obvious

Definitions

ob- (in the way of) + via (road) + -ous (adj.) = 'lying in your path.' Something planted in the middle of the road in front of you cannot be overlooked. That image of an unmissable obstacle became the meaning 'plain to see, self-evident' — obvious things need no searching and no explaining.

Common Collocations

• 1.obvious choice显而易见的选择
• 2.obvious reason明显的原因
• 3.obvious answer明确的答案
• 4.stating the obvious说大白话（说显而易见的事）

Example Sentences

• 1.

  It was obvious from her face that something was wrong.

• 2.

  The obvious answer isn't always the right one.

• 3.

  For obvious reasons, we can't release the names yet.

• 4.

  He made an obvious effort to be polite.

Easily Confused

obvious vs apparent — obvious means truly plain and beyond doubt. apparent can mean 'seeming to be true' (an apparent contradiction may not be real). 'It's obvious' = it clearly IS so; 'it's apparent' often hedges toward 'it appears so.' Don't swap them when certainty matters.