uptight

/ˌʌpˈtaɪt/ (bre, ipa) · [əptˈaɪt] /ˌʌpˈtaɪt/ (ame, ipa) · [əptˈaɪt] /ˈəp-ˈtīt How to pronounce uptight (audio) (ˌ)əp-ˈtīt/ (ame, mw)

uptight — adjective

  • uptightpositive
  • more uptightcomparative
  • most uptightsuperlative

1. so anxious or nervous that you cannot relax or act in a natural way, often getti

1.形容詞B2
釋義

so anxious or nervous that you cannot relax or act in a natural way, often getting annoyed or upset about unimportant things

例句

Before her piano exam, Saira felt so uptight that her hands were shaking.

so uptight + that-clause — result structure

Esteban's boss gets very uptight about small mistakes in the monthly reports.

get uptight about + cause

同義詞
  • tense

    similar in meaning but less informal; focuses on mental or physical strain

  • wound up

    informal, suggests excitement or agitation rather than anxiety

  • stressed out

    more directly connected to pressure from work or life demands

  • anxious

    broader in scope; can describe lasting worry without visible behavioural tension

反義詞
  • relaxed

    able to stay calm and at ease

  • laid-back

    informal; describes a person who does not get easily worried

  • easygoing

    describes a person who accepts situations without becoming tense

文法句型

uptight + about + noun/gerund

feel/get + uptight

用法筆記

Subject is usually a person. Often specifies the cause of tension with about. Can describe either a temporary state (feeling uptight about a specific situation) or a general personality trait (always tense, never able to relax). Uncommon in formal writing.

常見錯誤

❌I felt uptight about my test results, so I opened the envelope.
✅I felt nervous about my test results, so I opened the envelope.
💡'uptight' implies visible tension that interferes with normal behaviour, not just an ordinary worry about a specific outcome.
❌She is a very uptight employee who always submits her work on time.
✅She is a very organised employee who always submits her work on time.
💡'uptight' describes anxious tension, not carefulness or reliability.