小词详解 | strut

strut 英 [strʌt] 美 [strʌt]

SAT TEM8 GMAT GRE

外刊例句

• But no one is keener to strut their stuff than Airbus and Boeing, the world’s two biggest makers of airliners.
  但最急于炫耀自家产品的还是空客和波音这两家世界最大的飞机制造商。
  ——《经济学人》
• But many more strut out coolly toward their lanes wearing headphones.
  但更多的是戴着耳机冷冷地昂首阔步走向自己的泳道。
  ——《纽约时报》

基本释义

[verb] walk with a stiff, erect, and apparently arrogant or conceited gait
[动词] 以硬挺、竖直、明显傲慢或自负的步态行走

深入解读

Strut 一词源自古英语 strutian （凸出、鼓起或直挺挺地凸起），16世纪末开始用来表示“趾高气扬地走、高视阔步”，强调浮夸的或演戏似的装模作样，带着矫揉造作的尊贵，比如：

• 他过去常常在城里大摇大摆地晃荡，好像那是他的地盘。但他现在要面对狱中生活的严酷现实了。
  He used to strut around town like he owned the place. But he now faces the stark reality of life in prison.
• 男孩们神气十足地走来走去，想引起旁边一群女孩的注意。女孩们忍住不嘲笑他们，直到他们走了。
  The boys strutted around trying to get the attention of a group of girls who were nearby. The girls refrained from sneering at them until they were gone.

而在上面《经济学人》例句中出现的习语 strut one's stuff 本义指为了引起他人注意而“卖弄地跳舞、表演”，泛指则表示“显露身手、卖弄本领”，比如：

• 别自吹自擂了。你为什么不下舞池露上一手？
  Stop blowing your own trumpet. Why don't you get out on the floor and strut your stuff?
• 他决心一改公司保守落后的形象，并且认为这是他大展身手的好机会。
  He decided to revamp the company's provincial image and believed that it was the opportunity for him to strut his stuff.

另外， strut 也可以用作名词，除了表示“趾高气扬的步态、高视阔步的样子”外，还可以指细长的用来支撑车辆、建筑，或使之部分结构更加坚固的“支柱、撑杆、支杆”，比如：

• One strut had fractured and been crudely repaired in several places.
  一根撑木出现了裂痕，有几处已进行了粗略的修补。

名著用例

Malfoy strutted over, smirking.
马尔福趾高气扬地走过来，脸上得意地笑着。

出自英国作家J.K.罗琳创作的长篇小说《哈利·波特与密室》（Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets）。该小说是《哈利·波特》系列的第二部。

同近义词

• swank: display one's wealth, knowledge, or achievements in a way that is intended to impress others
• prance: (of a person) walk or move around with ostentatious, exaggerated movements

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