好词典

waterloo

UK //ˌwɔːtəˈluː//US //ˌwɑːtərˈluː//

词源

源自1815年拿破仑在比利时滑铁卢(Waterloo)的最终战败,后成为决定性失败的代名词。

noun

❶ 指遭遇惨败或重大挫折的经历,源自拿破仑在滑铁卢战役的失败。常用于形容个人或团体在关键事件中彻底失败。

“The team met their waterloo in the championship finals.”

(该队在冠军决赛中遭遇惨败。)

“His arrogance led to his waterloo in the business deal.”

(他的傲慢导致他在商业交易中彻底失败。)

同义词:defeat, downfall, failure

常见短语

meet one's waterloo — 遭遇决定性失败,指在关键事件中彻底被击败,常用于形容无法挽回的失败局面。

“After years of success, the CEO finally met his waterloo with the failed merger.”

(在多年成功后,这位CEO最终因合并失败而遭遇滑铁卢。)