recoil
recoil — 動詞
- recoilpresent simple I / you / we / they
- recoilshe / she / it
- recoiledpast simple
- recoiling-ing form
1. to pull your body backward suddenly when something frightens, disgusts, or shock
退縮；畏縮
因恐懼或厭惡而後退
to pull your body backward suddenly when something frightens, disgusts, or shocks you.
Eli recoiled when a large spider dropped onto the kitchen table.
一隻大蜘蛛掉到廚房桌上時，Eli 嚇得往後退縮。
recoiled when [trigger event] — typical cause pattern
The smell from the old fish market was so strong that Inês recoiled before she could stop herself.
舊魚市場的味道太濃烈，Inês 來不及克制自己就往後縮。
recoiled from [strong stimulus]
Amihan recoiled from the hot steam that rushed out of the broken pipe.
Amihan 趕緊躲開從破管噴出的熱蒸氣。
When the nurse showed him the wound, Tariq recoiled and turned his face away.
護士給他看傷口時，Tariq 往後縮了縮，把臉轉開。
Even from across the room, the bitter chemical odour made Rin recoil.
即使隔了整個房間，那刺鼻的化學氣味還是讓 Rin 本能地後退。
- flinch
a smaller, quicker movement, often just a facial twitch rather than a full body withdrawal
- wince
focuses on the facial expression of pain or embarrassment, not necessarily body movement
- shrink
suggests drawing into oneself rather than backward, often from emotional discomfort
- cower
implies crouching down in fear rather than springing backward
文法句型
recoil from [something/someone]
recoil at [something]
用法筆記
Often followed by 'from' (recoil from something) or 'at' (recoil at something). The subject is typically a person; the cause is a concrete physical stimulus — a sight, smell, sound, or touch.
常見錯誤
2. to firmly refuse to consider a thought or suggestion because it strikes you as m
排斥；反感
強烈反對某想法或原則
to firmly refuse to consider a thought or suggestion because it strikes you as morally wrong or simply disgusting.
James recoiled at the suggestion that they should cut corners on safety to save money.
有人提議為了省錢而犧牲安全，James 對這個建議感到強烈反感。
recoiled at [proposal]
When the committee proposed reducing healthcare funding, Nora recoiled and demanded a vote against it.
委員會提議削減醫療保健經費時，Nora 極力反對並要求投票否決。
Many voters recoiled from the candidate's extreme views on immigration.
許多選民對候選人在移民問題上的極端立場深感排斥。
Chidi recoiled from the idea of publishing false data, knowing it would betray his scientific ethics.
Chidi 極力反對發布假數據的想法，因為他知道這會違背自己的科學倫理。
The town council recoiled at the thought of allowing a landfill near the school.
鎮議會一想到要在學校附近設置垃圾掩埋場就強烈反對。
- balk at
more common in everyday speech; implies hesitation rather than outright rejection
- shrink from
suggests avoidance driven by timidity rather than strong moral objection
- shudder at
emphasizes the emotional or visceral reaction
文法句型
recoil at [idea/suggestion/proposal]
recoil from [thought/notion/principle]
用法筆記
Unlike Verb/1 (DRAW BACK IN FEAR), this sense takes an abstract object — an idea, suggestion, or principle — rather than a physical stimulus. The reaction is moral or intellectual, not physical.
常見錯誤
3. to spring or jerk backward suddenly when a force is released, especially when a
反衝；後座
擊發後向後彈回
to spring or jerk backward suddenly when a force is released, especially when a gun is fired or a mechanical part is released under tension.
The hunting rifle recoiled hard against Joaquín's shoulder after he pulled the trigger.
Joaquín 扣下扳機後，獵槍重重地抵著他的肩膀向後反衝。
recoiled [adverb] against [body part] — mechanical-force pattern
Vikram's bowstring recoiled when he released the arrow, snapping against the branch behind him.
