核心畫面

Think of looking at something from the side, along the ground. A profile is the outline you see. When that outline sits low, your eye passes straight over it — the thing is there, it just does not stick up, so nothing catches your attention.

可以想成你蹲低,從側面沿著地平線看過去。看到的那道輪廓,就是 profile。當輪廓壓得很低,你的視線會直接滑過去。更多收起可以想成你蹲低,從側面沿著地平線看過去。看到的那道輪廓,就是 profile。當輪廓壓得很低,你的視線會直接滑過去。東西還在那裡,只是沒有凸出來,所以沒有東西勾住你的目光。low-profile 的兩個意思都從這道低低的輪廓長出來:一個講的是真的矮,一個講的是不引人注意。

Two branches

不引人注意:把存在感壓低

把「輪廓很低、視線滑過去」搬到人和組織身上,變成存在感的高低。

adjective · B2

Getting very little public attention, or not wanting any — used about a person, a job, a company, a visit, or the part someone plays in something.

低調的

做得比較矮:真的高度

同一道輪廓,但沒有轉成比喻——量得出來的那種低。字典把這個用法標為英式英文比較常見。

adjective · C1

Made lower than the usual shape of the same kind of thing — said most often of tyres, which have a short side between the wheel and the road.

低扁型的