straddle

/'strædl/

Thân thiện

A gymnast performs a straddle on the parallel bars.

Definition

1. Verb:

   • To sit or stand with one leg on each side of something: The most common meaning, describing a physical position where a person or object has a part on either side of an object or line.
   • To extend over or across a space or area: To cover or exist on both sides of a boundary or within a range.
   • To appear to favor or support both sides of an issue; to be noncommittal: To avoid taking a clear position or decision.

2. Noun:

   • The act or position of sitting or standing astride: The physical posture of having legs on either side.
   • A financial option strategy: An investment position involving the purchase or sale of both a put and a call option on the same asset with the same strike price and expiration date.
   • A noncommittal or equivocal position: A stance of deliberate ambiguity or neutrality.

Usage Examples

• Verb:

  • He had to straddle the wide ditch to cross it. (Physical position)
  • The mountain range straddles the border between the two countries. (Extending over an area)
  • The politician tried to straddle the issue, refusing to give a direct answer. (Being noncommittal)

• Noun:

  • She sat in a wide straddle on the bench. (Physical posture)
  • The trader used a long straddle to profit from expected market volatility. (Finance)
  • His straddle on the policy debate frustrated both parties. (Noncommittal stance)

Advanced Usage

• "To straddle the fence": An idiom meaning to remain neutral or undecided in a dispute or argument; to avoid taking sides.
  • The company continues to straddle the fence on the environmental regulations.

Variants and Related Words

• Straddler (n): A person who straddles, especially in a noncommittal sense.
  • He was known as a political straddler.

Synonyms

• Bestride (v): To sit or stand with a leg on each side of; to straddle. (More literary)
• Span (v): To extend across (a space or period).
• Hedge (v): To avoid committing oneself; to limit risk. (For the noncommittal/financial sense)

Related Phrasal Verbs

(This word does not commonly form phrasal verbs. Its meanings are typically expressed directly.)

Related Idioms

• "Straddle the issue/line/fence": To be deliberately ambiguous or to try to support both sides of an argument.
  • The candidate's attempt to straddle the line on tax reform pleased no one.

Học thuật

Noun

1. the option to buy or sell a given stock (or stock index or commodity future) at a given price before a given date; consists of an equal number of put and call options
2. the act of sitting or standing astride
3. a gymnastic exercise performed with a leg on either side of the parallel bars
4. a noncommittal or equivocal position

Verb

1. be noncommittal
2. range or extend over; occupy a certain area
   • The plants straddle the entire state
3. sit or stand astride of

Từ đồng nghĩa

• span
• range