
coffin
词源
源自中古英语cofin,借自古法语coffin(篮子),最终源自拉丁语cophinus(篮子),与希腊语kophinos同源。13世纪时指各种容器,16世纪后专指棺材。
noun
❶ 棺材,用于安放逝者遗体的长方形木箱或金属容器,通常在葬礼或埋葬时使用。
“The carpenter made a beautiful oak coffin for the funeral.”
(木匠为葬礼制作了一个漂亮的橡木棺材。)
“They lowered the coffin into the ground with great solemnity.”
(他们以庄重的仪式将棺材缓缓放入墓穴中。)
verb
❶ 将某物装入棺材;比喻彻底终结或摧毁某事物。
“The evidence coffined any hope of the defendant's acquittal.”
(这些证据彻底粉碎了被告无罪的希望。)
“The failed experiment coffined his theory after years of research.”
(失败的实验葬送了他多年研究的理论成果。)
常见短语
nail in the coffin — 导致失败或终结的关键因素,通常指一系列不利事件中的最后一击。
“The bankruptcy was the final nail in the coffin of his business empire.”
(破产成为压垮他商业帝国的最后一根稻草。)
coffin corner — 美式足球术语,指球场边角危险区域;也形容陷入进退两难的困境。
“The punt landed perfectly in the coffin corner, pinning the opponents deep.”
(弃踢球精准落在边角危险区,将对手压制在底线附近。)