好词典

swine

UK /swaɪn/US /swaɪn/

词源

源自古英语 swīn,与德语 Schwein 同源,原始日耳曼语词根 *sweina- 泛指猪类动物。

noun

❶ 指猪,尤指成年猪,常用于农业或生物学语境中,也可作为侮辱性词汇形容令人讨厌的人。

“The farmer keeps a dozen swine in the pen.”

(农夫在围栏里养了十几头猪。)

“Swine flu is a disease that affects pigs and sometimes humans.”

(猪流感是一种影响猪类、偶尔传染人类的疾病。)

同义词:pig, hog, boar, oinker, rascal

常见短语

pearls before swine — 字面意思是把珍珠丢在猪面前,比喻把珍贵的东西给不懂欣赏的人,徒劳无功。

“Explaining poetry to him is like casting pearls before swine.”

(给他解释诗歌就像对牛弹琴。)