好词典

sap

UK //sæp//US //sæp//

词源

源自古英语 'sæp',源自原始日耳曼语 '*sapam',与荷兰语 'sap' 和德语 'Saft' 同源,最初指植物汁液,后引申为消耗精力的动词意义。

noun

❶ 植物体内输送水分和养分的液体,常见于树木的木质部,如枫树汁可制糖浆。

“Maple sap is collected in early spring to make syrup.”

(枫树汁在早春被采集用来制作糖浆。)

“The sap rises in the trees when the weather gets warmer.”

(天气变暖时,树液会在树木中上升。)

❶ 比喻人的精力或活力,常用于描述被消耗或削弱的状态。

“The long illness sapped his energy completely.”

(长期疾病彻底耗尽了他的精力。)

“Working overtime every day is sapping my strength.”

(每天加班正在消耗我的体力。)

同义词:juice, vitality, energy, essence

verb

❶ 逐渐削弱或消耗某人的力量、资源或信心,通常指缓慢而持续的影响。

“The repeated failures began to sap his confidence.”

(屡次失败开始削弱他的信心。)

“Inflation is sapping the purchasing power of consumers.”

(通货膨胀正在削弱消费者的购买力。)

同义词:drain, deplete, weaken, exhaust

常见短语

sap strength — 指逐渐消耗体力或精力,常用于描述长期压力或困难带来的影响。

“The mountain climb sapped their strength by midday.”

(到中午时分,爬山已经消耗了他们大量体力。)

sap the will — 逐渐削弱某人的意志力或决心,使其难以坚持原有目标。

“Years of rejection letters began to sap his will to write.”

(多年的拒信开始削弱他写作的意愿。)