Throes means violent struggling or great pain — but you will almost never meet the word on its own. It lives inside the phrase 'in the throes of something', which means you are right in the middle of something hard, and it is not finished with you yet.

Throes means violent struggling or great painthroes 的意思是劇烈的掙扎或極大的痛苦 but you will almost never meet the word on its own但你幾乎不會單獨遇到這個字。It lives inside the phrase 'in the throes of something'它活在「in the throes of something」這個片語裡 which means you are right in the middle of something hard意思是你正處在一件難熬的事情正中間 and it is not finished with you yet而且這件事還沒放過你。

A country in the throes of a crisis, a company in the throes of a big change, a family in the throes of moving house. The picture behind the word is a body twisting in pain, so it always carries the feeling of a struggle you cannot simply step out of.

A country in the throes of a crisis一個正陷在危機煎熬中的國家 a company in the throes of a big change一間正經歷劇變煎熬的公司 a family in the throes of moving house一個正被搬家搞得焦頭爛額的家庭。The picture behind the word is a body twisting in pain這個字背後的畫面是一個因痛苦而扭動的身體 so it always carries the feeling of a struggle you cannot simply step out of所以它總帶著一種「掙脫不了」的掙扎感。

It is only plural — we say throes, not 'a throe'.

It is only plural它只有複數形 we say throes我們說 throes not 'a throe'不說「a throe」。

It is a written, slightly dramatic word: newspapers, books, serious speeches. In everyday talk people would just say 'in the middle of'.

It is a written, slightly dramatic word這是個書面、帶點戲劇性的字 newspapers, books, serious speeches出現在報紙、書籍、正式演講裡。In everyday talk日常對話裡 people would just say 'in the middle of'大家就只會說「in the middle of」。

Two things worth knowing. First, 'death throes' is a set phrase — the last struggles of a dying person or animal, and often used for a dying idea or business. Second, people now use 'in the throes of' quite loosely, even for happy busy things ('in the throes of planning the wedding'), which older speakers find odd, but you will see it.

Two things worth knowing有兩件事值得知道。First第一 'death throes' is a set phrase「death throes」是個固定片語 the last struggles of a dying person or animal指瀕死之人或動物最後的掙扎 and often used for a dying idea or business也常用來講一個快消亡的想法或企業。Second第二 people now use 'in the throes of' quite loosely現在人們用「in the throes of」用得相當鬆散 even for happy busy things甚至用在忙碌但開心的事情上 ('in the throes of planning the wedding')（像「in the throes of planning the wedding」正忙著籌備婚禮） which older speakers find odd這讓年紀較長的人覺得怪 but you will see it但你還是會看到這種用法。