好词典

fear

UK //fɪə//US //fɪr//

词源

源自古英语 fǣr(灾难,危险),源自原始日耳曼语 *fērō,与荷兰语 gevaar 和德语 Gefahr(危险)同源。

noun

❶ 恐惧或害怕的情绪,通常由危险、威胁或不确定性引发。可以是具体的对某事物的害怕,也可以是模糊的不安感。

“She has a fear of heights.”

(她有恐高症。)

“The child's fear of the dark kept him awake at night.”

(孩子对黑暗的恐惧让他晚上睡不着觉。)

同义词:dread, terror, anxiety

verb

❶ 感到害怕或担心,通常是对可能发生的坏事产生忧虑情绪。可以是轻微的不安,也可以是强烈的恐惧。

“Many people fear public speaking.”

(很多人害怕公开演讲。)

“She feared that she might lose her job.”

(她担心可能会失去工作。)

同义词:worry, dread, be afraid

常见短语

for fear of — 为了避免某种不希望发生的情况而采取行动,通常是因为担心可能带来的负面后果。

“He didn't speak up for fear of offending anyone.”

(他因为怕得罪人而没有说出来。)

in fear of one's life — 形容某人因为生命受到威胁而感到极度恐惧的状态,通常用于危险处境。

“The witness was in fear of his life after testifying.”

(证人在作证后为自己的生命感到担忧。)