braces
[brˈesəz] /ˈbrās How to pronounce brace (audio)/ (ame, mw)
braces — 動詞
- bracespresent simple I / you / we / they
- braceses3rd person singular
- bracesing-ing form
- bracesedpast simple
1. to make yourself feel mentally ready for something difficult, sudden, or unpleas
打起精神
先做好心理準備去面對壞事
to make yourself feel mentally ready for something difficult, sudden, or unpleasant.
Arjun braced himself before opening the hospital test results.
Arjun 在打開醫院檢驗結果前先打起精神。
pattern: brace yourself before bad news
The passengers braced for impact when the plane dropped sharply.
飛機突然急降時，乘客們都打起精神準備承受撞擊。
pattern: brace for impact
Paloma braced herself for a difficult talk with her manager.
Paloma 先打起精神，準備跟主管談一場艱難的話。
After the phone rang at midnight, everyone braced for bad news.
半夜電話一響，大家都打起精神等著壞消息。
- steel yourself
stronger and more literary than brace yourself
- prepare
broader and less focused on emotional shock
文法句型
brace yourself
brace for impact
brace yourself for bad news
用法筆記
Often reflexive when the subject prepares mentally. The pattern brace for is especially common before a shock, crash, or piece of bad news.
2. to make something stronger or steadier by putting a support against it.
加固
加上支撐讓東西更穩更牢
to make something stronger or steadier by putting a support against it.
Workers braced the garden fence with two extra wooden posts.
工人用兩根額外的木柱加固了花園圍欄。
pattern: brace something with extra support
The crew braced the stage roof before the evening storm arrived.
晚間暴風雨來臨前，工作人員先加固了舞台屋頂。
Metal bars braced the old bridge while repairs continued below.
修理持續進行時，金屬桿一直在支撐加固那座舊橋。
文法句型
brace a wall
brace the frame with metal bars
be braced by beams
用法筆記
This sense is common in building, repair, and engineering contexts, where a support is added to stop movement or collapse.
3. to pull something tight so it becomes firm and ready to use.
拉緊
把繩線拉到緊實可用
to pull something tight so it becomes firm and ready to use.
Kofi braced the tent rope before the wind reached the hill.
風還沒吹上山坡前，Kofi 先把帳篷繩拉緊了。
pattern: brace a rope tight
The sailor braced the wet line until the canvas stopped flapping.
水手把濕繩拉緊，直到帆布不再拍打。
A stagehand braced the cable so the curtain would rise smoothly.
布景工把纜線拉緊，好讓布幕能順利升起。
文法句型
brace a rope
brace the line tight
brace for use
用法筆記
Used for ropes, lines, or similar things that must be pulled tight. It overlaps with tighten, but brace often suggests preparing the thing for action.
4. to place something, especially part of your body, firmly so it will not move.
頂住
把身體或物件牢牢撐穩
to place something, especially part of your body, firmly so it will not move.
Heather braced her feet against the floor and pushed the sofa.
Heather 把雙腳頂住地板，然後推那張沙發。
pattern: brace your feet against
The goalkeeper braced both hands on the muddy ground after the fall.
守門員跌倒後把雙手頂住泥地穩住自己。
A porter braced the ladder against the wall before climbing.
搬運工先把梯子頂住牆面，才開始往上爬。
文法句型
brace your feet
brace your back against a chair
brace something against a wall
用法筆記
Often used when someone presses feet, hands, or an object firmly against another surface to stay steady.
5. to make someone feel fresher, stronger, or more energetic again.
提振
讓人重新感到精神和力氣
to make someone feel fresher, stronger, or more energetic again.
The cold sea air braced Anna after the long overnight bus ride.
寒冷的海風提振了 Anna，讓她走出整夜巴士的疲累。
something refreshing braces someone
A quick wash braced the runners before the second race.
簡單洗把臉就提振了跑者們，讓他們能跑第二場。
Strong coffee braced the tired nurse for the last hour.
濃咖啡提振了疲倦的護理師，陪她撐完最後一小時。
- refresh
more ordinary and less forceful
- invigorate
formal and close in meaning
文法句型
brace someone
brace your nerves
be braced by fresh air
用法筆記
This is an older or more literary use. It often describes cold air, water, or another sharp experience that makes you feel stronger.
6. to stop someone and challenge them with questions, demands, or pressure.
攔下質問
攔住人並逼問或施壓
to stop someone and challenge them with questions, demands, or pressure.
