unbend

IPA/ˌʌnˈbend/
KK[ˌʌnbˈɛnd]IPA/ˌʌnˈbend/

unbend — 動詞

  • unbendpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • unbendshe / she / it
  • unbentpast simple
  • unbending-ing form

1. to stop behaving in a formal, serious, or strict way and instead act in a more r

1.動詞不及物B2
釋義

放鬆

變得輕鬆隨和

to stop behaving in a formal, serious, or strict way and instead act in a more relaxed and friendly manner toward others

例句

The professor rarely unbends, but at dinner he told a story from his student days.

那位教授很少放鬆姿態，但在晚宴上，他講了一個自己學生時代的故事。

unbend + at [event]; contrast with usual formality

Iris is strict in meetings, but she unbends when talking one-on-one with her team.

Iris 在會議上很嚴格，但與團隊一對一交談時，她就比較放鬆了。

常見搭配
  • unbend a little
  • unbend once in a while
  • find it hard to unbend
同義詞
  • relax

    much more common and broader in meaning; 'unbend' adds the nuance of releasing formality specifically

  • loosen up

    informal phrasal verb; slightly more casual than 'unbend'

反義詞
  • stiffen

    to become more formal or tense in manner

文法句型

unbend + (no object)

用法筆記

Used intransitively — you cannot 'unbend someone'. Common in contexts describing a shift from a formal or tense atmosphere to a more casual one.

常見錯誤

She unbended the rules for us.
She relaxed the rules for us.
'unbend' does NOT mean 'to relax rules or requirements'; it only refers to one's own manner or behaviour.

2. to cause something that is bent, curled, or folded to become straight; or to bec

2.動詞及物 / 不及物B2
釋義

弄直；變直

使彎曲的東西變直

to cause something that is bent, curled, or folded to become straight; or to become straight again after being bent or twisted

例句

Beatriz used pliers to unbend the twisted coat hanger for her craft project.

Beatriz 用鉗子把彎曲的衣架弄直，好用在手作作品上。

transitive: unbend + object (twisted coat hanger)

The pages of the notebook unbent after lying under books for two days.

那本筆記本的內頁在書本下壓了兩天之後就變平了。

intransitive: the pages unbent (no object)

常見搭配
  • unbend a paperclip
  • unbend a wire
  • unbend a coat hanger
  • unbend a nail
同義詞
  • straighten

    much more common in everyday English; can be used for body parts, objects, and abstract situations

  • straighten out

    phrasal verb, common in both literal and figurative use

反義詞
  • bend

    to apply force so that something is no longer straight

  • twist

    to bend something out of its natural shape by turning

文法句型

unbend + object (transitive)

object + unbend (intransitive)

用法筆記

Can be either transitive (you unbend something) or intransitive (something unbends). This literal sense is less common in everyday speech than the synonym 'straighten'.

常見錯誤

She unbent her legs after sitting for hours.
She straightened her legs after sitting for hours.
'unbend' is not typically used for body parts outside of specialised contexts.

同根字

常見搭配

副詞搭配

常用片語