edgewise

/ˈej-ˌwīz/ (ame, mw)

edgewise — adverb

1. moving or fitting into a narrow space with the thin side or narrowest part of an

1.副詞B2
釋義

moving or fitting into a narrow space with the thin side or narrowest part of an object going first, rather than the flat side.

例句

Wei Chen slid the mirror edgewise through the door to avoid hitting the frame.

edgewise + through + [narrow opening]

The movers turned the sofa edgewise to carry it around the tight corner.

turn + [object] + edgewise + around

同義詞
  • sideways

    the most common synonym; 'sideways' is broader and can also mean 'to one side', while 'edgewise' specifically means with the narrow edge leading

  • sidewards

    less common; focuses on direction rather than orientation of the object's edge

2. used only in the fixed phrase 'get a word in edgewise' — meaning to succeed in s

2.副詞C1
釋義

used only in the fixed phrase 'get a word in edgewise' — meaning to succeed in saying something when another person is talking so much that you have no chance to speak.

例句

The manager talked without pausing, so nobody could get a word in edgewise.

couldn't get a word in edgewise [someone dominates conversation]

Auntie Mei told jokes so fast the children could barely get a word in edgewise.

文法句型

cannot/could not + get + a word + in + edgewise

用法筆記

Almost always used in negative structures — 'couldn't / can't get a word in edgewise.' The affirmative ('I got a word in edgewise') is extremely rare and sounds unnatural. Learners should treat the whole phrase as a fixed idiom: 'not be able to get a word in edgewise.'

常見錯誤

❌I could not get an edgewise word in.
✅I could not get a word in edgewise.
💡The fixed phrase keeps 'a word' between 'get' and 'in edgewise'; do not rearrange the words.
❌I could not get a word in edgeways.
✅I could not get a word in edgewise.
💡Some learners confuse 'edgewise' with 'edgeways'; 'edgewise' is the standard form in this idiom in both American and British English.