好词典
spurs
UK //spɜːz//US //spɜːrz//
词源
源自古英语 spura/sporu，与古诺尔斯语 spori（足迹）同源，最终源自原始日耳曼语 *spuron。
noun
❶ 马刺，一种固定在骑靴后跟的金属装置，用于刺激马匹加速或转向。
“The cowboy wore shiny spurs on his boots.”
（牛仔的靴子上戴着闪亮的马刺。）
“She gently pressed the spurs to make the horse go faster.”
（她轻轻用马刺催促马匹加速。）
❶ 刺激物或激励因素，比喻能推动人采取行动的事物。
“The criticism served as spurs to his improvement.”
（那些批评成了他进步的动力。）
“Her words were the spurs that made me take action.”
（她的话促使我采取了行动。）
同义词:stimulus, incentive, motivation
verb
❶ 用马刺催促马匹前进，或比喻激励某人采取行动。
“He spurred his horse forward.”
（他用马刺催马前进。）
“The coach spurred the team to greater efforts.”
（教练激励队伍更加努力。）
同义词:urge, stimulate, provoke
常见短语
win one's spurs — 赢得荣誉或证明自己的能力，源自中世纪骑士通过战功获得金马刺的传统。
“He won his spurs by solving the difficult case.”
（他因破获这起棘手案件而证明了自己的能力。）
on the spur of the moment — 一时冲动之下，未经深思熟虑就采取行动。
“We decided to go on a trip on the spur of the moment.”
（我们一时兴起决定去旅行。）