Phrase
ticked over
空转
ticked over is the past of tick over.
- 1.
to idle (to run at a slow speed, or out of gear).
空转
- 2.
To run smoothly and without problems.
平稳运行无问题
平稳运行无问题；踌躇；吞吞吐吐
In use
The old shop still ticks over, but the owner only opens it for two hours each morning.
The research project was ticking over until the funding stopped.
I'm not sure if the business will grow; it's only just ticking over at the moment.
subject + tick over
The old engine ticked over in the garage.
旧引擎在车库里慢吞吞地运转。
subject + be ticking over
The company is ticking over despite the recession.
尽管经济衰退，公司仍在缓慢运营。
keep + object + ticking over
常用于维持某个系统或活动的低水平运转。
We need to keep the project ticking over until more funds arrive.
我们需要让项目缓慢运行，直到更多资金到位。
tick over + adverb
The business ticked over steadily all year.
生意全年都平稳地慢速运转。
Common mistakes
He ticked over the car engine.He let the car engine tick over.
“tick over”是不及物短语动词，不能直接跟宾语。表示让发动机缓慢运转时，需用“let something tick over”或调整句式。
He will tick over the project next week.He will take over the project next week.
“tick over”意为“缓慢运转”或“慢吞吞地进行”，没有“接管”的意思。因发音相似，学习者易误用“take over”为“tick over”，应使用“take over”表示接管。
Connections
Confusing words
Word family
- ticks over
- third person singular
- ticked over
- past, past participle
- ticking over
- present participle
Learner notes
Grammar Note
British, informal
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 ECDICT, WIKTIONARY.