Reporters braced the mayor outside the court for a clear answer.
記者在法院外攔下質問市長，要他給出明確答覆。
pattern: brace someone for an answer
Two older boys braced Brandon at the gate for lunch money.
兩個年紀較大的男孩在校門口攔下質問 Brandon，要他的午餐錢。
Angry parents braced the coach after the canceled school trip.
校外旅行取消後，憤怒的家長們攔下質問那位教練。
文法句型
brace someone in the street
brace someone for money
be braced by reporters
用法筆記
Often informal and slightly aggressive. It suggests stopping someone directly and pressing them for something.
braces — 名詞
1. a piece fixed to a structure to make it stronger and stop it from moving.
支撐桿
加在結構上防晃動的支撐件
a piece fixed to a structure to make it stronger and stop it from moving.
Steel braces kept the greenhouse frame steady through the winter wind.
鋼製支撐桿讓溫室骨架在冬天強風裡保持穩定。
structural braces on a frame
The carpenter added wooden braces under the long kitchen shelf.
木工在長長的廚房層板下加了木製支撐桿。
Diagonal braces stopped the festival gate from shaking in the crowd.
斜向支撐桿讓慶典入口在擁擠人群中不再搖晃。
文法句型
a diagonal brace
fit braces under a shelf
steel braces on a frame
用法筆記
This sense is common in building and design. A brace is one specific support piece, often added at an angle.
2. a device worn on a weak, injured, or growing part of the body to support it or h
護具
戴在身體上提供支撐的器具
a device worn on a weak, injured, or growing part of the body to support it or hold it in a better position.
After the fall, Maja wore a knee brace during every practice.
跌倒後，Maja 每次練習都戴著膝部護具。
common medical support use
The child walked carefully with metal braces on both legs.
那個孩子雙腿都戴著護具，小心地往前走。
pattern: braces on both legs
The doctor fitted a back brace before Kofi returned to work.
Kofi 回去上班前，醫師先替他裝上背部護具。
Soft wrist braces helped the pianist rest sore joints overnight.
柔軟的手腕護具讓那位鋼琴家晚上能休息酸痛的關節。
文法句型
wear braces on your legs
a knee brace
need a back brace
用法筆記
This everyday medical sense covers supports for legs, knees, wrists, backs, and similar body parts.
3. a set of wires and small pieces fixed to the teeth to make them straighter.
牙套
裝在牙齒上幫助排整齊的裝置
a set of wires and small pieces fixed to the teeth to make them straighter.
Yuki got braces in middle school to straighten crowded front teeth.
Yuki 在國中裝了牙套，好把前排擁擠的牙齒排整齊。
pattern: get braces to straighten teeth
The orthodontist tightened Noor's braces at the monthly visit.
矯正醫師在每月回診時替 Noor 調緊牙套。
common collocation: tighten braces
Soup was easier to eat during Christopher's first week with braces.
Christopher 剛戴牙套的第一週，喝湯比較容易。
A broken bracket on the braces cut the inside of her lip.
牙套上一個斷掉的托槽割到了她嘴唇內側。
- orthodontic appliance
formal dental term
- aligners
clear removable devices rather than fixed wires
文法句型
wear braces
get braces fitted
have your braces tightened
用法筆記
Usually plural in ordinary speech. People often talk about getting braces, wearing braces, or having braces tightened.
4. straps worn over the shoulders to hold up trousers.
吊帶
掛在肩上撐住褲子的帶子
straps worn over the shoulders to hold up trousers.
The tailor stitched buttons inside the trousers for Simon's braces.
裁縫在長褲內側縫上鈕扣，好固定 Simon 的吊帶。
British clothing sense
Grandpa wore striped braces with a white shirt every Sunday.
爺爺每個星期天都穿著條紋吊帶配白襯衫。
Before the wedding, the best man adjusted his braces in the mirror.
婚禮前，伴郎在鏡子前調整自己的吊帶。
The vintage shop sold wool trousers with matching leather braces.
那家復古店賣羊毛長褲，還配有同套的皮吊帶。
- suspenders
the everyday American English word for the same item
- trouser braces
more explicit when confusion with dental braces is possible
文法句型
wear braces
a pair of braces
braces with trousers
用法筆記
This is the usual British English word for the clothing item called suspenders in American English.
常見錯誤
5. a rope used on a sailing ship to turn a yard from side to side.
