tug-of-war

IPA/ˌtʌɡ əv ˈwɔː(r)/
IPA/ˌtʌɡ əv ˈwɔːr/

tug-of-war — 名詞

1. a rope game where two teams pull from either end, and the winners move their opp

1.名詞B2
釋義

拔河

兩隊拉同一條繩子分勝負的比賽

a rope game where two teams pull from either end, and the winners move their opponents beyond the center mark

例句

The class held a tug-of-war on sports day after lunch.

那個班午餐後在運動日舉行了一場拔河。

pattern: hold a tug-of-war

Jisoo slipped in the mud during the village tug-of-war.

Jisoo 在村裡的拔河比賽中滑進了泥巴裡。

同義詞
  • contest

    broader word for any competitive event, while tug-of-war names this specific rope game

  • match

    general word for a sports event; tug-of-war is one particular kind of match

  • competition

    can describe many different events, not only teams pulling a rope

文法句型

have + a tug-of-war

win/lose + the tug-of-war

tug-of-war + between + teams

用法筆記

Usually used with have, hold, win, or lose when talking about the game. It refers to the literal event with one rope and two sides pulling against each other.

常見錯誤

❌The children had a tug-of-war about the movie choice.
✅The children argued about the movie choice.
💡the literal sense is the rope-pulling game, not an ordinary disagreement.

2. a long and intense struggle where each side keeps pulling for control, advantage

2.名詞B2
釋義

拉鋸戰

雙方反覆爭奪控制權或歸屬的局面

a long and intense struggle where each side keeps pulling for control, advantage, or ownership of one thing

例句

The divorce became a tug-of-war over who would keep the house.

那場離婚變成了一場爭奪房子的拉鋸戰。

pattern: tug-of-war over + question

Budget talks turned into a tug-of-war between the mayor and council.

預算談判變成了市長和議會之間的拉鋸戰。

pattern: tug-of-war between + sides

同義詞
  • power struggle

    closer in meaning, but focuses more directly on political or organizational control

  • standoff

    suggests both sides are stuck, while tug-of-war stresses repeated pulling from each side

  • battle

    broader and often stronger; tug-of-war highlights back-and-forth pressure

反義詞
  • agreement

    both sides reach the same decision instead of fighting over it

  • cooperation

    the sides work together rather than pulling against each other

文法句型

a tug-of-war between + sides

a tug-of-war over + noun phrase

a tug-of-war for + control/possession

用法筆記

Often followed by between to name the opposing sides and by over or for to show what they want. This figurative sense usually describes a prolonged struggle, not one brief disagreement.

常見錯誤

❌We had a tug-of-war about where to eat dinner.
✅We argued about where to eat dinner.
💡tug-of-war suggests a longer fight for control or possession, not a small everyday disagreement.