好词典

thistle

UK //ˈθɪs.əl//US //ˈθɪs.əl//

词源

源自古英语 'þistel',与德语 'Distel' 同源,可能源自原始日耳曼语词根,意为“刺”或“尖锐”。

noun

❶ 一种带刺的野生植物,常见于欧洲和北美,叶子边缘有尖锐的刺,开紫色或粉色的花。

“The field was covered with purple thistles.”

(田野里长满了紫色的蓟。)

“She accidentally touched a thistle and got pricked.”

(她不小心碰到了蓟,被刺扎到了。)

同义词:prickly plant, weed, bristle

常见短语

grasp the thistle — 比喻勇敢面对困难或棘手的问题,源自苏格兰谚语。

“He decided to grasp the thistle and confront the issue head-on.”

(他决定勇敢面对,直接解决这个问题。)