好词典

boomerang

UK //ˈbuːməræŋ//US //ˈbuːməræŋ//

词源

源自澳大利亚原住民语言Dharuk的'bou-mar-rang',18世纪后期进入英语。最初指能飞回的投掷武器,20世纪发展出比喻意义。

noun

❶ 一种弯曲的木制投掷工具,原为澳大利亚原住民使用,投出后能飞回投掷者手中。

“He threw the boomerang and it circled back to him.”

(他扔出回旋镖,它绕了一圈又飞回他手中。)

“The Aboriginal man demonstrated how to use a traditional boomerang.”

(那位原住民展示了如何使用传统的回旋镖。)

❶ 比喻事情或行为产生与预期相反的结果,最终对发起者造成不利影响。

“His plan to discredit his rival boomeranged when the truth came out.”

(他抹黑对手的计划在真相曝光后反而害了自己。)

“The company's cost-cutting measures boomeranged, leading to lower productivity.”

(公司的成本削减措施适得其反,导致生产力下降。)

同义词:throwing stick, comeback, rebound, backfire

verb

❶ 指行为或计划产生反效果,对发起者造成不利影响。

“The scheme boomeranged on the conspirators.”

(这个阴谋反而害了密谋者自己。)

“Her attempt to spread rumors boomeranged when people discovered the truth.”

(当她试图散布谣言时,人们发现了真相,结果适得其反。)

同义词:backfire, rebound, recoil

常见短语

boomerang effect — 指行为或政策产生与预期相反的结果,通常对发起者不利。

“The new tax law created a boomerang effect, reducing government revenue instead of increasing it.”

(新税法产生了反效果,不仅没有增加反而减少了政府收入。)

boomerang kid — 指成年后因经济等原因又搬回父母家住的年轻人。

“After losing his job, Mark became a boomerang kid and moved back in with his parents.”

(失业后,马克成了回巢族,又搬回去和父母同住。)