Phrase
fifth wheel
/fɪfθ hwiːl/
noun
多余的人（或物）；累赘
someone or something that is unwanted and unneeded
- 1.
someone or something that is unwanted and unneeded
多余且不需要的人或事
- 2.
an extra car wheel and tire for a four-wheel vehicle
四轮车辆的备用车轮和轮胎
- 3.
a steering bearing that enables the front axle of a horse-drawn wagon to rotate
使马车前轴旋转的转向轴承
备用车轮；备胎；转向轴承；多余且不需要的人或事；四轮车辆的备用车轮和轮胎；使马车前轴旋转的转向轴承
In use
At the party, I felt like a fifth wheel because all my friends were in couples.
In our team project, the new intern seemed like a fifth wheel since we already had enough people.
After installing the trailer hitch, my old bike became a fifth wheel in the garage.
feel like a fifth wheel
常用于描述在群体中感到不被需要或尴尬。
I felt like a fifth wheel at the party.
在派对上我觉得自己像个多余的人。
be a fifth wheel
可直接描述某人或某物是多余的。
He is always the fifth wheel in our group.
他在我们组里总是多余的那个人。
consider someone a fifth wheel
用于表达认为某人不必要。
Connections
Confusing words
- third wheel
- 多余的人 · fifth wheel 指整体上多余的人或物；third wheel 特指在两人约会或活动中多余的人，常用于浪漫场合
- spare wheel
- 备胎 · fifth wheel 用喻义指多余的人/物；spare wheel 本义是汽车备胎，口语中也可指备用的人（如备胎男友），但更常用本义
Word family
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, WIKTIONARY.