| 释义 |
fifth wheel
fifth wheeln.1. a. A wheel or portion of a wheel placed horizontally over the forward axle of a carriage to provide support and stability during turns.b. A similar device over the rear axle or axles of a tractor or pickup truck, serving as a coupling for a semitrailer.2. An additional wheel carried on a four-wheeled vehicle as a spare.3. An extra and unnecessary person or thing.fifth wheel n 1. (Mechanical Engineering) a spare wheel for a four-wheeled vehicle 2. (Mechanical Engineering) a. the coupling table of an articulated vehicleb. a steering bearing that enables the front axle of a horse-drawn vehicle to rotate relative to the body 3. a superfluous or unnecessary person or thing fifth′ wheel′
n. 1. a horizontal ring or segment of a ring, consisting of two bands that slide on each other, placed above the front axle of a carriage and designed to support the forepart of the body while allowing it to turn freely in a horizontal plane. 2. a superfluous or unwanted person or thing. [1870–75] Fifth wheelBefore the advent of trucks, the fifth wheel was a semicircular iron ring attached to a wagon’s front axle to give additional support to the rest of the Running gear as the axle pivoted during turns.Thesaurus| Noun | 1. |  fifth wheel - someone or something that is unwanted and unneededdeadwoodredundance, redundancy - the attribute of being superfluous and unneeded; "the use of industrial robots created redundancy among workers" | | 2. | fifth wheel - an extra car wheel and tire for a four-wheel vehiclesparecar wheel - a wheel that has a tire and rim and hubcap; used to propel the car | | 3. | fifth wheel - a steering bearing that enables the front axle of a horse-drawn wagon to rotatebearing - a rotating support placed between moving parts to allow them to move easily |
Translationsfifth wheel
fifth wheelSomeone who has no real place or purpose in a situation, likened to a superfluous extra wheel on a four-wheeled vehicle. I didn't realize that the party was for couples only, so when I showed up alone, I felt like a fifth wheel.See also: fifth, wheelfifth wheelFig. an unwelcome or extra person. I don't like living with my son and daughter-in-law. I feel like a fifth wheel. Bill always begs to come on camping trips with us, but really, he's a fifth wheel.See also: fifth, wheelfifth wheelAn extra and unnecessary person or thing, as in He was the only one without a date, so he felt like a fifth wheel. This expression, which alludes to an unneeded wheel on a four-wheel vehicle, may have originated as long ago as 1631, when Thomas Dekker wrote Match Me in London: "Thou tiest but wings to a swift gray Hounds heel, And addest to a running Chariot a fifth wheel." See also: fifth, wheela fifth wheel or a third wheel AMERICANA fifth wheel or a third wheel in a situation is someone who is not needed or wanted there. As a single person, you're somewhat of a third wheel when traveling with couples. I just wanted to feel like part of the family instead of a fifth wheel. I wanted to feel like I belonged! Note: A fifth wheel on a car or a third wheel on a bicycle would be unnecessary. See also: fifth, wheela fifth/third ˈwheel (American English) an unwanted, extra or unnecessary person: No, I don’t think I’ll join you. Whenever I go out with you guys I just feel like a fifth wheel.This refers to adding an extra unnecessary wheel to a vehicle.See also: fifth, third, wheelfifth wheel n. an extra and unneeded person. I feel like such a fifth wheel around here. See also: fifth, wheelfifth wheelAn unneeded extra, a superfluous person or thing. This expression was already listed as a proverb in the sixteenth century in a French collection; in its complete form it pointed out that the fifth wheel on a wagon does nothing but impede it (C. B. Bouelles, Proverbia Vulgaria, 1531). Thomas Dekker repeated it in a play (Match Me in London, 1631, Act I), again in fairly literal fashion: “Thou tyest but wings to a swift gray hounds heele, and addest to a running charriot a fift Wheele.” But it also was being used figuratively during this period, and has continued to be ever since.See also: fifth, wheelfifth wheel
fifth wheel[¦fifth ¦wēl] (mechanical engineering) A coupling device in the form of two horizontal disks that rotate on each other positioned between a tractor and a semitrailer so that they can change direction independently. AcronymsSeefreewarefifth wheel
Synonyms for fifth wheelnoun someone or something that is unwanted and unneededSynonymsRelated Wordsnoun an extra car wheel and tire for a four-wheel vehicleSynonymsRelated Wordsnoun a steering bearing that enables the front axle of a horse-drawn wagon to rotateRelated Words |