
好词典

源自古英语wincle(蜗牛),与低地德语winkel(角,角落)有关,可能因其螺旋形外壳或栖息在岩石角落而得名。动词用法始于19世纪,比喻从壳中取出螺肉的动作。
❶ 一种小型海洋螺类,常见于欧洲海岸的岩石间,外壳呈螺旋状,常被作为食物食用。
“We collected winkles from the rocks at low tide.”
(我们在退潮时从岩石上采集了滨螺。)
“Winkles are often boiled and eaten with a pin.”
(滨螺通常煮熟后用针挑着吃。)
❶ 费力地取出或拔出某物,通常需要技巧或耐心,像从壳中取出滨螺肉一样。
“He managed to winkle the secret out of her after hours of talking.”
(经过数小时交谈,他终于从她那里套出了秘密。)
“I had to winkle the cork out of the bottle with a knife.”
(我不得不用刀把瓶塞从瓶子里撬出来。)
winkle out — 费力地找出或获取某物,通常指经过一番努力才得到隐藏的东西或信息。
“The journalist winkled out some surprising facts about the politician.”
(记者费尽周折挖出了关于这位政客的一些惊人事实。)