gear

noun

/ɡɪə(r)/

/ɡɪr/

Idioms

in vehicle

[countable, usually plural] equipment in a vehicle that changes the relation between engine speed (or pedal speed on a bicycle) and the speed of the wheels moving forwards or backwards排挡；齿轮；传动装置

Careless use of the clutch may damage the gears.离合器使用不慎可能会损坏传动装置。
The car pulled up with a screech of brakes and a grinding of gears.伴随着一阵刺耳的刹车声和齿轮的摩擦声，汽车停了下来。

Topics Transport by car or lorryc1

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective

bottom
top
high
…

verb + gear

engage
select
change
…

gear + noun

change
lever
shift
…

preposition

in (a/the) gear
out of gear

[uncountable, countable] a particular position of the gears in a vehicle that gives a particular range of speed and power挡

first/second, etc. gear一挡、二挡等
reverse gear倒挡
low/high gear低速／高速挡
(British English) bottom/top gear最低／最高挡
(British English) to change gear换挡
(North American English) to shift gear换挡
in gear When parking on a hill, leave the car in gear.在斜坡停车时把汽车挂上挡。
What gear are you in?你挂的是几挡？
He drove wildly, crashing through the gears like a maniac.他开车很野，发疯似的啪啦啪啦地换挡。

Collocations DrivingDrivingHaving a car

have/own/(British English) run a car
ride a motorcycle/motorbike
drive/prefer/use an automatic/a manual/(North American English, informal) a stick shift
have/get your car serviced/fixed/repaired
buy/sell a used car/(especially British English) a second-hand car
take/pass/fail a (British English) driving test/(both North American English) driver’s test/road test
get/obtain/have/lose/carry a/your (British English) driving licence/(North American English) driver’s license

Driving

put on/fasten/(North American English) buckle/wear/undo your seat belt/safety belt
put/turn/leave the key in the ignition
start the car/engine
(British English) change/(North American English) shift/put something into gear
press/put your foot on the brake pedal/clutch/accelerator
release the clutch/(especially British English) the handbrake/(both North American English) the emergency brake/the parking brake
drive/park/reverse the car
(British English) indicate left/right
(especially North American English) signal that you are turning left/right
take/miss (British English) the turning/(especially North American English) the turn
apply/hit/slam on the brake(s)
beep/honk/(especially British English) toot/(British English) sound your horn

Problems and accidents

a car skids/crashes (into something)/collides (with something)
swerve to avoid an oncoming car/a pedestrian
crash/lose control of the car
have/be in/be killed in/survive a car crash/a car accident/(North American English) a car wreck/a hit-and-run
be run over/knocked down by a car/bus/truck
dent/hit (British English) the bonnet/(North American English) the hood
break/crack/shatter (British English) the windscreen/(North American English) the windshield
blow/(especially British English) burst/puncture (British English) a tyre/(North American English) a tire
get/have (British English) a flat tyre/a flat tire/a puncture
inflate/change/fit/replace/check a tyre/tire

Traffic and driving regulations

be caught in/get stuck in/sit in a traffic jam
cause congestion/tailbacks/traffic jams/gridlock
experience/face lengthy delays
beat/avoid the traffic/the rush hour
break/observe/(North American English) drive the speed limit
be caught on (British English) a speed camera
stop somebody for/pull somebody over for/(British English, informal) be done for speeding
(both informal) run/(British English) jump a red light/the lights
be arrested for/charged with (British English) drink-driving/(both US English) driving under the influence (DUI)/driving while intoxicated (DWI)
be banned/(British English) disqualified from driving

equipment/clothes

[uncountable] the equipment or clothing needed for a particular activity（某种活动的）设备，用具，衣服

climbing/fishing/sports gear登山／钓鱼／运动装备

possessions

[uncountable] (informal) the things that a person owns所有物；财物

I've left all my gear at Dave's house.我把我所有的东西都留在戴夫家了。

machinery

[uncountable] (often in compounds) a machine used for a particular purpose（特定用途的）器械，装置

lifting/towing/winding gear起重／牵引／卷扬装置

speed/effort

[uncountable, countable] used to talk about the speed or effort involved in doing something（做事的）速度，努力

(British English) The party organization is moving into top gear as the election approaches.随着选举的临近，这个政党的组织工作正在紧锣密鼓地进行。
(North American English) to move into high gear进入高速发展
Coming out of the final bend, the runner stepped up a gear to overtake the rest of the pack.那名赛跑选手绕过最后一个弯道后开始加速，以图超越同组的其他选手。
He found it hard to switch gears when he retired.他退休后发现很难改变生活节奏。

drugs

[uncountable] (slang) illegal drugs毒品

Word OriginMiddle English: of Scandinavian origin; compare with Old Norse gervi. Early senses expressed the general meaning ‘equipment or apparatus’, later ‘mechanism’: hence sense (1) (early 19th cent.).

Idioms

get your ass in gear | move your ass (North American English)

(British English get your arse in gear, move your arse )

(offensive, slang) a rude way of telling somebody to hurry别磨磨蹭蹭的；赶快
- If you get your ass in gear, we can make it out of here tonight.如果你全力以赴，我们今晚就可以离开这里。

get into gear | get something into gear

to start working, or to start something working, in an efficient way（使）开始工作，进入有效工作状态

(slip/be thrown) out of gear

(of emotions or situations) (to become) out of control失去控制
- She said nothing in case her temper slipped out of gear.她什么都没说，免得按捺不住情绪。