Faster, higher, stronger 更快更高更強，一直是奧運的座右銘（Olympic motto）。A motto is a short sentence or phrase that expresses the aims and beliefs of a person, a group or an institution.
運動員追求更快，2012倫敦奧運，游泳健兒為了游得更快，穿上可能遠勝鯊魚裝的梭魚裝 Fastskin3，最新的泳裝能排水，泳將手腳的每個動作，就能把自己推前得更遠，更快。It is the most technically advanced swimwear ever made.
Fast
英語中最普通、最常用的近義字，最需要 ESL 學習者留心。
表達快速的英文字，fast，quick，rapid 意思極接近，但用法和配詞有分別。
籠統來說：作為形用詞，這三個字最常和下列名詞分別連用在一起：
Fast——car, train, pace, lane, highway
Quick——glance, look, reply, response, decision, way, leap, temper
Rapid——change, growth, increase, decline, progress
Fast 通常用來描述高速運動的人或事物，泛指高速度或具有高速度的能力。Quick 較多用來描述迅速或立即完成的事。運動場上，例如奧運會，fast 和 faster 大派用場。Rapid 最常用於描述事物變化的速度，而非運動的速度。
Fast 常見的成語：fast and furious = full of speed and excitement，例如說：The car chase at the end of the film was fast and furious. 該齣電影結尾時，節奏快，變化多。Thick and fast = happening very quickly and in large amounts or numbers，例如說：Reporters’ questions were coming at the president thick and fast 記者向總統頻頻發問，又快又多。
Fast 的其他近義字（synonyms），還有：
Swift——moving or able to move very fast；
Speedy——taking very little time；
Brisk——moving or acting in a lively or energetic manner；
Prompt——being right on time；
Hasty——done too quickly to be accurate or wise.
High
High 和 tall 最基本的分別在於：前者用以指從底部到頂部的高度：David Wilson has climbed some of the world’s highest mountains，後者多用於人的高度：Yao Ming is 7 feet 6 inches tall.
High 字用途廣泛，可以指高度、等級、地位、含量、水平、價值、聲音等。The high jump 跳高是奧運的田徑項目。A high-flyer is a person who rose very quickly to a successful position. 工作或學術有抱負有能力的人。A high-brow is a person thought to show more than average knowledge of art and intellectual interests. 自炫博學，自以為有學識的人。Highlights 是最精釆的場面。High-grade petrol 是優質汽油。High ground 是討論或爭議中的優勢。High living 是奢侈的生活。
Tall 有兩個最常見的詞語：A tall story is one difficult to believe. 荒誕不經的無稽之談。A tall order is very difficult to do. 要求苛刻，難以辦到的事。
High 的其他近義字，還有：
Lofty——very high or tall: lofty ambitions, lofty ideals, lofty principle, lofty aims 崇高的抱負/理想/原則/目標。
Elevated——raised or placed above a given level: an elevated position 高出地面的位罝 / an elevated highway 高架公路 / an elevated blood pressure 血壓偏高。
Towering——extremely tall or high: towering cliffs 高聳的懸崖 / towering performance 出色的表演 / towering rage 勃然大怒。
更值得 ESL 學習者留意的，是 high 和 highly 用作副詞（adverbs）時，微妙的分別。
High 作為副詞，描寫向高處運動的實際高度：He jumped high 他跳得高。A monkey can climb high 猴子爬得高。Highly 作為副詞，描寫某人做某事的方式：The teacher speaks highly of his students from time to time. 老師不時地讚揚他的學生。He is highly regarded by his peers. 他備受同儕尊重。This official is paid highly. 這位官員薪酬很高。This film is highly amusing. 這部電影令人看得很開心。
Strong
Strong 這個字比 high 字用途更廣，strong arms, strong coffee, strong sunshine 都有不同的意思。
和身體有關的同義詞和相似詞：strong means having much power，energy or strength。但是，a strong person 例如強壯的運動員，和 a strong man 鐵腕人物或大力士，大有分別。Strong 近於 powerful 和 forceful，例如：a tennis player with a powerful wrist 網球手擁有強勁的腕力，a forceful speaker with a powerful voice 雄辯滔滔，有說服力的演說家，加上強勁的聲線。
Strong 和 muscular 也有不同的聯想（associations）。
Muscular means having large, strong muscles. A muscular body/build/chest 分別是：強壯的身型/體格/胸部。當然，高挑、瘦削、強壯有力的運動員，可能最受歡迎：a tall，lean and muscular athlete is the most popular type。
肌肉型格的形容詞，還有 husky 魁梧、高大威猛，particularly good for wrestling 摔跤 and short put 擲鉛球這一類競技型體育比賽（competitive sports）。肌肉型的同義詞：Burly = big, strong, and heavy，例如：burly arms, burly body guards；以及 brawny = having large strong muscles，例如：brawny chest, brawny brute。肌肉過份發達的 beefycake can suggest a fleshy grossness，觀感上可能有反效果，隱含貶義（having bad connotations）。
所以說：留心英文同義詞、相似詞的用法很重要。
Precision is the principle to increase your word power. 用字準確是致勝之道。
If you pay more attention to synonyms, you can be a faster learner, a higher achiever, and a stronger performer.
本專欄逢周二、五刊登
