摘要：“third wheel”的核心含义是“在两人关系或双人活动中多余的人，尤指妨碍情侣相处的‘电灯泡’”，强调“不必要、多余且可能干扰他人互动”的属性，无贬义但带明显“尴尬感”。

“third wheel”的核心含义是“在两人关系或双人活动中多余的人，尤指妨碍情侣相处的‘电灯泡’”，强调“不必要、多余且可能干扰他人互动”的属性，无贬义但带明显“尴尬感”。

该短语源于“两轮交通工具的物理特性”：自行车、马车等传统交通工具仅需两个轮子即可稳定行驶，若额外添加“第三个轮子”，不仅无实际作用，还会增加阻力、影响平衡。20世纪初，英语中开始将这一物理现象类比“人际关系”——当两人（尤其情侣）互动时，额外加入的人如同“第三个轮子”般多余，后逐渐成为口语中常用的表达。

例：

The two major parties were negotiating a deal, and the small party felt like a third wheel in the discussion.

两大政党在协商协议，小党觉得自己在讨论中是多余的一方。

The group project was designed for two students, so when a third joined, he became a third wheel.

这个小组作业是为两名学生设计的，所以当第三名学生加入后，他就成了多余的人。

When my parents talk about their memories, I always leave because I don’t want to be a third wheel。

爸妈聊回忆时，我总会走开，因为不想当多余的人。

I don’t want to be a third wheel when Lucy and Mike go on a date.

露西和迈克约会时，我可不想当电灯泡。

When the couple talked about their future plans, his mother felt like a third wheel and left quietly.

这对夫妻讨论未来计划时，他母亲觉得自己是多余的人，悄悄离开了。

She asked her friend not to join them for dinner—she didn’t want a third wheel around.

她让朋友别来一起吃晚饭——她不想身边有个电灯泡。

The two companies had already agreed on the cooperation terms, so the third firm that wanted to join was a third wheel.

两家公司已就合作条款达成一致，因此想加入的第三家公司成了多余的角色。

He realized he was a third wheel when his sister and her boyfriend kept talking privately, so he walked away.

当他妹妹和男友一直私下聊天时，他意识到自己是电灯泡，于是走开了。

The two units were assigned to coordinate the attack, and the additional squad turned out to be a third wheel.

两个部队被指派协调进攻，额外的小队最终成了多余的力量。

When the couple started talking about their wedding plans, I quickly excused myself because I didn’t want to be a third wheel.

当这对情侣开始聊他们的婚礼计划时，我赶紧找借口离开了，因为我不想当电灯泡。(2024年考研英语一翻译题)

来源：翅膀英语一点号