好词典

leech

UK /liːtʃ/US /liːtʃ/

词源

源自古英语 lǣce(医生),因中世纪医生常用水蛭放血治疗,后词义转为指代水蛭本身。与古挪威语 læknir(医生)同源。

noun

❶ 水蛭,一种生活在淡水中的吸血环节动物,常用于古代医学放血疗法。现代也用于比喻依赖他人钱财或资源的人。

“The doctor used leeches to treat the patient's swollen leg.”

(医生用水蛭治疗病人肿胀的腿。)

“He's such a leech, always borrowing money and never paying back.”

(他真是个吸血鬼,总是借钱却从不归还。)

同义词:bloodsucker, parasite, sponge

verb

❶ 像水蛭般依附或榨取,指长期依赖他人获取利益的行为,带有贬义色彩。

“He leeched off his parents until he was 30 years old.”

(他依赖父母生活直到30岁。)

“The corrupt officials leeched resources from public funds.”

(腐败官员从公共资金中榨取资源。)

同义词:drain, exploit, mooch

常见短语

leech off — 长期依赖某人获取金钱、资源或帮助,含有利用他人好意的负面意味。

“He's been leeching off his sister's generosity for years.”

(多年来他一直依赖姐姐的慷慨生活。)