bitch
bitch — noun
1. an adult dog of the female sex; sometimes also used for the female of related an
an adult dog of the female sex; sometimes also used for the female of related animals such as wolves and foxes.
Our neighbour's bitch had six healthy puppies last Tuesday morning.
noun referring to a female dog with offspring
The farmer keeps two working bitches to herd the sheep across the hills.
plural form 'bitches' for working dogs
Mr. Cole entered his prize bitch in the village dog show on Saturday.
Wildlife biologists tracked the wolf bitch and her cubs through the snowy forest.
- female dog
the safe, neutral everyday term
- dam
specifically a mother dog with puppies, used by breeders
用法筆記
Almost always used in breeding, hunting, or zoology contexts. In everyday talk people prefer 'female dog' to avoid sounding like the offensive sense (noun/2).
常見錯誤
2. a strong insult aimed at a woman the speaker thinks is cruel, mean, or behaves b
a strong insult aimed at a woman the speaker thinks is cruel, mean, or behaves badly. Highly offensive and often used in anger or in arguments.
Nadia called her former boss a bitch after being fired without warning.
common pattern: 'call someone a bitch'
Don't be such a bitch — Nia was only trying to help you with the report.
vocative scolding: 'don't be such a bitch'
The angry customer shouted, 'You stupid bitch!' at the young waitress.
Otto regretted calling her sister a bitch during the heated family argument.
用法筆記
Very offensive, sexist, and considered hate speech in many workplaces. Distinguish from sense 5: this insult judges character; sense 5 describes a power relationship. Some women now reclaim the word among friends as playful, but learners should avoid using it.
常見錯誤
3. an informal way of describing a task, situation, or experience that is really ha
an informal way of describing a task, situation, or experience that is really hard, painful, or annoying to deal with.
Carrying that heavy sofa up four flights of stairs was a real bitch.
predicate noun: 'was a real bitch'
Priya said the chemistry final exam was a bitch to study for.
pattern: 'a bitch to + infinitive'
Finding parking near the stadium on game day is always a bitch.
Fadi groaned that filing his late tax return online was a real bitch.
文法句型
a bitch (of a/to do)
用法筆記
Casual speech only — avoid in writing, school, or professional settings. Often appears in fixed phrases like 'life's a bitch' or 'a bitch of a [job/day/exam]'. Mild on the offensive scale compared with sense 2, but still vulgar.
常見錯誤
4. a moment of grumbling — saying out loud all the things that bother you, often wi
a moment of grumbling — saying out loud all the things that bother you, often with a friend who listens and sympathises.
Nia and Otto met for coffee and had a long bitch about their boss.
pattern: 'have a bitch about + person/thing'
After a hard week, Priya needed a good bitch with her old college friends.
common phrase: 'a good bitch'
Every Friday the team has a quick bitch in the kitchen before going home.
Fadi enjoyed a brief bitch with his brother before getting back to work.
文法句型
have a bitch (about something)
用法筆記
Always with 'have a' or 'a good'. Frames complaining as social bonding rather than serious anger. More common in British and Australian English than American.
常見錯誤
5. a deeply offensive label for a person who is forced or willing to obey another p
a deeply offensive label for a person who is forced or willing to obey another person in everything, with no power of their own. Often heard in prison slang and in films.
In the prison drama, the new inmate was warned not to become anyone's bitch.
fixed phrase: 'someone's bitch'
Priya refused to be the team captain's bitch and fetch her coffee every morning.
metaphor for total subordination
The villain laughed and said the mayor was now his personal bitch.
Nia told her bullying co-workers that she was nobody's bitch.
- boss
the one giving orders rather than taking them
文法句型
someone's bitch
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 2: that one judges a woman's character; this one is about being controlled by someone, regardless of gender. Common in films and rap lyrics, but extremely insulting in real conversation. Frequently appears in the structure 'X's bitch'.
常見錯誤
bitch — verb
1. to grumble or speak in an unkind way about a person or situation, usually behind
to grumble or speak in an unkind way about a person or situation, usually behind their back rather than to their face.
Fadi and Nia spent lunch bitching about the new shift schedule.
core pattern: bitch about + thing
Stop bitching about your sister and just call her to apologise.
imperative: 'stop bitching'
Priya has been bitching at her roommate all week over the dirty kitchen.
The players were bitching among themselves about the coach's harsh new rules.
- praise
say good things about someone instead of bad
- compliment
express positive judgement rather than negative
文法句型
bitch about somebody/something
bitch at somebody
用法筆記
Almost always paired with 'about' (the topic) or 'at' (the target). Mildly vulgar — fine among friends, risky at work or school. Suggests pointless grumbling rather than a useful complaint, so it usually carries a hint of disapproval toward the speaker.