straw
- n. 稻草;吸管;一文不值的东西
- adj. 稻草的;无价值的
- n. (Straw)人名;(英)斯特劳
词态变化
中文词源
来自古英语 streaw,草,来自 Proto-Germanic*strawa,草,来自 PIE*strew,展开,铺开,扩大形 式自*ster,展开,铺开,词源同 strew,structure.引申词义吸管。
英英释意
- 1. plant fiber used e.g. for making baskets and hats or as fodder
- 2. material consisting of seed coverings and small pieces of stem or leaves that have been separated from the seeds
- 3. a yellow tint; yellow diluted with white
- 4. a thin paper or plastic tube used to such liquids into the mouth
英文词源
- straw
- straw: [OE] Straw is etymologically something ‘strewn’ on the floor. The word goes back to a prehistoric Germanic *strāwam (source also of German stroh, Dutch stroo, Swedish strå, and Danish straa). This was formed from the same base as produced strew [OE], and goes back ultimately to Indo-European *ster- ‘spread’, source also of Latin sternere ‘spread out’ (from which English gets prostrate, strata, etc). Dried grain stalks were commonly scattered over floors as an ancient form of temporary carpeting, and so they came to be termed straw.
=> strata, strew - straw (n.)
- Old English streaw (rare) "stems or stalks of certain species of grains," apparently literally "that which is scattered or strewn," related to streowian (see strew), from Proto-Germanic *strawam "that which is scattered" (cognates: Old Norse stra, Danish straa, Swedish strå, Old Saxon stro, Old Frisian stre, Old Dutch, Old High German stro, Dutch stroo, German Stroh "straw"), from PIE *stere- "to spread" (see structure (n.)). The notion perhaps is of dried grain stalks strewn on a floor as carpeting or bedding.
As a type of what is trifling or unimportant, attested from late 13c. Meaning "hollow tube through which a drink is sucked" is recorded from 1851. To draw straws as a means of deciding something is recorded from 1779 (the custom probably is older). As an adjective, "made of straw," mid-15c.; hence "false, sham." Straw poll is from 1932; earlier straw vote (1866). Straw hat first attested mid-15c. To clutch (or grasp or catch) at straws (1748) is what a drowning man proverbially would do. The last straw (1836 apart from the full phrase) is from the proverbial image: "it is the last straw that breaks the camel's back" (or, less often, the mare's, the horse's, or the elephant's), an image in use in English by 1755.Let it not, however, be inferred that taxation cannot be pushed too far : it is, as the Oriental proverb says, the last straw that overloads the camel ; a small addition, if ill-timed, may overturn the whole. ["The Scots Magazine," April 1799]
考试真题
- In preparation for the celebration, a straw mat is placed on the table, along with a candle holder with seven candles, one black, three red, and three green.
2017年12月六级真题(第一套)听力 Section C
词组搭配
clutch (或 grasp, catch) at straws
be in such a desperate situation as to resort to even the most unlikely means of salvation
捞救命稻草,作最后的绝望挣扎
draw the short straw
be the unluckiest of a group of people, especially in being chosen to perform an unpleasant task
抽到下下签(尤指被选中去执行倒霉任务)
the last (或 final) straw
a further difficulty or annoyance, typically minor in itself but coming on top of a whole series of difficulties, that makes a situation unbearable
最终使人无法忍受的一击;终于导致失败的因素
his affair was the last straw.
他的风流事是最终导致失败的因素。
a straw in the wind
a slight hint of future developments
(预示将来发展的)迹象,预兆,苗头
straw in the wind
A slight hint of something to come.
某事要来的微弱暗示
实用场景例句
- a mattress filled with straw
- 稻草填充的垫子
牛津词典
- a straw hat
- 草帽
牛津词典
- He was leaning over the gate chewing on a straw.
- 他嘴里嚼着一根麦秆,靠到栅门上。
牛津词典
- The barn was full of bales of straw...
- 谷仓里堆满了成捆的稻草。
柯林斯高阶英语词典
- I stumbled through mud to a yard strewn with straw.
- 我跌跌撞撞地趟过泥地来到一个堆满麦秆的场院。
柯林斯高阶英语词典
- ...a bottle of lemonade with a straw in it.
- 一瓶插着吸管的柠檬水
柯林斯高阶英语词典
- ...a badly thought-out scheme from a Government clutching at straws.
- 政府情急之下采取的考虑欠周的计划
柯林斯高阶英语词典
- For him the Church's decision to allow the ordination of women had been the last straw...
- 教会同意授给女性神职的决定使他终于忍无可忍。
柯林斯高阶英语词典
- Then came the recession. Revenues dropped, but the straw to break the camel's back was the war.
- 之后出现了经济衰退,财政收入下降,但致命的打击还是那场战争。
柯林斯高阶英语词典
- ...if a few of your guests have drawn the short straw and agreed to drive others home after your summer barbecue.
- 如果你的一些客人不幸被抓了壮丁,同意在夏日烧烤野餐结束后开车把其他人送回家
柯林斯高阶英语词典
- The latest straw in the wind is a pick-up in sales among the nation's retail giants.
- 最新的迹象是该国几家零售巨头的销售额有所上升。
柯林斯高阶英语词典
- How many boys and girls are there in your class?
- 你班有多少男生和女生?
期刊摘选
- The old peasant is twisting pieces of straw into a rope.
- 这位老农民正把稻草搓成绳子.
《简明英汉词典》
- I sat on a bale of straw near the fire.
- 我坐在炉火边的一捆稻草上.
《简明英汉词典》
- I don't care a straw for your opinions.
- 我一点都不在乎你有什么看法.
《简明英汉词典》
- A drowning man will clutch at a straw.
- 即将溺死的人连一根草也要去抓.
《简明英汉词典》
- I took a straw poll among my colleagues to find out how many can use chopsticks.
- 我在同事中做了一个调查,看多少人会用筷子.
《简明英汉词典》
- The press saw the event as a straw in the wind that augured the resumption of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
- 报界把这件事看作是两国之间即将恢复邦交的预兆.
《现代汉英综合大词典》
- It doesn't matter a straw.
- 一点也没有关系.
《现代英汉综合大词典》
- The cart is piled high with straw.
- 大车上的稻草装得冒尖儿了.
《现代汉英综合大词典》
- He acted like a drowning man trying to catch at a straw.
- 他那样做好像一个快要淹死的人拼命想捞救命稻草一样.
《现代汉英综合大词典》
- The bumblebee sizzed right under his straw hat.
- 大黄蜂就在他的草帽底下丝丝作声.
《简明英汉词典》
- Glass should be packed in straw.
- 玻璃器皿应该包扎在稻草中.
《简明英汉词典》
- May I have a straw for my drink?
- 给我一根喝饮料的吸管好 吗 ?
《简明英汉词典》
- The straw mattress needs to be aired.
- 草垫子该晾一晾了.
《现代汉英综合大词典》
- The horses were crunching their straw at their manger.
- 这些马在嘎吱嘎吱地吃槽里的草.
《简明英汉词典》
- He seems to be looking for a man of straw to belabour.
- 他看来在找一个假想的敌人来加以痛打.
《简明英汉词典》