好词典

moonshine

UK //ˈmuːn.ʃaɪn//US //ˈmuːn.ʃaɪn//

词源

源自16世纪,字面意思为“月光”(moon + shine),因私酿酒常在夜间借月光照明制作得名;比喻义“空谈”首次记录于1830年代。

noun

❶ 指非法私酿的烈酒,尤指在美国禁酒时期私下蒸馏的威士忌,因常在月光下秘密制作而得名。

“The old man used to make moonshine in the woods during Prohibition.”

(这位老人曾在禁酒令时期在树林里私酿烈酒。)

“They were arrested for selling moonshine without a license.”

(他们因无证贩卖私酒被捕。)

❶ 引申为不切实际的空想或胡言乱语,形容毫无根据的言论或幻想。

“His promises turned out to be nothing but moonshine.”

(他的承诺到头来只是空话。)

“Don't listen to his moonshine about getting rich overnight.”

(别信他那些一夜暴富的鬼话。)

同义词:bootleg, hooch, nonsense, fantasy, rubbish

常见短语

make moonshine — 指非法酿造烈酒的行为,常用于描述秘密或违法的酿酒活动。

“They learned to make moonshine from their grandfather.”

(他们从祖父那里学会了私酿烈酒。)

pure moonshine — 强调某事物完全是虚假或无意义的,带有强烈否定语气。

“His excuse was pure moonshine and nobody believed it.”

(他的借口纯属胡扯,根本没人相信。)