好词典

loon

UK //luːn//US //luːn//

词源

源自斯堪的纳维亚语(如古诺尔斯语 lómr),可能模仿了这种鸟的叫声。表示'疯子'的用法始于19世纪,因其怪异行为而得名。

noun

❶ 指一种生活在北半球淡水湖泊中的大型水鸟,以其独特的鸣叫声和潜水捕鱼的能力著称。

“We heard the eerie call of a loon across the lake at dusk.”

(黄昏时分,我们听到湖对岸传来潜鸟诡异的鸣叫声。)

“The loon dove underwater to catch fish and didn't resurface for a full minute.”

(那只潜鸟潜入水中捕鱼,整整一分钟都没有浮出水面。)

❶ 在非正式用语中,指行为古怪或疯狂的人,通常带有幽默或轻度贬义。

“Old man Jenkins is a bit of a loon who talks to his garden gnomes.”

(老詹金斯是个怪人,经常和他的花园地精雕像说话。)

“Don't listen to him - he's a complete loon when it comes to conspiracy theories.”

(别听他的,一谈到阴谋论他就完全像个疯子。)

同义词:diver (指鸟类), eccentric, madman, oddball

常见短语

crazy as a loon — 形容某人极度疯狂或不理智,源自潜鸟怪异的叫声和行为。

“After pulling that stunt, everyone thought he was crazy as a loon.”

(他做出那种危险特技后,大家都觉得他疯得像只潜鸟。)

loon call — 特指潜鸟发出的独特鸣叫声,常被用于营造荒野氛围。

“The documentary used loon calls to create a sense of northern wilderness.”

(纪录片用潜鸟的叫声来营造北方荒野的氛围。)