核心畫面

Picture a plane above an airport that is not allowed to land yet. It cannot stop in the air, so it flies a long slow oval and comes back over the same bay, the same bridge, again and again. Nothing has gone wrong. It is simply being kept there, in a safe agreed shape, until someone on the ground says it can come in. That is the picture inside holding pattern: still moving, still fine, but not getting anywhere, and not allowed to decide when that ends.

可以想成一架飛機在機場上空,還不能降落。它沒辦法停在空中,所以就繞一個又長又慢的橢圓形,一次又一次飛過同一個海灣、同更多收起可以想成一架飛機在機場上空,還不能降落。它沒辦法停在空中,所以就繞一個又長又慢的橢圓形,一次又一次飛過同一個海灣、同一座橋。沒有任何事情出錯。它只是被留在那裡,照一個安全、講好的形狀飛,等地面的人說可以進來。holding pattern 的畫面大概就是這樣:還在動,也沒事,但就是沒有前進,而且結束的時間不是自己說了算。

One branch

還在動,但沒有前進

兩個意思用的是同一幅畫面,只是繞圈的東西從飛機換成了人和計畫。

noun · B2

The path an aircraft flies round and round in the air above an airport while it waits for permission to land.

等待航線(盤旋待降)