tense ♦︎ strained ♦︎ stressed ♦︎ under pressure ♦︎ uptightThese words all describe people when they are too anxious to be able to relax.这些词均表示神经紧张的、焦虑不安的、无法放松的。PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS 句型和搭配◆to look / sound / seem tense / strained / uptight◆to get tense / uptight◆sth makes sb tense / uptight■tensenervous or worried and unable to relax神经紧张的；担心的；无法放松的◆Try to relax. Are you always this tense?尽量放轻松。你总是这样紧张吗？ⓘ You can be tense as a result of the situation you are in or because it is part of your personality and you are always that way. * tense可以是所处情况使人紧张，或是某人个性使然，向来如此◆She sounded tense and angry.她的声音听起来又气又急。◆He's a very tense person.他是个神经非常紧张的人。 see also tense ⇨ stressfuladj., tense ⇨ tightenverb, tension ⇨ pressure1■strainedshowing the effects of worry or pressure神色不宁的；紧张的；憔悴的◆Her face looked strained and weary.她的脸色显得憔悴疲惫。◆He spoke in a low, strained voice.他焦虑地低声说话。 see also strain ⇨ pressure1, strained ⇨ stressful■stressed ( informalstressed out) too anxious and tired to be able to relax焦虑不安的；心力交瘁的◆He was feeling very stressed and tired.他感觉十分焦虑，疲惫不堪。◆Stressed out? Take a break in the sun.焦虑不安吗？休息一下，去晒晒太阳吧。◆stressed business executives心力交瘁的公司主管 see also stress ⇨ pressure1, stressful ⇨ stressful■under ˈpressure
idiom
made to feel anxious about sth that you have to do承受着（完成某事的）压力◆The team performs well under pressure.这个队在压力下表现良好。◆I don't want to put you under pressure, but...我不想给你压力，但是⋯ see also pressure ⇨ pressure1■uptight / /ˌʌpˈtaɪt/ / (informal) anxious and/or angry about sth紧张不安的；愤怒的◆She felt too uptight to do any work.她感到紧张不安，什么工作都干不了。ⓘ You can be uptight as a result of the situation you are in or because it is part of your personality and you are always that way. * uptight可以是所处情况使人紧张，或是某人个性使然，向来如此◆Relax! You're getting too uptight about this.轻松点儿！你对这事太紧张了。◆He's a very uptight person.他是非常容易紧张的人。OPPeasy-going ⇨ calmadj.
stressful
adjective
➡ See also the entry for ⇨ painful2另见painful条第2义stressful ♦︎ tense ♦︎ strained ♦︎ fraught ♦︎ anxious ♦︎ nerve-rackingThese words all describe situations, events or times that cause worry and anxiety.这些词均表示情况、事件或时期等紧张的、令人焦虑的。PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS 句型和搭配◆a stressful / tense / fraught / anxious time◆a stressful / tense / fraught meeting / situation◆a tense / strained / fraught atmosphere / silence / relationship◆a tense / an anxious wait◆emotionally stressful / tense / fraught■stressfulcausing worry and anxiety压力重的；紧张的◆a stressful job / lifestyle压力沉重的工作；紧张的生活方式◆It was a very stressful time for all of us.对我们所有人来说，那都是一个艰难的时期。 see also stress ⇨ pressure1, stressed ⇨ tense■tensein which people have strong feelings of worry or anger that often cannot be expressed openly令人焦虑的；令人紧张的；令人愤懑的◆I spent a few tense weeks waiting for the results of the tests.等候测试结果的几个星期我寝食难安。◆The atmosphere in the meeting was getting more and more tense.会议的气氛越来越紧张。 see also tense ⇨ tense, tension ⇨ pressure1, tension ⇨ tension■strainedinvolving feelings of worry or anger; not relaxed or friendly神色不宁的；紧张的；不友好的◆Relations between the two countries remain strained.两国关系依然紧张。◆The game was played in an atmosphere of strained silence.比赛是在紧张沉默的气氛中进行的。 see also strained ⇨ tense, strain ⇨ pressure1■fraught / /frɔːt/ / (especially BrE) causing or feeling worry and anxiety令人焦虑的；令人忧虑的；令人担心的◆His relationship with his mother had always been fraught.他和母亲的关系一直令人担心。◆She looked fraught.她愁容满面。