backwash

IPA/ˈbækwɒʃ/
KK[bˈækwˌɑʃ]IPA/ˈbækwɔːʃ/

backwash — 名詞

1. The water that flows in reverse — for instance, the water that rushes back towar

1.名詞B1
釋義

回流

波浪或船經過後的水流回沖

The water that flows in reverse — for instance, the water that rushes back toward the ocean once a wave breaks on the sand, or the water a moving vessel pushes out sideways as it passes.

例句

The ferry's powerful backwash rocked the small boats tied to the wooden dock.

渡輪的強力回流搖晃了繫在木頭碼頭上的小船。

possessive phrase: ferry's backwash

Pedro watched the backwash from his speedboat spread in wide rings across the quiet lake.

Pedro 看著他的快艇產生的回流在平靜的湖面上擴散成寬闊的漣漪。

同義詞
  • wake

    Specifically the trail of disturbed water left behind a moving boat; broader than backwash, which emphasizes the backward direction

  • undertow

    A subsurface current that pulls water back out to sea; stronger and deeper than surface backwash

  • wash

    General term for the flow of water caused by a boat's movement; less directional than backwash

文法句型

the backwash of [boat/wave]

backwash from [source]

用法筆記

Often combined with a possessive noun or an 'of' phrase to specify the cause: 'the boat's backwash' or 'the backwash of the wave.'

常見錯誤

❌The backwash of the wave pulled me under the water.
✅The undertow pulled me under the water.
💡Backwash refers to surface water flowing backward; undertow is the strong subsurface current that pulls swimmers down or out to sea.

2. The unpleasant effect that spreads outward from an event or decision, affecting

2.名詞B2
釋義

餘波

事件間接產生的不良後果或影響

The unpleasant effect that spreads outward from an event or decision, affecting people or places that were not directly involved — for example, the loss of jobs in nearby towns after a large factory closes.

例句

The economic backwash of the factory closure affected shops and schools across the whole town.

工廠倒閉的經濟餘波影響了整個鎮上的商店和學校。

adjective + backwash + of + noun phrase

Minho never expected the harsh social backwash from his online post — his friends stopped calling.

Minho 完全沒料到他的網路貼文會引起如此強烈的社交餘波——他的朋友都不再打電話來了。

同義詞
  • aftermath

    The period or consequences following a destructive event; stronger and more dramatic than backwash

  • fallout

    The negative results of a situation, especially in politics or public opinion; more intense than backwash

  • repercussion

    An indirect effect that spreads through a chain of cause and effect; more formal than backwash

  • backlash

    A strong negative reaction from a group of people; more active and hostile than backwash

反義詞
  • cause

    The direct source or origin, not the indirect effect

  • root

    The fundamental cause of something, as opposed to its side effects

文法句型

[adjective] backwash of [event]

the backwash of [event]

用法筆記

Almost always describes a negative consequence. Unlike 'aftermath' or 'fallout,' backwash can apply to smaller-scale personal or social effects, not only large disasters.

常見錯誤

❌The backwash of the party was that everyone had fun.
✅The backwash of the scandal was a serious loss of public trust.
💡Backwash is typically used for negative, not positive, indirect effects.