undercurrent
/ˈʌndəkʌrənt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈʌndərkɜːrənt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈən-dər-ˌkər-ənt -ˌkə-rənt/ (ame, mw)
undercurrent — noun
- undercurrentsingular
- undercurrentsplural
1. a feeling or attitude that is not directly shown or stated but exists beneath wh
a feeling or attitude that is not directly shown or stated but exists beneath what people say or do — for example, an undercurrent of anger at a meeting where everyone speaks politely.
An undercurrent of nervousness filled the room as Lan waited for the doctor's results.
undercurrent of [emotion] fills [place]
Despite their polite smiles, there was an undercurrent of tension between the two colleagues.
despite [surface behaviour] + undercurrent of [emotion]
The novel has a dark undercurrent of violence beneath its romantic love story.
During the meeting, Talia sensed an undercurrent of distrust among the team members.
Under the party's cheerful music, an undercurrent of sadness lingered in the air.
- undertone
more limited — usually refers to an implied quality in someone's voice or words, not a broad group atmosphere; 'an undertone of sarcasm'
- overtone
suggests an additional quality that is noticeable but not the main one; broader and less negative than 'undercurrent'
- subtext
used specifically for the unspoken meaning in writing, film, or conversation; more intellectual and analytical
文法句型
undercurrent + of + [emotion / quality]
there + be + an undercurrent of + [emotion]
用法筆記
Frequently paired with an emotion noun through the preposition of — the most common pattern is 'an undercurrent of [anger / tension / anxiety / hostility / distrust / violence]'. Often appears in descriptions of social situations where the surface atmosphere contradicts the hidden mood.
常見錯誤
2. a flow of water that moves beneath the surface, often in a different direction f
a flow of water that moves beneath the surface, often in a different direction from the water on top, and can be dangerous for swimmers.
The river looks calm on the surface, but a powerful undercurrent can pull swimmers under.
dangerous undercurrent + pull [person] under
Karim was a strong swimmer, yet he struggled against the hidden undercurrent near the reef.
After the storm, local lifeguards warned beachgoers about dangerous undercurrents near the shore.
A cold undercurrent brushed against Elena's legs as she waded into the lake.
文法句型
adjective + undercurrent
be caught in / pulled by + an undercurrent
用法筆記
Common in safety warnings and coastal descriptions. The plural form undercurrents is frequent when referring to general conditions ('dangerous undercurrents in the area'). Distinguish from undertow, which specifically means the current that pulls water away from a beach back into the sea.