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小词详解 | acerbic

田间小站 田间小站 2022-09-30


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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