好词典

clawing

UK //ˈklɔːɪŋ//US //ˈklɔɪŋ//

词源

源自古英语 clawu(爪子),与古挪威语 kló相关,最终源自原始日耳曼语 *klawō。动词形式 claw(抓)加上-ing后缀构成现在分词或动名词。

verb

❶ 用爪子抓或撕扯,通常指动物用锋利的爪子进行攻击或攀爬。也可比喻人用手指抓挠或拼命挣扎。

“The cat was clawing at the sofa, leaving deep scratches.”

(猫咪用爪子抓挠沙发,留下了深深的抓痕。)

“He kept clawing at the ropes, trying to free himself.”

(他不停地抓扯绳子,试图挣脱束缚。)

❶ 比喻拼命争取或艰难前进,常带有费力或不顾一切的含义。

“The startup is clawing its way to profitability.”

(这家初创公司正在艰难地争取实现盈利。)

“After the scandal, he's clawing back his reputation.”

(丑闻过后,他正在努力挽回自己的声誉。)

同义词:scratching, grabbing, scraping, grasping, fighting

常见短语

clawing back — 指经过努力重新获得失去的东西,常用于商业或政治语境中描述挽回损失或优势。

“The company is clawing back market share with its new product line.”

(该公司正通过新产品线重新夺回市场份额。)

clawing at the walls — 字面指用爪子抓墙,比喻陷入极度绝望或疯狂的状态,拼命想要逃脱某种困境。

“After days in solitary confinement, he was clawing at the walls.”

(在单独监禁数日后,他绝望得开始抓墙。)