balk
balk — verb
- balkpresent simple I / you / we / they
- balkshe / she / it
- balkedpast simple
- balking-ing form
1. to show clearly through your actions or words that you will not accept a demand,
to show clearly through your actions or words that you will not accept a demand, situation, or activity, especially when it seems unreasonable or risky.
The committee balked at the proposal when it saw the total cost.
balk at + noun phrase
Hamza balked when the landlord demanded six months of rent in advance.
Many parents balked at sending their children to summer camp during the outbreak.
The city council balked at approving any new building projects near the flood zone.
Taxpayers balked when they learned how much the stadium renovation would cost.
- hesitate
softer and less defiant; simply pauses rather than refuses outright
- draw the line
idiomatic; implies setting a firm moral or practical boundary
- resist
more active; suggests pushing back rather than just refusing to proceed
文法句型
balk at + noun phrase
balk at + gerund
用法筆記
Never used with a direct object. The pattern 'balk at + gerund' is particularly common in formal or written English.
常見錯誤
2. on the baseball field, to begin the motion of pitching toward the batter but cut
on the baseball field, to begin the motion of pitching toward the batter but cut it short before releasing the ball, which breaks the rules and allows runners on base to move up one base.
The pitcher balked in the second inning, allowing the runner on third to score.
balk + time phrase (in the... inning)
Renata's coach told her never to balk when there are runners on base.
The rookie balked twice during the game, which frustrated the entire team.
If a pitcher balks, the umpire signals the violation and the runners advance.
文法句型
balk (intransitive)
balk + when / if clause
用法筆記
Almost exclusively used in baseball contexts. The same action as a noun is called 'a balk' (see noun sense 2). Distinguish from verb sense 1: a baseball pitcher performing a balk is not showing reluctance — the motion is accidental or deceptive.
常見錯誤
3. to prevent someone from achieving something, or to stop a plan or process from m
to prevent someone from achieving something, or to stop a plan or process from moving forward.
Lack of funding balked the research team's efforts to develop a vaccine.
passive clue: balked by [obstacle]
The new environmental rules balked any attempt to build a factory near the river.
Adisa's injury balked his chances of competing in the national championship.
Heavy snow balked the rescue team's plan to reach the stranded hikers.
- aid
to help or support someone in achieving something
- facilitate
to make a process easier or smoother
文法句型
balk + noun phrase
be balked by + noun phrase
用法筆記
This sense is formal and less common in everyday speech. A more frequent alternative is 'block', 'hinder', or 'obstruct'. Frequently used in passive constructions.
常見錯誤
balk — noun
- balksingular
- balksplural
1. a thick, roughly-cut length of wood used as a supporting beam in buildings, espe
a thick, roughly-cut length of wood used as a supporting beam in buildings, especially under a roof or floor.
The old barn had thick wooden balks supporting the roof for more than a century.
Workers carried a heavy balk across the muddy construction site.
prepositional phrase: a balk across [place]
The carpenter measured each balk carefully before cutting it into floor beams.
Dust and cobwebs hung from the balks high above the main hall.
用法筆記
This is the oldest recorded sense of 'balk' (from Old English). In modern building, 'beam' or 'joist' is far more common. The word survives mainly in historical or rural descriptions.
2. an illegal pitching action in baseball where the pitcher starts but does not com
an illegal pitching action in baseball where the pitcher starts but does not complete the throwing motion, allowing each runner on base to move forward one base.
The umpire called a balk in the ninth inning with two runners on base.
called for a balk
Diego argued with the umpire about the balk call, but the decision stood.
With runners on first and second, a balk could let them both advance into scoring spots.
The team lost the game because of a balk that brought the winning run home.
用法筆記
Countable — one balk, two balks. In baseball statistics, a balk is recorded against the pitcher. The umpire signals a balk by pointing at the pitcher and calling out.
常見錯誤
3. something that blocks progress or makes it hard for someone to achieve what they
something that blocks progress or makes it hard for someone to achieve what they want.
The lack of experienced staff proved to be a serious balk to the company's growth.
a balk to + noun phrase
Political disagreements became a balk that stalled the peace negotiations for months.
For many families, the high tuition cost is a major balk to higher education.
The court saw the outdated regulation as an unnecessary balk to justice.
- obstacle
the everyday word for something that blocks progress; neutral register
- hindrance
slightly less strong than obstacle; suggests delay rather than full blockage
- impediment
formal, like balk; common in legal or academic contexts
- aid
something that helps progress rather than blocking it
- assistance
help or support that removes obstacles
文法句型
a balk to + noun phrase
用法筆記
Very rare in modern English. Far more common alternatives include 'obstacle', 'barrier', or 'hindrance'. The word survives mostly in formal or literary writing.