好词典
shrew
UK //ʃruː//US //ʃruː//
词源
源自古英语'scrēawa'，可能来自原始日耳曼语，与'screech'(尖叫)有关，因鼩鼱会发出高频声音。形容人的用法始于14世纪。
noun
❶ 指一种小型哺乳动物，外形类似老鼠但有尖鼻子，主要以昆虫为食。常见于欧洲和亚洲的林地或草丛中。
“The tiny shrew darted through the undergrowth searching for insects.”
（这只小鼩鼱在灌木丛中穿梭寻找昆虫。）
“Shrews have such a high metabolism that they must eat constantly.”
（鼩鼱的新陈代谢极快，必须不停进食。）
❶ 指脾气暴躁、爱争吵的女人，带有贬义。这种用法源于古代对女性性格的刻板印象。
“In the play, the character was portrayed as a nagging shrew who scolded everyone.”
（剧中这个角色被塑造成一个责骂所有人的唠叨悍妇。）
“He complained that his neighbor was an old shrew who yelled at kids playing outside.”
（他抱怨邻居是个会对户外玩耍的孩子大吼大叫的老泼妇。）
同义词:virago, termagant, harridan, scold
常见短语
taming of the shrew — 源自莎士比亚戏剧名称，现常用来比喻驯服或改变某人（尤指女性）的强势性格。
“His friends joked about his attempts at the taming of the shrew with his outspoken girlfriend.”
（朋友们取笑他试图驯服直言不讳女友的行为。）