歡迎收聽《Words We Use》系列第二季，透過雙語學習，認識一些常用的英語成語 (idioms)，令日常英文會話更自然和有趣。今集我們會學習如何使用 'On the back foot'。
On the back foot — 你可能會在足球比賽中聽到。從字面意思來看，在足球場上，若一名球員或一支球隊處於 on the back foot，即表示他們正承受壓力，並且難以掌控局勢。
而在日常英語中，當我們形容某人 on the back foot，通常是指他們處於劣勢，或者未有充分準備。
今天，我們一起看看這句說話在不同情境下的用法。
你可以在足球場上用它來形容一名球員被對手壓制：
- Lucas has got James on the back foot - he’s too quick for him to handle!
這句亦可以用來形容一支球隊在比賽中受壓：
- Barcelona played very well in the first half, but now, Real Madrid has them on the back foot!
在工作環境中，當事情進展不順利時，也可以用這句說話：
- We always seem to be on the back foot these days, our competition are doing much better than us.
你亦可以在會議後，用來形容自己當時未有做好準備：
- I felt a bit on the back foot in that meeting because I didn’t really have all the facts in front of me.
這句說話亦可用來表示自己對某件事情毫無準備，例如在辯論中：
- I wasn’t expecting him to ask me about that topic. He put me on the back foot for the rest of my speech!
點擊此處收聽《Words We Use》完整系列！
Credits
Host: Winnie Wong
Written by: Nick Pagano
Graphic design: Dory Wang
Educational consultant: Professor Lynda Yates
Produced by: Dory Wang
Thanks also to the learners from SisterWorks in Springvale, Victoria.
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