high-strung

/ˌhaɪ ˈstrʌŋ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌhaɪ ˈstrʌŋ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈhī-ˈstrəŋ/ (ame, mw)

high-strung — adjective

1. feeling worried, tense, or jumpy much of the time, so that small problems quickl

1.形容詞C1
釋義

feeling worried, tense, or jumpy much of the time, so that small problems quickly cause a strong emotional reaction.

例句

Kemi gets stomach aches before every exam because she is so high-strung.

predicative: be high-strung after copula

Our neighbour's high-strung border collie barks at every passing car.

attributive: high-strung + noun (animal temperament)

同義詞
  • jumpy

    more informal; suggests a person who startles easily at sudden noises or surprises

  • highly strung

    British spelling of the same word; identical meaning

  • neurotic

    stronger and more clinical; hints at unhealthy levels of worry, not just a sensitive temperament

  • edgy

    covers shorter bursts of nervous tension; high-strung is more lasting

反義詞
  • laid-back

    describes a person who stays calm and is not easily upset

  • easygoing

    implies a relaxed, untroubled attitude across many situations

用法筆記

Almost always describes a person or an animal's lasting temperament rather than a brief mood; pair with state verbs like 'be', 'seem', 'appear' and with names of people or pets, not with events or objects.

常見錯誤

❌The meeting was high-strung.
✅The people at the meeting were high-strung.
💡describes temperaments of living beings, not the atmosphere of an event.
❌I felt high-strung for ten minutes after the call.
✅I felt on edge for ten minutes after the call.
💡for a short-lived feeling, use 'on edge' or 'tense'; 'high-strung' suggests an ongoing trait.