hinges
hinges — noun
- hingessingular
- hingesesplural
1. a short metal or plastic fitting with two flat sections joined by a pin; it is f
a short metal or plastic fitting with two flat sections joined by a pin; it is fixed to a door and its frame so the door can swing open and shut.
The garage door squeaked loudly because the hinges needed oil.
collocation: squeaky hinge / oil a hinge
A carpenter replaced the rusty hinges on the old wooden gate.
The lid of the piano fell off when one of its hinges broke.
Each cabinet door has three small brass hinges screwed into the frame.
Therese bought a pack of stainless steel hinges for the kitchen cupboard.
用法筆記
Often appears in plural form when referring to a single door or lid (a door has two or more hinges).
常見錯誤
2. the critical fact, event, or situation upon which everything else in a process o
the critical fact, event, or situation upon which everything else in a process or argument depends.
The election result was the hinge on which the future of the policy rested.
pattern: the hinge on which [something] rests/depends
Historians regard the Battle of Midway as a hinge in the Pacific War.
The judge's decision will be the hinge that determines whether the company survives.
Getting the bank loan became the hinge of the family's plan to open a restaurant.
The signing of the peace treaty was a historic hinge that changed the region forever.
- turning point
emphasises a moment of change rather than a factor everything depends on
- cornerstone
suggests something that everything else is built upon, rather than something things revolve around
- linchpin
strongly emphasises that without this element the whole system fails
用法筆記
Almost always followed by a clause or phrase specifying what depends on it: 'the hinge of/on/for [something]'. Distinguish from sense 1 by the absence of a physical door or lid.
常見錯誤
hinges — verb
- hingespresent simple I / you / we / they
- hingeses3rd person singular
- hingesing-ing form
- hingesedpast simple
1. to attach a door, window, or lid to its frame using a hinge, or to supply someth
to attach a door, window, or lid to its frame using a hinge, or to supply something with hinges so that it can swing open and closed.
The kitchen units were hinged along the top edge for easy cleaning.
passive: be hinged along [edge]
The iron gate was hinged by a skilled metalworker so it swung both ways.
passive: be hinged by [person]
The display case is hinged at the back so staff can reach the items inside.
The wooden shutters are hinged to the window frame with small brass fittings.
- attach with hinges
a more conversational way to say the same thing
文法句型
be hinged + on/to + frame
用法筆記
Almost always used in the passive voice (be hinged). The active form is very rare in everyday speech.