好词典

coals

UK //kəʊlz//US //koʊlz//

词源

源自古英语'col',与古诺尔斯语'kol'、德语'Kohle'同源,原始日耳曼语词根为*kulą,意为'燃烧的矿物'。

noun

❶ 指煤炭或煤块,通常用于燃烧产生热量或能量,可以是天然开采的矿物燃料或加工后的固体燃料。

“The fire was burning brightly with red-hot coals.”

(火焰熊熊燃烧,煤块烧得通红。)

“We used coals to heat the house during the winter.”

(冬天我们用煤炭给房子取暖。)

同义词:charcoal, carbon, fuel

常见短语

carry coals to Newcastle — 比喻做多余或无意义的事情,因为纽卡斯尔本身是产煤区,运煤去那里毫无必要。

“Selling ice to Eskimos is like carrying coals to Newcastle.”

(向爱斯基摩人卖冰就像运煤到纽卡斯尔一样多此一举。)

heap coals of fire on someone's head — 源自《圣经》的短语,表示以德报怨,用善意回应敌意,使对方感到羞愧。

“By helping his enemy, he heaped coals of fire on his head.”

(他通过帮助敌人,实现了以德报怨的效果。)