — 動詞
1. to push, pull, or move something heavy or difficult using great physical effort
用力移動
用體力推拉或搬動笨重的物品
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.
Olivia 用力將那只沈重的行李箱塞進火車的行李架上。
pattern: muscle + object + adverb/preposition
Matthew muscled the stuck door open by pushing hard against it with his shoulder.
Matthew 用肩膀拼命推擠，才把那扇卡住的門打開。
The movers muscled the piano up the narrow stairs, stopping several times to rest.
搬家工人使出全力把鋼琴搬上狹窄的樓梯，途中休息了好幾次。
Amihan muscled the sofa across the room to make space for the new dining table.
Amihan 使勁把沙發推到房間另一頭，好騰出空間放新的餐桌。
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
強行擠入
用蠻力穿過人群或進入某個位置
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.
Mateo 在人群中硬擠到演唱會舞台前方。
pattern: muscle one's way + preposition
A journalist tried to muscle into the press room but security stopped her at the door.
一名記者試圖強行擠進記者室，但警衛在門口攔住了她。
pattern: muscle into [place/situation]
The new intern tried to muscle onto the project team, but the manager told her to wait.
那位新來的實習生想硬擠進專案團隊，但經理叫她先等一等。
Walid muscled past the other shoppers to grab the last discounted television set.
Walid 推開其他顧客，搶到了最後一台特價電視。
- 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.