handicap

handicap
noun

a condition that markedly restricts a person's ability to function physically, mentally, or socially
生理（或智力、交际功能）缺陷，残疾
he was born with a significant visual handicap.
他出生时就有严重的视力缺陷。
■a circumstance that makes progress or success difficult
不利因素，障碍
a criminal conviction is a handicap and a label that may stick forever.
刑事判决是一个不利因素，可能成为身上一张永远揭不掉的标签。
■a disadvantage imposed on a superior competitor in sports such as golf, horse racing, and competitive sailing in order to make the chances more equal
（高尔夫、赛马及帆船比赛等体育比赛中为使选手得胜机会较均等而对较强者施加的）障碍，不利条件
■a race or contest in which such a disadvantage is imposed
让步赛
[in names]the National Hunt Handicap Chase.
全国追猎让步赛。
■the extra weight allocated to be carried in a race by a racehorse on the basis of its previous form to make its chances of winning the same as those of the other horses
（赛马中为使所有的赛马得胜机会均等，根据过去比赛的纪录，给某匹赛马增加的）额外负重
■the number of strokes by which a golfer normally exceeds par for a course (used as a method of enabling players of unequal ability to compete with each other)
（高尔夫球赛中参赛一方）超过标准杆数的击球次数（为使实力悬殊的赛手得以进行比赛所采取的办法）
he plays off a handicap of 10.
他让10杆参加比赛。

(handicapped, handicapping)

[with obj.]act as an impediment to
妨碍
lack of funding has handicapped the development of research.
缺少资金妨碍了研究的进展。
■place (someone) at a disadvantage
使（某人）处于不利地位
without a good set of notes you will handicap yourself when it comes to exams.
如果没有一份完整的笔记，到考试时你会吃亏。

常用词组
out of the handicap

(Horse Racing)having a handicap rating that would merit carrying a weight below the minimum specified for a race
(赛马)免加额外负重（负重级别低于比赛规定应加的最低额外负重量）

语源

mid 17th cent.: from the phrase hand in cap; originally a pastime in which one person claimed an article belonging to another and offered something in exchange, any difference in value being decided by an umpire. All three deposited forfeit money in a cap; the two opponents showed their agreement or disagreement with the valuation by bringing out their hands either full or empty. If both were the same, the umpire took the forfeit money; if not it went to the person who accepted the valuation. The term handicap race was applied (late 18th cent.) to a horse race in which an umpire decided the weight to be carried by each horse, the owners showing acceptance or dissent in a similar way: hence in the late 19th cent. handicap came to mean the extra weight given to the superior horse

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