unwind
/ˌʌnˈwaɪnd/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌʌnˈwaɪnd/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌən-ˈwīnd/ (ame, mw)
unwind — 動詞
- unwindpresent simple I / you / we / they
- unwindshe / she / it
- unwoundpast simple
- unwinding-ing form
1. to make something that is twisted or wrapped around something else become straig
解開；鬆開
將纏繞的東西弄直或鬆開
to make something that is twisted or wrapped around something else become straight or loose; or to become straight or loose by itself after being twisted or wrapped.
Eshe carefully unwound the bandage from her sprained wrist and laid it flat on the table.
Eshe 小心地解開纏在扭傷手腕上的繃帶，把它平放在桌上。
transitive: unwind [object] from [place]
The old garden hose slowly unwound as Hyun pulled it across the lawn toward the flower bed.
Hyun 把那條舊水管從草地上拉向花圃時，水管慢慢地鬆開了。
intransitive: object + unwinds
A sudden jerk from the dog caused the leash to unwind from Aarav's hand as he unlocked the front door.
小狗突然一扯，遛繩從 Aarav 的手中鬆開，當時他正在開前門的鎖。
The wool had tangled badly, and Beatriz spent an hour trying to unwind it without breaking the thread.
毛線纏得很亂，Beatriz 花了一個小時試著把它解開，又不想弄斷線。
文法句型
unwind + object (a rope, bandage, scarf)
object + unwinds
用法筆記
Common in physical descriptions. The object is usually something long and flexible that has been wound or coiled — rope, wire, bandage, scarf, or hair.
常見錯誤
2. to free yourself from worry and daily pressures so that your mind and body can r
放鬆
讓身心從壓力中恢復平靜
to free yourself from worry and daily pressures so that your mind and body can rest.
After a long day at the hospital, Quinn likes to unwind by taking a slow walk through the park.
在醫院忙碌一整天後，Quinn 喜歡在公園裡慢慢散步來放鬆。
unwind + by + [gerund]
Élise found it hard to unwind after the meeting because her phone kept ringing with new questions.
Élise 發現開會後很難放鬆，因為她的手機一直響，不斷有人問新的問題。
unwind after [noun]
The accountant told his clients that a fifteen-minute break helps everyone unwind and focus better.
那位會計師告訴客戶，休息十五分鐘能幫助大家放鬆心情，工作更專注。
Marco unwinds every evening by playing the piano for about half an hour before dinner.
Marco 每天晚上都會彈大約半小時的鋼琴來放鬆，然後才吃晚飯。
- tense up
to become physically or mentally tight with worry
- stress out
informal; to become overwhelmed by pressure
文法句型
unwind + after/before + [activity]
unwind + by + [gerund]
用法筆記
Almost always intransitive in this sense. Used commonly in advice and self-care contexts. Frequently paired with 'after' (a period of work or stress) or 'by' (an activity).
常見錯誤
3. to go through the required processes, often with lawyers or banks, to bring a bu
結清；解除
依法結束金融合約或投資
to go through the required processes, often with lawyers or banks, to bring a business agreement or an investment to a full close.
The company decided to unwind its partnership with the foreign supplier after the trade dispute began.
這家公司在貿易糾紛開始後，決定解除與外國供應商的合作關係。
transitive: unwind + [business arrangement]
Christopher hired a lawyer to help him unwind the complex investment contract he had signed two years ago.
Christopher 聘請了一位律師來幫他結清兩年前簽下的那份複雜的投資合約。
The bank is slowly unwinding its holdings in the mining sector as part of a new environmental policy.
這家銀行正逐步結清在礦業部門的持股，作為新環保政策的一部分。
The unwinding of Shirin's family trust took eight months and required approval from three different government agencies.
Shirin 家族信託的解除耗時八個月，還需要三個不同政府機構的批准。
- enter into
to begin or sign a financial agreement
文法句型
unwind + [financial arrangement]
用法筆記
Restricted to formal finance and legal contexts. The object is typically a financial instrument, contract, partnership, or market position.
常見錯誤
4. if a story, situation, or series of events unwinds, it gradually develops and re
展開；落幕
事件逐步發展到結束
if a story, situation, or series of events unwinds, it gradually develops and reaches a natural end.
The novel's plot unwinds slowly, revealing a hidden family secret in the final chapter.
這部小說的劇情緩慢展開，在最後一章揭開了一個隱藏的家庭秘密。
plot/story + unwinds
Ritu watched the drama unwind between the two families over the course of that long summer.
Ritu 目睹了兩個家庭之間的那場戲劇在那個漫長的夏天裡一步步發展落幕。
As the committee meeting unwound, it became clear that no easy solution would be found.
隨著委員會會議的進展，大家很快就明白找不到簡單的解決方案。
The story of how the two sisters met again after forty years unwinds through a series of old letters.
那對姊妹在四十年後重逢的故事，透過一系列舊書信逐步展開。
文法句型
story/event + unwinds
how + [situation] + unwinds
用法筆記
Used in literary or narrative contexts. The subject is typically a story, plot, scene, or developing situation. Rare in everyday speech. More common in British English than American.
常見錯誤
5. to examine a complicated situation, problem, or set of ideas and make it clearer
釐清；梳理
使複雜的問題變得清楚易懂
to examine a complicated situation, problem, or set of ideas and make it clearer or easier to understand.
The detective spent weeks trying to unwind the confusing timeline of events from the night of the robbery.
那位偵探花了幾個星期，試圖釐清搶劫案發生當晚令人困惑的時間線。
transitive: unwind + [complex situation]
Darius had to unwind the various legal claims before the court could make a fair decision.
Darius 必須先梳理清楚各項法律主張，法院才能做出公正的判決。
The teacher helped the students unwind the main arguments of the long and difficult article.
老師幫助學生釐清那篇又長又難的文章中的主要論點。
The lawyer spent the morning unwinding the confusing clauses in the rental agreement for her client.
那位律師花了一整個上午，為她的委託人梳理租約中令人困惑的條款。
- complicate
to make something more difficult to understand
文法句型
unwind + [complex situation or problem]
用法筆記
Overlaps with sense 1 when applied to abstract problems, but the object here is always intangible — a puzzle, argument, mystery, or set of rules. Often interchangeable with 'untangle' in this metaphorical use.