cat
cat — 名詞
1. a small, soft-furred animal with four legs, a long tail, and sharp claws. People
貓
常見的寵物貓
a small, soft-furred animal with four legs, a long tail, and sharp claws. People commonly keep it inside the house for company or to chase away mice.
Leila's cat likes to sit on the sofa and watch birds through the window.
Leila 的貓喜歡坐在沙發上，透過窗戶看小鳥。
collocation: possessive + cat
Our neighbour keeps two cats in her small apartment.
我們的鄰居在她的小公寓裡養了兩隻貓。
countable noun with numbers
The grey cat ran across the garden and climbed up a tall tree.
那隻灰貓跑過花園，爬上一棵高高的樹。
A cat walked quietly along the fence and then stopped to clean its paws.
一隻貓沿著籬笆靜靜地走，然後停下來清理自己的爪子。
Yara feeds her cat twice a day and takes it to the vet each year.
Yara 每天餵她的貓兩次，每年帶牠去看一次獸醫。
collocation: feed + cat / take cat to vet
- feed the cat
- pet the cat
- cat food
- cat litter
- stray cat
- indoor cat
- dog
a different type of pet, often seen as the opposite in personality
常見錯誤
2. any animal from the zoological group that also includes house cats, such as lion
貓科動物
獅子、老虎等野生貓科
any animal from the zoological group that also includes house cats, such as lions, tigers, leopards, and cheetahs that live in the wild
Lions are the only cats that live and hunt together in large groups.
獅子是唯一會成群生活並一起狩獵的貓科動物。
countable: cats = big cats / wild felids
The zoo has a new area for African cats including cheetahs and leopards.
動物園新設了一個非洲貓科動物區，裡面有獵豹和花豹。
Cheetahs are the fastest cats on land and can run much faster than a horse.
獵豹是陸地上跑得最快的貓科動物，速度遠比馬快。
superlative: the fastest cats
Many big cats like tigers and leopards are in danger of dying out.
許多大型貓科動物，如老虎和花豹，正面臨絕種的危險。
collocation: big cats
The leopard is a powerful cat that climbs trees and hides its food up high.
花豹是一種強壯的貓科動物，會爬樹並把食物藏在高處。
- big cats
- wild cats
- the cat family
- African cats
- large cats
To be the best or most impressive thing or person.
最棒的人或事物
Maya thinks her new phone is the cat's whiskers.
Diego felt like the cat's pyjamas after winning the race.
To be raining very heavily.
傾盆大雨
We stayed inside because it was raining cats and dogs.
Is it raining cats and dogs outside right now?
A question asked to someone who is silent when they should speak.
啞巴了嗎？
Why won't you answer? Cat got your tongue?
The teacher asked, "Cat got your tongue, Leo?"
A warning that asking too many questions can lead to trouble.
好奇害死貓
Don't pry into his past; curiosity killed the cat.
Remember, curiosity killed the cat, so stop asking.
To argue or fight frequently and intensely.
激烈爭吵
My brothers fight like cat and dog over video games.
Sara and her roommate fought like cat and dog all year.
To reveal a secret accidentally or carelessly.
洩漏秘密
Aiden let the cat out of the bag about the party.
Who let the cat out of the bag and told Mom?
Very nervous or restless.
坐立不安
Before her interview, Mia was like a cat on a hot tin roof.
He paced around like a cat on a hot tin roof.
Very pleased with oneself or smug.
得意洋洋
After getting the promotion, Tom looked like a cat that's got the cream.
She smiled like a cat that's got the cream after winning.
like herding cats
idiomDescribes a very difficult task, especially organizing people.
極其困難
Getting all the kids to sit still is like herding cats.
Managing this team is like herding cats every day.
To look very messy or untidy.
蓬頭垢面
After the hike, Brian looked like something the cat dragged in.
You look like something the cat brought in; go shower.
A very small space with little room to move.
空間狹小
His apartment is tiny; there's no room to swing a cat.
In this crowded bus, there's no room to swing a cat.
To have no possibility of success.
毫無機會
Without practice, she doesn't have a cat in hell's chance of winning.
He stands a cat in hell's chance of finishing on time.
To repeatedly tease or toy with someone in a cruel way.
玩貓捉老鼠
The detective played cat and mouse with the suspect.
Stop playing cat and mouse with me and tell the truth.
To say or do something that causes trouble or upset.
引起混亂
His announcement set the cat among the pigeons at the meeting.
She put the cat among the pigeons by revealing the secret.
There are many different ways to achieve a goal.
條條大路通羅馬
Don't give up; there's more than one way to skin a cat.
He proved there's more than one way to skin a cat by fixing it differently.
People misbehave or enjoy themselves when the authority figure is absent.
貓不在，老鼠作怪
When the boss left, the staff relaxed; when the cat's away, the mice will play.
The kids threw a party because when the cat's away, the mice will play.
同根字
- kitten名詞A2
- catty形容詞C1
- cat-like形容詞B2
- feline形容詞C1
常見搭配
常用片語
- cat and mouse
- let the cat out of the bag
- rain cats and dogs