
好词典

源自古英语 netele,与德语 Nessel 同源,原指带刺植物,动词用法16世纪后出现,比喻因刺激引发的恼怒。
❶ 荨麻,一种带刺的植物,触碰时会引起皮肤刺痛和红肿。常见于野外或花园杂草中。
“Be careful not to touch the nettles while walking through the field.”
(穿过田野时要小心别碰到荨麻。)
“She wore gloves to protect her hands from the stinging nettles.”
(她戴着手套以防被荨麻刺痛。)
❶ 激怒或惹恼某人,像被荨麻刺痛一样让人感到烦躁不安。
“His constant criticism really nettles me.”
(他不断的批评真的让我很恼火。)
“She was nettled by his rude comments.”
(他粗鲁的评论惹恼了她。)
grasp the nettle — 勇敢面对困难或棘手的问题,比喻果断处理令人不快的状况。
“It's time to grasp the nettle and address the budget issues.”
(是时候勇敢面对并解决预算问题了。)