
gauntlet
词源
源自中古英语'gantelet',古法语'gantelet'(小手套),与'glove'同源。军事挑战含义来自中世纪扔手套决斗的传统。
noun
❶ 一种防护手套,通常由金属或皮革制成,用于战斗中保护手部。现代也指某些运动或工业用途的防护手套。
“The knight wore a gauntlet to protect his hands during the duel.”
(骑士在决斗时戴着一只金属护手来保护双手。)
“The blacksmith's gauntlets shielded his hands from the sparks.”
(铁匠的防护手套保护他的手不被火星烫伤。)
❶ 指一种挑战或考验,常与'run the gauntlet'短语连用,表示经历一系列困难或批评。
“The new employee had to run the gauntlet of tough questions from the board.”
(新员工不得不面对董事会提出的一系列尖锐问题。)
“Politicians often run the gauntlet of media scrutiny.”
(政客们经常要经受媒体的严格审查。)
常见短语
run the gauntlet — 指经历一系列困难或挑战,原指古代一种刑罚,受罚者需从两排人中间跑过并遭受击打。
“After the scandal, the CEO had to run the gauntlet of angry shareholders.”
(丑闻发生后,首席执行官不得不面对愤怒的股东们的连番质问。)
throw down the gauntlet — 发起挑战,源自中世纪骑士扔手套表示要求决斗的传统。
“The young scientist threw down the gauntlet to the established theory.”
(这位年轻科学家向既定理论发起了挑战。)