If something is free-floating, it is not tied to a particular thing, place, or cause — not connected to or steered by anything you can point to.

If something is free-floating如果某個東西是free-floating的， it is not tied to a particular thing, place, or cause就表示它沒有綁定在特定的事物、地方或原因上—— not connected to or steered by anything you can point to沒有被你能指出來的任何東西牽動或掌控。

People use it a lot about feelings: free-floating anxiety is worry that hangs in the air without a clear object (“I’m afraid, but I can’t say of what”). Ideas, rumours, and loyalties can be free-floating too: they have not been pinned to a plan, a group, or a fact yet.

People use it a lot about feelings這個詞常用來講情緒： free-floating anxiety is worry that hangs in the air without a clear objectfree-floating anxiety是指懸在那裡、沒有明確對象的擔心（「I'm afraid, but I can't say of what」我很害怕，但說不出在怕什麼）。 Ideas, rumours, and loyalties can be free-floating too想法、謠言、忠誠也可以是free-floating的： they have not been pinned to a plan, a group, or a fact yet它們還沒被固定在某個計畫、團體或事實上。

Though actually, the picture underneath is still physical — something that floats and is not fixed — so you will also meet it of plants, cells, or objects that are not rooted or anchored.

Though actually不過其實， the picture underneath is still physical底層的畫面還是很物理的—— something that floats and is not fixed就是漂浮著、沒有固定住的東西—— so you will also meet it of plants, cells, or objects that are not rooted or anchored所以你也會看到它用在沒有生根或沒有固定住的植物、細胞或物體上。

In careful writing the hyphen is normal. It is a bit formal; in casual speech someone might just say the feeling “came from nowhere”.

In careful writing在講究一點的寫作裡， the hyphen is normal加連字號是正常的。 It is a bit formal這個詞有點正式； in casual speech在輕鬆的口語裡， someone might just say the feeling "came from nowhere"有人可能只會說這種感覺「came from nowhere」（不知從哪來的）。