帆桁索
轉動橫桁用的帆船繩索
a rope used on a sailing ship to turn a yard from side to side.
The deckhands hauled the braces to swing the yard before the gust.
陣風來前，甲板水手拉動了帆桁索去轉動橫桁。
nautical use with a yard
Salt made the old braces stiff after the long voyage south.
長途南航後，鹽分讓舊帆桁索變得很僵硬。
The captain shouted for the port braces as the wind shifted suddenly.
風向突然轉變時，船長大喊要大家拉左舷帆桁索。
文法句型
haul the braces
slacken the braces
adjust the braces
用法筆記
This is a specialist sailing term referring to ropes that turn the yard, not to body supports or trouser straps.
6. the pair of written marks { } used to group words, numbers, or lines together.
大括號
寫作或程式裡的 { } 符號
the pair of written marks { } used to group words, numbers, or lines together.
Please put the two options in braces on the classroom whiteboard.
請把那兩個選項寫進白板上的大括號裡。
written marks { }
The coding guide used braces around every block in the example.
那份程式指引在每個區塊外都用了大括號。
In the score, a brace joined the piano's two staffs.
在樂譜裡，一個大括號把鋼琴的兩行譜連在一起。
- curly brackets
common descriptive name for the same marks
文法句型
put something in braces
open brace
close brace
用法筆記
This sense is used in writing, music, and computing. In music, the same curved mark can join two staffs that are played together.
7. the pair of square marks [ ] used to enclose words or notes in some kinds of wri
方括號
用來框住文字說明的 [ ] 符號
the pair of square marks [ ] used to enclose words or notes in some kinds of writing.
The editor placed the missing date in square braces after the quote.
編輯把缺少的日期放進引文後面的方括號裡。
square braces [ ] in text
A note inside braces explained the missing line in the diary.
方括號裡的一段說明交代了日記缺少的那一行。
The teacher circled the braces and asked which words they enclosed.
老師圈起那些方括號，問它們框住了哪些字。
- square brackets
the more usual everyday name
文法句型
put words in braces
square braces in a text
inside braces
用法筆記
Some dictionaries and style guides use brace as a broader label that can also include square brackets.
8. two things of the same kind taken together as a pair.
一對
同類兩個東西合稱為一組
two things of the same kind taken together as a pair.
The hunter returned with a brace of ducks at sunset.
那名獵人在日落時帶回了一對野鴨。
fixed phrase: a brace of
The museum displayed a brace of silver pistols in one case.
博物館在一個展示櫃裡陳列了一對銀手槍。
The columnist offered a brace of sharp questions for the minister.
那位專欄作者提出了一對尖銳問題給部長。
- pair
the ordinary everyday word
文法句型
a brace of ducks
brace of pistols
a brace of ideas
用法筆記
Often appears in the fixed pattern a brace of, especially in hunting, older writing, or formal style.
9. a fastening piece that joins two parts or keeps something closed.
扣夾
把兩部分扣住或固定的部件
a fastening piece that joins two parts or keeps something closed.
The jeweler replaced the tiny brace on the silver necklace clasp.
珠寶匠換掉了銀項鍊扣環上那個小小的扣夾。
brace as a fastening piece
A cracked leather bag brace came loose near the handle.
皮包提把附近一個裂開的扣夾鬆脫了。
The restorer cleaned the brass brace before fixing the old case.
修復師先清理那個黃銅扣夾，才修好舊箱子。
文法句型
a brace on a bag
fasten with a brace
replace the brace
用法筆記
This is a rare hardware sense for a joining or fastening piece, not the more familiar body or dental meanings.
10. a hand tool with a bent handle that turns a drill bit.
手搖鑽
用彎柄轉動鑽頭的手工具
a hand tool with a bent handle that turns a drill bit.
The carpenter used a brace and bit on the oak doorframe.
木匠在橡木門框上使用了手搖鑽和鑽頭。
fixed phrase: brace and bit
Grandfather kept an old wooden brace above the workbench.
祖父把一把老木製手搖鑽掛在工作檯上方。
With each turn of the brace, the bit cut deeper into pine.
每轉一下手搖鑽，鑽頭就在松木裡再深入一些。
- hand drill
broader and more modern everyday label
文法句型
use a brace and bit
turn the brace
fit a bit into the brace
用法筆記
Usually found in the phrase brace and bit when talking about traditional hand tools.