核心畫面

Picture a string pulled out long and tight, stretched to where one more pull would snap it. Both uses of strung-out describe a person in that state: stretched past the point where they can work normally. In one, a drug has done the stretching; in the other, weeks of pressure and lost sleep have. This is a way of holding the two meanings together, not a claim about where the word came from.

可以想成一條繩子被拉得又長又緊,再多一點力就會斷。strung-out 的兩個用法,都在描述一個被拉到這種程度的人:更多收起可以想成一條繩子被拉得又長又緊,再多一點力就會斷。strung-out 的兩個用法,都在描述一個被拉到這種程度的人:已經撐到沒辦法正常運作。一個是藥物把他拉成這樣,另一個是連續好幾週的壓力和睡眠不足把他拉成這樣。兩邊的共同點,是那種「還撐著,但快到底了」的樣子。這只是一個方便記住兩個意思的畫面,不是在說這個字的來歷。

Two branches

被壓力拉到極限

這一邊是日常生活把人拉緊:事情一件接一件,睡不夠又放不下心。

adjective · C1

Very tired and worried at the same time, usually after a long stretch of pressure, so that you feel close to your limit.

疲憊緊繃

被藥物拉住

這一邊是藥物把人拉住:不是暫時的疲倦,而是整個反應都被扯慢了。

adjective · C1

Not able to think, speak or move normally because a drug is having a strong effect on you.

因藥物而恍惚的