好词典

rat

UK //ræt//US //ræt//

词源

源自古英语 'ræt',可能来自原始日耳曼语,与荷兰语 'rat' 和德语 'Ratte' 同源。

noun

❶ 一种小型啮齿动物,通常有长尾巴和尖鼻子,常被视为害虫。

“I saw a rat running across the kitchen floor.”

(我看到一只老鼠从厨房地板上跑过。)

“Rats can carry diseases that are harmful to humans.”

(老鼠可能携带对人类有害的疾病。)

❶ 指背叛朋友或同伴的人,常用于贬义。

“He was called a rat for informing the police about his friends.”

(他因为向警方告发朋友而被称作叛徒。)

“Nobody likes a rat who betrays their team.”

(没人喜欢背叛团队的告密者。)

同义词:mouse, rodent, traitor, snitch

verb

❶ 背叛或告发某人,通常指向当局提供信息。

“He ratted on his coworkers to avoid getting fired.”

(为了避免被解雇,他告发了同事。)

“She would never rat out her friends, no matter what.”

(无论如何,她绝不会出卖朋友。)

同义词:betray, inform, snitch

常见短语

smell a rat — 感觉事情不对劲,怀疑有诈或隐藏的问题。

“When he offered me the deal, I smelled a rat and refused.”

(当他提出这笔交易时,我感觉不对劲,所以拒绝了。)

rat race — 形容激烈、无休止的竞争,通常指职场或生活中的压力。

“He quit his job to escape the rat race and live a simpler life.”

(他辞去工作,逃离激烈的竞争,过上了更简单的生活。)