A vise is a heavy tool fixed to a workbench, with two flat metal jaws that you close by turning a screw handle. It grips a piece of wood or metal tightly so it cannot move while you saw it, file it, or drill it. Think of it as a strong extra hand that never gets tired.

A vise這個字講的是 is a heavy tool一個固定在工作檯上的重型工具, fixed to a workbench, with two flat metal jaws有兩片平的金屬夾片 that you close by turning a screw handle靠轉螺絲把手來夾緊. It grips它會夾住 a piece of wood or metal tightly一塊木頭或金屬並夾得很緊 so it cannot move讓它不會動 while you saw it, file it, or drill it在你鋸、銼或鑽它的時候. Think of it as你可以把它想成 a strong extra hand一隻強壯的多出來的手 that never gets tired永遠不會累。

The only thing to know about the spelling: Americans write vise for the tool, and British writers usually write vice. Same tool, same sound.

The only thing to know about the spelling拼法上唯一要知道的是：Americans write vise美式英文寫 vise for the tool來指這個工具, and British writers usually write vice而英式作者通常寫 vice. Same tool, same sound同一個工具、同一個發音。

British English uses vice for both the tool AND the meaning 'a bad habit or moral fault' (smoking is his only vice), which is a completely different word with a different history. American English keeps them apart in writing — vise = tool, vice = bad habit — which is honestly tidier.

British English英式英文 uses vice用 vice 這個字 for both the tool AND the meaning既指這個工具也指 'a bad habit or moral fault'『壞習慣或道德缺陷』的意思 (smoking is his only vice像 smoking is his only vice 這樣的例子), which is a completely different word with a different history這其實是歷史完全不同的另一個字. American English美式英文 keeps them apart in writing則在拼法上把它們分開 — vise = tool vise 指工具, vice = bad habit vice 指壞習慣 — which is honestly tidier這樣其實更清楚。

It is used as a verb too, though less often: to vise something is to hold it in the vise.

It is used as a verb too它也可以當動詞用, though less often不過比較少見: to vise something用 vise 當動詞 is to hold it in the vise就是把某個東西夾在虎鉗裡。

You also hear it as an image for anything that squeezes and will not let go: 'his hand closed on my wrist like a vise', 'the country was caught in a vise between two armies'. That is common in newspapers and novels.

You also hear it你也會聽到它 as an image for anything that squeezes and will not let go被用來比喻任何緊夾住不放的東西: 'his hand closed on my wrist like a vise'像『his hand closed on my wrist like a vise』, 'the country was caught in a vise between two armies'或『the country was caught in a vise between two armies』這樣的例子. That is common那很常見 in newspapers and novels在報紙和小說裡。