小词详解 | acerbic

acerbic 英 [əˈsɜːbɪk] 美 [əˈsɜːrbɪk]

外刊例句

• For readers unfamiliar with Israelis’ acerbic tongues or their continued capacity for self-criticism, this is heady stuff.
  对于不熟悉以色列人毒舌或持续自嘲能力的读者来说，这玩意可真够劲。
  ——《经济学人》

• Former Justice Antonin Scalia, who died this year, was often the target of demands for apologies for his acerbic comments from the bench or in speeches.
  在今年去世之前，前任大法官安东宁·斯卡利亚常常因自己在法庭或演讲中的尖刻言论而被要求道歉。
  ——《纽约时报》

基本释义

[adjective] (especially of a comment or style of speaking) sharp and forthright
[形容词]（尤其是评论或说话的风格）犀利而直率的

深入解读

acerbic源自于拉丁语acerbus（酸涩的），刚开始进入英语时就是指“酸的”，不过这个意思现今已经基本不用，而主要用其比喻义，即指脾气、情绪、语气等尖酸刻薄。一般搭配wit、humour等词表示犀利辛辣、一针见血。

影视用例

I am acerbic. I can be cruel. It's who I am. Right to the bottom. I'm neither proud of this, nor ashamed of it. It simply is.
我生性尖刻，甚至可以很无情。我就是这个样子，从里到外彻头彻尾都是。我既不以此为傲，也不觉得羞愧，这只是个事实。

出自《福尔摩斯：基本演绎法》（Elementary）第二季第9集。该剧是由美国哥伦比亚广播公司（CBS）出品的美国犯罪题材电视剧，根据柯南·道尔的《夏洛克·福尔摩斯》系列小说改编。

同近义词

• caustic: a caustic remark or way of speaking is hurtful, critical, or intentionally unkind

• sardonic: showing little respect in a humorous but unkind way, often because you think that you are too important to consider or discuss a matter

• vitriolic: filled with bitter criticism or malice

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