
ticking
词源
源自中古英语 'ticken',模仿钟表发出的声音。布料意义的'ticking'可能源自荷兰语 'tijk',指一种厚实的亚麻或棉布。
noun
❶ 指钟表、计时器等发出的滴答声,通常用于描述有规律的声音。
“The ticking of the clock kept me awake all night.”
(时钟的滴答声让我整晚都无法入睡。)
“I could hear the ticking of the bomb in the movie.”
(在电影里,我能听到炸弹的滴答声。)
❶ 指一种结实、紧密编织的布料,常用于制作枕头、床垫等的套子。
“The pillow was covered with blue and white ticking.”
(枕头套着蓝白条纹的厚棉布。)
“She bought some ticking to make new mattress covers.”
(她买了一些厚棉布来做新的床垫套。)
verb
❶ 指钟表或计时器发出滴答声的动作,也可比喻时间流逝。
“The clock was ticking loudly on the mantelpiece.”
(壁炉架上的时钟大声地滴答作响。)
“Time is ticking away - we need to hurry!”
(时间一分一秒地过去——我们得抓紧了!)
常见短语
ticking off — 指逐一列出或检查事项,也可以表示责备某人。
“She was ticking off the items on her shopping list.”
(她正在逐一核对购物清单上的物品。)
ticking time bomb — 比喻即将爆发的危险情况或问题,字面意思是指正在倒计时的炸弹。
“The political situation was like a ticking time bomb.”
(当时的政治局势就像一个滴答作响的定时炸弹。)