muscle
High (B1+)Neutral to formal; extended metaphorical uses are common in journalism, business, and politics.
Definition
Meaning
A band or bundle of fibrous tissue in a human or animal body that has the ability to contract, producing movement in or maintaining the position of parts of the body.
Strength or power; also used metaphorically to refer to influence, authority, or a show of force, especially in a group or organizational context (e.g., political muscle).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word has shifted from its original anatomical meaning (Latin 'musculus' meaning 'little mouse', perhaps from the shape of certain muscles) to encompass metaphorical meanings of strength, power, and influence. In plural form ('muscles'), it often refers to physical strength or physique.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling and some compound terms. The verb form 'to muscle in/out' is used in both, but slightly more common in AmE. The metaphorical use (e.g., 'political muscle', 'financial muscle') is equally common.
Connotations
In both, it can connote physical strength, effort, or coercive power. 'Muscle car' is strongly associated with American automotive culture.
Frequency
The term is highly frequent in both varieties. The spelling 'muscle' is universal; no variation like 'muscel' exists.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
muscle + in/into (to force one's way into)muscle + out (to force someone out)muscle + through (to force something to happen)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “muscle memory”
- “not move a muscle”
- “pull a muscle”
- “flex one's muscles (metaphorical)”
- “muscle in on something”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
e.g., 'The company used its financial muscle to acquire the competitor.' (Metaphorical: power/influence)
Academic
e.g., 'The study examined the effects of ageing on skeletal muscle mass.' (Biological/anatomical)
Everyday
e.g., 'I've got a sore muscle in my back from gardening.' (Physical body part/ailment)
Technical
e.g., 'The contraction is initiated by an action potential in the muscle fibre.' (Medical/physiological)
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He tried to muscle in on their family business.
- The new regulations were muscled through parliament.
American English
- The gang muscled out the local competition.
- He muscled his way to the front of the queue.
adverb
British English
- No standard adverbial form. 'Muscularly' is extremely rare/technical.
- No standard adverbial form. 'Muscularly' is extremely rare/technical.
American English
- No standard adverbial form. 'Muscularly' is extremely rare/technical.
- No standard adverbial form. 'Muscularly' is extremely rare/technical.
adjective
British English
- It was a muscle-bound action hero.
- She suffered a muscle-wasting disease.
American English
- He drives a classic muscle car.
- The team lacks muscle memory for this play.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My leg muscle hurts.
- Dogs have strong muscles.
- You need to exercise to build muscle.
- He pulled a muscle in his shoulder while playing tennis.
- The company used its economic muscle to influence the decision.
- After the injury, it took months to rebuild the muscle strength in her arm.
- The activist group lacks the political muscle to effect change at a national level.
- Critics accused the conglomerate of muscling in on the emerging market with predatory pricing.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a MOUSE (from Latin 'musculus') running under your skin when a muscle twitches. Or: You need MUSCLE to MOVE a CYCLE.
Conceptual Metaphor
STRENGTH IS MUSCLE / POWER IS MUSCLE (e.g., 'show some muscle in the negotiations', 'the muscle behind the operation').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'мускул' (musculus) which is a rarer, more scientific term. The common Russian equivalent is 'мышца'.
- The verb 'to muscle in' does not translate directly to a single Russian verb; use phrases like 'внедриться силой', 'пролезть'.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling: 'mucle', 'musle'.
- Incorrect plural for the body part: 'muscles' (correct).
- Using 'muscle' as a countable noun for one single fiber: 'I pulled a muscle' is correct, but 'I pulled one muscle' is vague; better to specify: 'I pulled a calf muscle'.
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'muscle' used metaphorically?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It can be both. As a body part, it's countable ('I pulled two muscles'). Referring to tissue or bulk, it's often uncountable ('He has a lot of muscle').
A muscle contracts to create movement. A tendon connects muscle to bone. A ligament connects bone to bone, stabilizing joints.
It means to force your way into a situation where you are not welcome or invited, often using power or threats, e.g., 'Large corporations muscled in on the small local market.'
The 'c' became silent in English pronunciation over time. This is a common historical sound change. Similar words include 'corpuscle' and 'arbuscle'.
Collections
Part of a collection
Health and Body
A2 · 48 words · Talking about health, illness and medical care.