
squeak
词源
源自中古英语squeken,可能模仿尖锐声音的拟声词,与荷兰语schreeuwen(尖叫)同源。
verb
❶ 发出短促尖锐的声音,通常指老鼠、门铰链或鞋子等因摩擦或挤压产生的高音调声响。
“The mouse squeaked when it saw the cat.”
(老鼠看到猫时发出吱吱的叫声。)
“Her new shoes squeak with every step.”
(她的新鞋每走一步都会吱吱作响。)
❶ 勉强通过或成功,常以微弱优势达成目标,带有惊险的意味。
“Our team squeaked through to the finals by one point.”
(我们队以一分之差惊险晋级决赛。)
“She squeaked past the exam with a 60% score.”
(她以60分的成绩勉强通过了考试。)
noun
❶ 短促尖锐的声音,通常形容小动物或机械部件发出的高频声响。
“We heard a tiny squeak from the mouse hole.”
(我们听到老鼠洞里传来微弱的吱吱声。)
“The squeak of the floorboard revealed his position.”
(地板的吱呀声暴露了他的位置。)
❶ 勉强通过的情况,指以极小的差距达成的成功。
“It was a close squeak, but we caught the last train.”
(真是千钧一发,我们赶上了末班火车。)
“The election result was a narrow squeak for the incumbent.”
(现任者以微弱优势惊险赢得选举。)
常见短语
not a squeak — 形容完全沉默或没有任何动静,常用于否定句中强调安静。
“There wasn't a squeak from the audience during the performance.”
(演出期间观众席鸦雀无声。)
squeak by — 勉强完成或通过某事,通常指在资源不足或条件有限的情况下成功。
“We'll have to squeak by on our savings until payday.”
(我们得靠存款勉强撑到发薪日。)