好词典

winkle

UK //ˈwɪŋk(ə)l//US //ˈwɪŋkəl//

词源

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。

noun

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。)

同义词:periwinkle, sea snail, littorina

verb

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。)

同义词:extract, pry, ferret out

常见短语

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。)