hitch
/hɪtʃ/ (bre, ipa) · /hɪtʃ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈhich/ (ame, mw)
hitch — noun
- hitchsingular
- hitchesplural
1. a small, unexpected problem that briefly stops or slows down a plan or process,
a small, unexpected problem that briefly stops or slows down a plan or process, but is usually not serious.
The wedding went smoothly, apart from a small hitch when the flowers arrived late.
collocation: small hitch / without a hitch
There was a technical hitch with the microphone, so the speech started five minutes late.
collocation: technical hitch
Despite a few hitches along the way, the team finished the building work on time.
The software launch hit a last-minute hitch when the testers discovered a bug.
用法筆記
Often appears in the fixed phrase 'without a hitch', meaning perfectly smoothly. The negative form 'go off without a hitch' is very common.
常見錯誤
2. a temporary knot you tie around a post, ring, or another rope to hold it in plac
a temporary knot you tie around a post, ring, or another rope to hold it in place, and which you release with a single quick pull of the free end.
Ryan tied a simple hitch around the dock post to keep the boat from drifting.
The scout leader showed the children how to tie a quick-release hitch.
knot name: quick-release hitch
A well-tied hitch will hold the tent rope firm even in a strong wind.
A clove hitch works well for tying a rope to a horizontal pole or rail.
用法筆記
Common specific types include 'clove hitch', 'timber hitch', and 'rolling hitch'. Each has a different purpose, but all share the quality of being easy to undo.
3. a metal or mechanical device attached to the back of a vehicle that allows it to
a metal or mechanical device attached to the back of a vehicle that allows it to pull a trailer, caravan, or other load.
The SUV has a metal hitch at the rear for pulling a small camping trailer.
collocation: metal hitch / trailer hitch
Elena checked that the hitch connecting the caravan to the car was locked securely.
The right hitch lets you fit a bike rack to the back of this van.
The rental company put a hitch on the car to pull a small trailer.
用法筆記
In American English, 'hitch' often specifically means 'trailer hitch'. In British English, 'towbar' is also common for the same device.
hitch — verb
- hitchpresent simple I / you / we / they
- hitcheshe / she / it
- hitchedpast simple
- hitching-ing form
1. to travel by asking passing drivers for a free ride, usually by waiting at the r
to travel by asking passing drivers for a free ride, usually by waiting at the roadside and signalling with your thumb or a sign.
With no buses on Sunday, Élise decided to hitch a ride to the nearest town.
phrasal pattern: hitch a ride
Hui hitched across Europe during her summer break and met travellers from many countries.
intransitive: hitch across [area]
When his car broke down, Ryan hitched a lift with a passing truck driver.
During the road trip, Shanti and Elena hitched from one small town to the next.
- hitchhike
the full, slightly more formal form of 'hitch'
- thumb a ride
informal, refers to the hand signal of sticking out your thumb
文法句型
hitch + noun phrase (a ride, a lift)
hitch + prepositional phrase (across, through, to)
用法筆記
Short for 'hitchhike'. The transitive form is always paired with a noun phrase like 'a ride' or 'a lift' — you cannot say 'hitch a car' to mean hitchhike. 'Hitch a lift' is more common in British English.
常見錯誤
2. to attach one object to another using a rope, chain, or hook — for example, conn
to attach one object to another using a rope, chain, or hook — for example, connecting a trailer to a car or tying a horse to a post.
The farmer hitched the trailer to his tractor and drove out to the wheat field.
pattern: hitch + object + to + object
Esteban hitched the rope around the fallen branch to pull it off the road.
Sven hitched the horse to the rail outside the shop while he ran inside.
Aylin hitched the garden trailer to her small car before the market trip.
- unhitch
the direct opposite — to detach what was hitched
文法句型
hitch + noun + to + noun
用法筆記
Opposite is 'unhitch'. The prepositional pattern is almost always 'to' (hitch X to Y). When the object is a vehicle pulling a load, 'hitch up' (phrasal verb) is also very common.