
scum
词源
源自古英语 'scum',可能源自原始日耳曼语,与荷兰语 'schuim' 和德语 'Schaum' 同源,最初均指泡沫或浮渣。
noun
❶ 指液体表面形成的泡沫或浮渣,通常由杂质或污染物组成,常见于煮沸的液体或污水表面。
“The pond was covered with a thick layer of green scum.”
(池塘表面覆盖着一层厚厚的绿色浮渣。)
“Remove the scum from the soup while it's boiling.”
(煮汤时要把表面的浮沫撇掉。)
❶ 用于贬义地形容被认为卑鄙、无用或可鄙的人或群体,带有强烈负面情感色彩。
“The dictator called the protesters scum of society.”
(独裁者称抗议者是社会的渣滓。)
“Don't listen to him - he's absolute scum.”
(别听他的——他就是个彻头彻尾的人渣。)
verb
❶ 指在液体表面形成泡沫或浮渣的过程,通常用于描述自然现象或烹饪过程。
“The boiling syrup began to scum over after 10 minutes.”
(煮沸的糖浆10分钟后开始结出浮沫。)
“Algae scummed the surface of the stagnant water.”
(藻类在死水表面形成了浮垢。)
常见短语
scum bag — 粗俗用语,指极其卑鄙或令人厌恶的人,语气比单独使用scum更强。
“That scum bag stole money from charity donations.”
(那个人渣偷了慈善捐款的钱。)
pond scum — 字面指池塘浮渣,也用作侮辱性比喻,形容毫无价值的人或事物。
“After what he did, he's nothing but pond scum to me now.”
(在他做出那些事后,对我而言他不过是一滩池塘浮渣。)