好词典

crab

UK //kræb//US //kræb//

词源

源自古英语 crabba,与荷兰语 krab、德语 Krabbe 同源,可能源自原始日耳曼语 *krabbô(抓握者),因其钳子特征得名。

noun

❶ 螃蟹,一种生活在水中、有坚硬外壳和两只钳子的节肢动物,常见于海洋或淡水环境。

“We caught several crabs while fishing near the shore.”

(我们在岸边钓鱼时抓到了几只螃蟹。)

“The crab scuttled sideways across the sand.”

(螃蟹横着爬过沙滩。)

❶ 脾气暴躁的人,形容一个人容易发怒或抱怨的性格特征。

“Don't be such a crab - it's just a little rain!”

(别这么暴躁——不过是下点小雨!)

“Our math teacher is an old crab who yells at everyone.”

(我们的数学老师是个爱吼人的暴躁老头。)

同义词:crustacean, grouch, cranky person

verb

❶ 抱怨或发牢骚,指持续表达不满情绪的行为。

“He keeps crabbing about the new office policy.”

(他一直在抱怨新的办公室政策。)

“Stop crabbing and help me solve the problem!”

(别抱怨了,帮我解决问题吧!)

❶ 侧向移动,像螃蟹一样横着走,多用于描述车辆或设备的特殊移动方式。

“The truck crabbed sideways on the icy road.”

(卡车在结冰的路面上横向打滑。)

“The robot can crab walk to navigate tight spaces.”

(这个机器人可以横向移动通过狭窄空间。)

同义词:complain, grumble, sidle

常见短语

catch a crab — 划船术语,指桨叶在水中停留过久或划桨失误导致船速减慢,引申为犯小错误。

“The novice rower caught a crab and nearly fell out of the boat.”

(新手划桨时失误,差点从船上掉下去。)

crab mentality — 螃蟹心态,形容像桶里的螃蟹互相拉扯不让对方爬出的心态,比喻见不得别人好的嫉妒心理。

“The team failed due to crab mentality - members sabotaged each other's success.”

(团队因螃蟹心态而失败——成员们互相破坏彼此的成功。)