
rat
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。)
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。)
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。)