
racks
词源
源自古英语hraca(喉咙),后演变为中古英语rakke(架子),可能与古北欧语rek-(伸展)有关。动词用法16世纪出现,与刑具rack(拉肢刑架)相关。
noun
❶ 指用于放置或支撑物品的架子或框架结构,常见于衣柜、厨房或工业场所,通常由金属或木材制成。
“She hung her coat on the racks near the entrance.”
(她把外套挂在入口附近的架子上。)
“The wine racks in the cellar can hold hundreds of bottles.”
(地窖里的酒架可以存放数百瓶酒。)
❶ 指使某人遭受极大痛苦或折磨的状态,常用于比喻身体或精神上的极度痛苦。
“The disease left him on the racks of pain for months.”
(这种疾病让他忍受了数月的剧痛折磨。)
“Her guilt put her on the mental racks.”
(内疚感让她精神上备受煎熬。)
verb
❶ 指将物品放置在架子上或使承受极大压力,也可表示使某人经受精神或身体上的痛苦。
“She racks the dishes after washing them.”
(她洗完盘子后把它们放在架子上。)
“The storm racks the old ship with powerful waves.”
(暴风雨用巨浪猛烈冲击着这艘旧船。)
常见短语
off the racks — 指成衣,即商店里现成的、非定制的服装,区别于量身定做的衣服。
“She prefers buying dresses off the racks rather than having them tailored.”
(她更喜欢购买现成的连衣裙,而不是量身定制。)
rack one's brains — 绞尽脑汁,表示非常努力地思考或回忆某事。
“I racked my brains trying to remember where I put the keys.”
(我绞尽脑汁想记起把钥匙放在哪里了。)