mismatch
mismatch — noun
- mismatchsingular
- mismatchesplural
1. a pairing of two people or things that do not work well together, often because
a pairing of two people or things that do not work well together, often because their qualities, sizes, or styles are too different.
There was a clear mismatch between Yan's calm style and the loud company culture.
noun + 'between A and B' frame
Saira noticed a mismatch in the curtain colours after hanging them in the living room.
'mismatch in [area]' for a specific gap
The boxing fans complained that the final fight was a total mismatch on every level.
Coach Hassan saw the mismatch immediately and pulled the smaller player off the court.
Reviewers blamed the failed product on a mismatch between the price and the build quality.
- discrepancy
more formal; usually about figures or data that should agree
- incompatibility
stronger; suggests two things cannot work together at all
- mismatched pair
noun phrase; stresses the two parties involved
文法句型
mismatch between [A] and [B]
mismatch in [area]
用法筆記
Often appears with the prepositions 'between' (for two named items) or 'in' (for a specific area such as colour, size, or skill). Slightly negative in tone — it signals that the pairing is a problem, not just a difference.
常見錯誤
mismatch — verb
- mismatchpresent simple I / you / we / they
- mismatcheshe / she / it
- mismatchedpast simple
- mismatching-ing form
1. to pair up things or people in a way that does not work, or to fail to fit along
to pair up things or people in a way that does not work, or to fail to fit alongside something else.
Élise realised the recruiter had mismatched her with a role far below her experience.
transitive: 'mismatch [person] with [role]'
The new tiles clearly mismatched the old kitchen floor in both shade and texture.
transitive subject + object that fail to align
Reports from the two offices mismatched, so Adina spent the afternoon checking the numbers.
Samir worried that his loud tie mismatched the formal grey suit he had bought for the wedding.
Doctors warned that mismatching the donor and the patient could cause the transplant to fail.
文法句型
[X] mismatches [Y]
[X] and [Y] mismatch
用法筆記
Much less common than the noun; the verb is most natural in technical, medical, or HR contexts (matching donors, candidates, parts). Frequently passive — 'be mismatched with'. For everyday speech, native speakers prefer 'not match' or 'not go with'.