
vermin
词源
源自中古英语 'vermin',借自古法语 'vermin',最终来自拉丁语 'vermis'(蠕虫)。最初泛指各种小害虫,后语义扩展至比喻用法。
noun
❶ 指有害的小动物或昆虫,如老鼠、蟑螂等,常给人类生活带来困扰或传播疾病。
“The old house was infested with vermin like rats and cockroaches.”
(那栋老房子里满是老鼠和蟑螂之类的害虫。)
“Farmers often have to deal with vermin that damage their crops.”
(农民经常要对付那些破坏庄稼的害虫。)
❶ 用于比喻那些被认为令人厌恶或有害的人,带有贬义。
“The dictator referred to his opponents as vermin that needed to be eradicated.”
(独裁者将他的反对者称为需要根除的害人虫。)
“Some people view criminals as vermin of society.”
(有些人将罪犯视为社会的害虫。)
常见短语
vermin control — 指采取措施消灭或控制害虫的活动,常用于公共卫生或农业领域。
“The restaurant hired a company for vermin control after a health inspection.”
(卫生检查后,餐厅雇了一家公司进行害虫防治。)
vermin-infested — 形容某个地方被大量害虫侵扰,通常暗示环境肮脏或不卫生。
“The abandoned building was vermin-infested and unsafe to enter.”
(那栋废弃建筑里满是害虫,进去很不安全。)