Word · CEFR A2 · Frequency #7908
roundabout
迂回的；拐弯抹角的
Indirect or circuitous; not saying something directly in speech or behaviour.
- 1.
Indirect, circuitous, or circumlocutionary.
间接的、迂回的或兜圈子的。
- 2.
Encircling; enveloping; comprehensive.
环绕的；包罗的；全面的。
- 3.
marked by obliqueness or indirection in speech or conduct
委婉的
环绕的；包罗的；间接的、迂回的或兜圈子的。；环绕的；包罗的；全面的。；委婉的
In use
He took a roundabout route to avoid traffic.
She gave a roundabout answer instead of a direct one.
The discussion took a roundabout path before reaching a conclusion.
a roundabout paragraph
hear in a roundabout way that her ex-husband was marrying her best friend
roundabout way of doing sth
He found a roundabout way of solving the problem.
他找到了一个迂回解决问题的方法。
take a roundabout route
We took a roundabout route to avoid traffic.
Connections
Collocations
- in a roundabout way
- 拐弯抹角地；迂回地
- She hinted at the problem in a roundabout way.她拐弯抹角地暗示了这个问题。
- roundabout route
- 迂回的路线；绕远的路
- The driver took a roundabout route to avoid the city center.司机绕道而行，避开了市中心。
- roundabout answer
- 拐弯抹角的回答；不直接的答复
- Politicians often give roundabout answers to direct questions.政客们常常对直接的问题给出拐弯抹角的回答。
- roundabout approach
- 迂回的办法；间接的方法
- The teacher used a roundabout approach to get the students interested in grammar.老师用一种迂回的办法激发学生对语法的兴趣。
- roundabout expression
- 迂回的表达；委婉的说法
- In formal writing, avoid roundabout expressions and be concise.在正式写作中，要避免迂回的表达，做到简洁。
Learner notes
Memory Tip
联想 round（绕圈）+ about（周围）：绕着圈子走路或说话，就是“迂回、拐弯抹角”的。
Context & Register
语域：neutral 常见场景：路线说明、婉转陈述 这个形容词通常用于描述路线或说话方式，多出现在书面语或较正式的口语中，实际使用时比直接、简洁的说法更显得委婉。
Pronunciation & Spelling
All listed words end in the /aʊt/ sound and rhyme with the final syllable of 'roundabout' (the '-bout' part); 'about' also matches the exact ending spelling. Note: US 'route' can be /raʊt/ to rhyme, but British 'route' is usually /ruːt/ and does not rhyme. Beware also 'bought' (/bɔːt/) and 'thought' (/θɔːt/), which look similar to 'out' but are pronounced differently.
Usage priority
Collins 词频等级为 1，建议结合例句记忆，而不是只背中文释义。
Learn the forms together
页面下方列出了常见词形变化。学习时注意它们在句子中的语法位置。
Dictionary facts from DICTIONARY_API_DEV, ECDICT, WIKTIONARY.