好词典

prickly

UK //ˈprɪk.li//US //ˈprɪk.li//

词源

源自中古英语 'pricke'(刺)加上后缀 '-ly',最初用于描述带刺的植物,后引申为形容人的性格敏感易怒。

adjective

❶ 形容物体表面有刺或尖刺,触碰时会让人感到刺痛或不舒服,比如仙人掌或荆棘。

“Be careful with that cactus—it's very prickly.”

(小心那株仙人掌,它有很多刺。)

“The hedgehog rolled into a prickly ball.”

(刺猬蜷缩成一个带刺的球。)

❶ 形容人易怒或敏感,容易因小事生气或感到不舒服。

“He's in a prickly mood today, so don't annoy him.”

(他今天脾气很暴躁,别惹他。)

“She gets prickly when people criticize her work.”

(别人批评她的工作时,她会变得很敏感。)

同义词:spiky, thorny, irritable, touchy, sensitive

常见短语

prickly heat — 指因炎热潮湿天气引起的皮肤疹子,常见于夏季,会让人感到刺痒不适。

“The baby developed prickly heat after playing outside in the sun.”

(宝宝在太阳下玩耍后长了痱子。)

prickly pear — 一种仙人掌的果实,外表带刺但内部多汁可食用,常见于美洲地区。

“They made jam from the sweet flesh of the prickly pear.”

(他们用仙人掌果的甜果肉做了果酱。)