Vikram 放箭時，弓弦猛然回彈，打中了身後的樹枝。
The heavy door recoiled on its hinges after the blast wave hit it.
爆炸的衝擊波襲來時，那扇厚重的門在鉸鍊上猛然回彈。
The old spring recoiled with a sharp twang when Beatriz released the latch.
Beatriz 鬆開卡榫時，那條舊彈簧發出清脆的啪聲彈了回去。
When the metal bar was bent too far, it suddenly recoiled and struck the workbench.
金屬棒被彎得太過頭時突然彈回，撞到了工作檯。
- rebound
implies bouncing off a surface; less specific to firearms or tension release
- spring back
more general, can describe any elastic return to original position
- jerk back
emphasizes the sharp, jarring quality of the movement
文法句型
recoil [adverb]
recoil against [something]
用法筆記
The subject is typically an inanimate object (gun, spring, door). Distinguish from Verb/1 (DRAW BACK IN FEAR): this sense describes a physical law of motion, not a conscious reaction.
常見錯誤
recoil — 名詞
1. the sharp backward thrust that a weapon delivers at the moment of discharge, cau
後座力
槍枝發射時向後的衝力
the sharp backward thrust that a weapon delivers at the moment of discharge, caused by the force of expanding gases pushing the bullet forward.
The recoil of the shotgun nearly knocked Rafael off balance during his first hunting trip.
Rafael 第一次去打獵時，散彈槍的後座力差點把他撞倒。
recoil of [weapon] — possessive/genitive structure
Nia braced the rifle stock firmly against her shoulder to absorb the recoil.
Nia 把槍托緊緊抵在肩膀上以吸收後座力。
absorb/reduce the recoil — typical verb collocations
Modern firearms use padded stocks and gas-operated systems to reduce the recoil felt by the shooter.
現代槍械利用緩衝槍托和氣動系統來減少射手感受到的後座力。
The powerful recoil of the antique musket left a dark bruise on the soldier's shoulder.
那把古董步槍的強大後座力在士兵肩膀上留下了一大塊瘀青。
Hunters often choose lighter rifles, but those usually produce more recoil than heavy ones.
獵人常選輕型步槍，但輕型槍通常後座力比重型槍更大。
文法句型
the recoil of [gun/rifle]
absorb/reduce/counteract the recoil
用法筆記
Can be used as both countable ('a sharp recoil') and uncountable ('felt a lot of recoil'). This is the most common noun sense — nearly all everyday uses of 'recoil' as a noun refer to gun kickback.
2. the physical or emotional act of pulling or springing backward away from somethi
退縮；迴避
因驚嚇或厭惡而向後退的動作
the physical or emotional act of pulling or springing backward away from something that is frightening, unpleasant, or shocking.
Beatriz's sudden recoil from the snake told the others everything they needed to know.
Beatriz 看到蛇時猛然縮了一下，這個反應讓其他人全都明白了。
possessive + recoil from [trigger]
There was a visible recoil in the crowd when the speaker made his shocking statement.
演講者說出那句驚人言論時，人群中明顯出現一陣退縮。
Mizuki's recoil from the icy water was so dramatic that she nearly dropped her camera.
Mizuki 被冰水凍得猛然縮回手，動作之大差點把相機摔了。
Anong felt a mental recoil every time she thought about the frightening accident.
Anong 每次想起那場可怕的意外，心裡都會湧起一股排斥感。
- flinch
a briefer, less dramatic movement — more of a twitch than a full backward motion
- withdrawal
slower and more deliberate; implies a conscious decision to pull back
文法句型
[possessive] recoil from [something]
a recoil of [body part/emotion]
用法筆記
This is the broad, abstract noun sense covering both physical and emotional recoil. It is less common than Noun/1 (GUN KICKBACK) and tends toward literary or formal writing. When a physical cause is specified, it overlaps with Verb/1 (DRAW BACK IN FEAR); when emotional, with Verb/2 (SHUN AN IDEA).