好词典

monsters

UK //ˈmɒnstəz//US //ˈmɑːnstərz//

词源

源自拉丁语 monstrum(预兆/奇观),经古法语 monstre 进入英语,最初指超自然现象,后演变为指代可怕生物。

noun

❶ 指虚构或传说中的可怕生物,通常具有巨大体型或超自然能力,常出现在神话、恐怖故事或儿童想象中。

“The children were scared of the monsters under their beds.”

(孩子们害怕床底下的怪物。)

“Ancient legends often describe sea monsters attacking ships.”

(古代传说常描述海怪袭击船只的故事。)

❶ 比喻残忍可怕的人或具有破坏性的事物,强调其造成的恐惧或危害。

“The dictator was a monster who killed thousands of people.”

(那个独裁者是杀害数千人的恶魔。)

“Pollution has created an environmental monster we can't control.”

(污染造成了我们无法控制的环境恶魔。)

同义词:creatures, beasts, fiends, demons, ogres

常见短语

monster hit — 指极其成功的作品(尤指音乐或电影),形容其影响力或受欢迎程度像怪物般巨大。

“Their new single became a monster hit worldwide.”

(他们的新单曲在全球成为爆款热门歌曲。)

green-eyed monster — 莎士比亚创造的短语,指代嫉妒这种强烈情绪,形容嫉妒使人变得丑陋如怪物。

“She was consumed by the green-eyed monster when seeing her rival's success.”

(看到对手的成功时,她被嫉妒的绿眼怪兽吞噬了理智。)