on the bubble

介词短语
中文释义

英文释义

介词短语
  1. Holding the last qualifying position with qualification still in progress, and thus liable to lose that position.
    — Smith was on the bubble but lost out when Jones was faster by a tenth of a second.
  2. Having qualification for an event depend on the upcoming performances of other competitors; hence, at risk of being eliminated, and reversely, being close to qualification; on the verge.
    — The Knights had been on the bubble for the tournament, but played their way in by winning their last five games.
  3. Uncertain of success. idiomatic
    — The new bond issue now appears to be on the bubble, with support eroding.
  4. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see on, bubble.
    — Among other aspects of bubble measurement, the researchers were interested in measuring the size of the bubble with a laser scattering technique. A laser is shone on the bubble, which scatters the light.

词源

First appears in the US, c. the late 20th century, from the state of Indiana motor racing.
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