
flake
词源
源自古英语flacca,意为'薄片'或'碎片',与古挪威语flak(漂浮物)相关。动词用法在20世纪中期发展出'不可靠'的含义。
noun
❶ 小而薄的片状物,通常指从大块物体上自然剥落或分离的部分,如雪片、鱼鳞或剥落的油漆片。
“Snowflakes were falling gently from the sky.”
(雪花从天空中轻轻飘落。)
“She brushed the flakes of paint off the old chair.”
(她把旧椅子上的油漆片刷掉。)
❶ 形容人不可靠或行为古怪,常指不守承诺或突然改变主意的人。
“Don't rely on him, he's such a flake.”
(别指望他,他是个不靠谱的人。)
“She promised to come but flaked at the last minute.”
(她答应要来,却在最后一刻变卦了。)
verb
❶ 剥落或分离成小片,通常指表面材料的自然脱落。
“The old paint is starting to flake off the walls.”
(旧油漆开始从墙上剥落。)
“Her sunburned skin was flaking badly.”
(她晒伤的皮肤正在大片剥落。)
❶ 指人突然放弃或未能履行承诺,常用于非正式场合。
“He flaked on our dinner plans at the last moment.”
(他在最后一刻取消了我们的晚餐计划。)
“She always flakes when it's her turn to organize events.”
(轮到她组织活动时,她总是临阵退缩。)
常见短语
flake out — 指人因疲惫而突然睡着,或因压力而无法正常运作,也指突然放弃某事。
“After working all night, he flaked out on the couch.”
(工作一整夜后,他在沙发上昏睡过去。)
corn flake — 一种早餐谷物食品,由玉米制成的小薄片,通常与牛奶一起食用。
“I usually have corn flakes with banana for breakfast.”
(我早餐通常吃玉米片配香蕉。)