ramrod-straight

IPA/ɹˈamɹɒdstɹˈeɪt/
IPA/ɹˈæmɹɑːdstɹˈeɪt/

ramrod-straight — 慣用語

1. describing a person whose back is held so straight that their whole body appears

1.慣用語B2
釋義

筆挺

背部挺直、身體僵硬直立的姿態

describing a person whose back is held so straight that their whole body appears stiff, formal, and completely upright — like a metal rod that cannot bend

例句

Felix sat ramrod-straight on the wooden bench, refusing to slouch.

Felix 筆挺地坐在木長椅上，不肯彎腰駝背。

predicative: sit/stand + ramrod-straight

The soldiers stood ramrod-straight as the general walked past them.

將軍走過時，士兵們個個站得筆挺。

同義詞
  • bolt upright

    more specific to sitting position; implies a sudden straightening

  • stiff as a board

    more informal; can describe any rigid position, not just the spine

反義詞
  • slouched

    describes a relaxed, curved posture

  • hunched

    describes rounded shoulders and a forward-leaning back

文法句型

be ramrod-straight

sit/stand ramrod-straight

ramrod-straight + noun (posture/back)

用法筆記

This sense most often describes a person's posture, especially when they are sitting or standing in a formal situation. Frequently used with verbs of position: sit, stand, remain.

2. moving — especially when walking or marching — in a stiff, unnaturally upright w

2.慣用語B2
釋義

僵直地

身體僵硬挺直地進行某動作

moving — especially when walking or marching — in a stiff, unnaturally upright way that suggests a deliberate effort to keep your spine completely straight

例句

Caio walked ramrod-straight down the corridor, keeping his eyes fixed ahead.

Caio 僵直地走在走廊上，雙眼直視前方。

verb of movement + ramrod-straight

The butler carried the silver tray while walking ramrod-straight through the dining room.

管家托著銀盤，僵直地穿過餐廳。

同義詞
  • stiffly

    simpler and more common; can describe any rigid movement, not just straightness

  • rigidly

    emphasises the inability or refusal to bend

反義詞
  • casually

    suggests relaxed, natural movement

  • loosely

    describes movement without stiffness or tension

文法句型

walk/march/hold oneself ramrod-straight

用法筆記

Unlike sense 1 (BODY POSTURE), which describes a static state, this sense focuses on how a person performs an action — the stiff straightness is part of their movement, not just their position.

常見錯誤

❌The table legs are ramrod-straight.
✅The soldiers stood ramrod-straight.
💡ramrod-straight is almost always used for a person's body or posture, not for inanimate objects.