high-strung的意思|示意

High-strung, often used in North America, is an adjective that describes someone who is easily or excessively excited, tense, and nervous. You may also hear it used to describe someone as prone to moody behavior or emotional outbursts. It is even sometimes used to describe an animal that is skittish, overly sensitive, and prone to panic.

High-strung is an interesting expression that has been used since the mid-1800s. By that time, it had become associated with horses, especially ones that were too excitable or nervous.

Imagine a horse getting excited at the very thought of a race starting. Its energy is so high that it could run for days without tiring. That horse might be described as “high-strung”, as it is too excited and nervous to be able to focus on the task at hand.

As time went on, people started to use the term “high-strung” to describe people in the same way that they might describe horses. Someone who is “high-strung” will often be easily excitable and feel tense or nervous in any type of situation. They may also be prone to emotional outbursts or moody behavior.

In modern usage, the term “high-strung” is often used to describe someone who is constantly on edge, anxious, and flighty. This type of person may be prone to quick changes in mood and high levels of emotional reactivity.

So, in summary, if you know someone who is easily or excessively excited, tense, and nervous, you can describe them as “high-strung”.