jostle
/ˈdʒɒsl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈdʒɑːsl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈjä-səl/ (ame, mw)
jostle — verb
- jostlepresent simple I / you / we / they
- jostleshe / she / it
- jostledpast simple
- jostling-ing form
1. to bump or knock into people sharply while moving through a tightly packed space
to bump or knock into people sharply while moving through a tightly packed space, often to win room or get ahead of others.
Ritu jostled three commuters as she ran for the closing train doors.
transitive: jostle + people direct object
Tourists jostled for a better view of the painting in the small gallery.
jostle for + something: competing for limited space
Leo's elbow jostled the woman next to him on the packed bus.
Reporters jostled against the police barrier when the singer stepped out.
The market shoppers jostled each other near the cheap mango stall.
文法句型
jostle + somebody
jostle + for + something
jostle + against + something
用法筆記
Often used of crowds rather than one-on-one contact; subject is usually a person, a group, or a body part like the elbow or shoulder.
常見錯誤
❌ 'Two ideas jostled in her mind.' is rare and literary; learners should prefer 'compete' or 'clash' for thoughts and emotions.
jostle — noun
1. a single moment of being bumped or pushed by people who are trying to move past
a single moment of being bumped or pushed by people who are trying to move past you.
Layla felt a sharp jostle as the schoolchildren pushed past her at the gate.
countable noun: a jostle as a single contact event
Evelyn lost her sunglasses after one hard jostle on the subway platform.
A jostle from the man behind sent Yumi's coffee onto her clean shirt.
The photographer hated the constant jostle of fans near the red carpet.
文法句型
a jostle of somebody
用法筆記
Often singular and brief; describes one act of contact, distinct from the ongoing pressure of sense 2.
常見錯誤
2. the steady physical pressure and movement that happens when many people are pres
the steady physical pressure and movement that happens when many people are pressed close together in one place.
Tariro left the night market early to escape the heat and the jostle.
uncountable: the ongoing crowded state, not a single contact
Adina enjoyed the jostle of Tokyo's Shibuya crossing on her first visit.
the jostle of + place: general crowd pressure
Élise avoided rush hour because the jostle on the Paris metro hurt her knee.
The reporter described the loud jostle of the harvest festival crowd.
文法句型
the jostle of + place / event
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: this sense is the ongoing pressed-together state of a crowd, not one single push event.