NOTE辨析 Tense, strained or fraught?These words can all describe an atmosphere or relationship. Tense and strained are both used, especially in journalism, to describe formal or official relations, especially when these are outwardly polite; fraught describes more personal and emotional relationships.这三个词都可描述气氛或关系。tense和strained尤用于新闻语言中描述正式或官方关系，特别是这些关系表面上看似友好的情况；fraught描述一些更为个人或情感方面的关系。■anxious(of a time) causing anxiety; (of an expression) showing anxiety（时期）令人焦虑的；（表情）流露出忧虑的◆There were a few anxious moments during the game.比赛中有些时刻令人焦虑不安。◆There was an anxious expression on her face.她的脸上流露出忧虑的表情。 see also anxious ⇨ worried■ˈnerve-racking ( ˈnerve-wracking) (of an experience) making you feel very nervous and a little afraid（经历）令人十分紧张的，令人焦虑不安的◆My first visit was rather nerve-racking.我第一次去拜访时非常紧张。 see also nervous ⇨ worried
tighten
verb
tighten ♦︎ clench ♦︎ tense ♦︎ grit your teeth ♦︎ screw your eyes/face upThese words all mean to make sth become tight or tighter.这些词均表示使变紧、使更加牢固。PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS 句型和搭配◆to tighten / clench / tense / grit your teeth / screw your eyes up with / in pain, irritation, etc.◆to tighten / clench your hand / fist / jaw◆to tighten / tense your muscles◆to clench / grit your teeth◆your jaw / hand tightens / clenches / tenses◆your fist / stomach tightens / clenches◆your muscles tighten / tense◆to tighten / clench / tense (sth) involuntarily◆to clench / grit your teeth / screw your eyes up tight / tightly■tighten [intransitive, transitive] to become or make sth tight or tighter使变紧；使更加牢固◆His mouth tightened into a thin line.他的嘴紧抿成一道细缝。◆This tool is for tightening screws.这个工具是用来拧紧螺丝的。◆She tightened her grip on his arm.她把他的手臂抓得更紧了。◆The brake cable needs tightening up.刹车线需要调紧。OPPrelax,loosen,slacken ⇨ relax2■clench [transitive, intransitive] to press your hands, teeth or stomach muscles together tightly, usually showing that you are angry, determined or upset; (of hands, teeth or stomach muscles) to be pressed together tightly in this way（通常表示愤怒、决心或不安时）捏紧，绷紧，咬紧◆He clenched his fists in anger.他愤怒地攥紧了拳头。◆Through clenched teeth she told him to leave.她咬牙切齿地让他离开。◆His fists clenched slowly until his knuckles were white.他慢慢握紧拳头，指关节都发白了。■tense / /tens/ / [intransitive, transitive] to make your muscles tight and stiff, especially because you are not relaxed（尤指因紧张）绷紧（肌肉）；（肌肉）拉紧◆She tensed, hearing the strange noise again.再次听到那个奇怪的声音时，她紧张起来。◆He tensed himself, listening to see if anyone had followed him.他绷紧神经，仔细听是否有人跟踪自己。◆Expecting a blow, she tensed every muscle in her body.她绷紧了全身肌肉，准备接受打击。OPPrelax ⇨ relax2 see also tense ⇨ tenseadj.■grit your ˈteeth
idiom
(-tt-)to bite your teeth tightly together; to be determined to continue to do sth in a difficult or unpleasant situation咬紧牙关；下定决心；鼓起勇气◆She gritted her teeth against the pain.她咬牙忍痛。◆It started to rain harder, but we gritted our teeth and carried on.雨开始大起来，可我们鼓起勇气继续进行。NOTE辨析 Grit your teeth or clench your teeth?Grit your teethis used especially to talk about showing determination; clench your teeth is used more often to talk about keeping your mouth tightly shut in order to avoid making a noise such as shouting with anger or pain, or in order to stop your teeth from knocking together because you are cold or frightened. * grit your teeth尤用于显示决心；clench your teeth更常指闭紧嘴巴，以避免因愤怒或痛苦而喊出声，或避免因寒冷或害怕而牙齿打颤。■ˌscrew your ˈeyes up■ˌscrew your ˈface up
idiom
to tighten the muscles of your eyes or face, for example because the light is too strong, you are in pain or you don't like the taste or look of sth（因光线太强、疼痛或厌恶等）瞇起眼睛，面容扭曲◆He took a sip of the medicine and screwed up his face.他喝了一小口药，脸扭作一团。