好词典

shambles

UK //ˈʃæm.bəlz//US //ˈʃæm.bəlz//

词源

源自古英语 sceamel(凳子/屠宰台),经中古英语 schamel 演变,原指肉铺展示肉类的木台,后引申为混乱场景。

noun

❶ 指混乱不堪或杂乱无章的状态,常用于描述场所或局面完全失去秩序的情况。

“After the party, the living room was a complete shambles.”

(派对结束后,客厅简直一片狼藉。)

“The project timeline is in shambles due to poor planning.”

(由于计划不周,项目时间表乱成一团。)

❶ 历史上指屠宰场或肉市,现代英语中较少使用此义。

“In medieval times, the shambles was a street where butchers sold meat.”

(中世纪时,屠宰场街是屠夫们卖肉的街道。)

“The old shambles district still has its original cobblestones.”

(古老的肉市区仍保留着原来的鹅卵石路面。)

同义词:mess, disarray, chaos, disorder, havoc

常见短语

in shambles — 形容事物处于极度混乱或崩溃的状态,常用于描述计划、关系或场所。

“Their marriage was in shambles after years of arguments.”

(经过多年的争吵,他们的婚姻已支离破碎。)

make a shambles of — 指彻底搞砸某件事,使其陷入混乱状态。

“He made a complete shambles of the presentation by forgetting his notes.”

(他忘了带讲稿,把演示会搞得一团糟。)