好词典

vermin

UK //ˈvɜːmɪn//US //ˈvɜːrmɪn//

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。)

同义词:pests, rodents, parasites, bugs, creepy-crawlies

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。)