butterfly
butterfly — noun
1. a small flying creature that has a thin body, two pairs of wide wings that are u
a small flying creature that has a thin body, two pairs of wide wings that are usually marked with bright colours and patterns, and feeds on the nectar of flowers.
A yellow butterfly landed on the lavender bush in Grandma's garden.
subject + landed on [flower]
Maya watched a blue butterfly flap its wings slowly in the morning sun.
watch + butterfly + flap its wings
The children chased butterflies through the long grass behind the school.
The green caterpillars on the cabbage plants will turn into white butterflies by July.
A small orange butterfly fluttered past Sofia's window and landed on a sunflower.
用法筆記
Often appears as a symbol of beauty, fragility, or change in literature, because the insect transforms from a caterpillar.
常見錯誤
2. someone who moves quickly from one interest, group, or activity to another, usua
someone who moves quickly from one interest, group, or activity to another, usually because they enjoy fun and attention more than steady commitment.
At every party Lina is a real social butterfly, chatting happily with strangers all evening.
social butterfly (fixed phrase)
Marcus is too much of a butterfly to finish any project he starts.
be a butterfly + cannot finish
Grandpa called my cousin a butterfly because she changed her major three times.
Grandma worried that Daniel was becoming a butterfly, jumping from one girlfriend to another every month.
- playboy
stronger, usually male, with a focus on romance and pleasure
- dilettante
formal; stresses shallow interest in arts or hobbies rather than fun-seeking
- homebody
someone who prefers staying home over chasing new scenes
用法筆記
Mildly critical when used alone; the fixed compound 'social butterfly' is more neutral and even friendly. Often refers to women in older texts, but applies to any gender today.
常見錯誤
3. a tiny metal clip that slides onto an earring's post from behind, holding the je
a tiny metal clip that slides onto an earring's post from behind, holding the jewellery firmly against the ear so it cannot drop off.
Sarah lost the butterfly from her gold earring while she was running for the bus.
lose the butterfly from [earring]
The jeweller gave Mei a pair of silver butterflies to replace the missing ones.
plural: butterflies = earring backs
Press the butterfly firmly onto the post until you hear a tiny click.
The pearl earring kept slipping because the butterfly was too loose.
- earring back
the everyday name; 'butterfly' is the shop term for the small bowtie-shaped type
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1 (the insect): this sense always refers to a small piece of jewellery hardware, not a living creature, and is countable.
4. a swimming style done face-down, where both arms swing forward together above th
a swimming style done face-down, where both arms swing forward together above the surface and the legs kick in a smooth wave-like motion.
Carlos won gold in the 200-metre butterfly at the school swimming meet.
the 200-metre butterfly (race)
Coach Tanaka taught the team how to swim the butterfly without getting tired.
swim the butterfly
Maya struggled with the butterfly during her first swim lesson at the city pool last summer.
Sofia prefers freestyle to butterfly because her shoulders ache after only one lap.
- fly
informal short form used by swimmers themselves
- backstroke
swum on the back, not the front
- breaststroke
arms stay underwater and sweep outwards
文法句型
do/swim + the butterfly
用法筆記
Often shortened from 'butterfly stroke'. Takes 'the' when naming the stroke ('the butterfly') but no article when contrasted with other strokes ('butterfly is harder than backstroke').
常見錯誤
butterfly — verb
1. to slice almost all the way through a thick piece of meat, fish, or chicken so t
to slice almost all the way through a thick piece of meat, fish, or chicken so that it can be folded out flat and cooks more quickly and evenly.
Chef Gomez butterflied the chicken breasts before brushing them with garlic oil.
butterfly + [meat] + before cooking
Ask the butcher to butterfly the leg of lamb so it grills in twenty minutes.
ask someone to butterfly + [cut]
Dad butterflied a dozen prawns and packed them in a lemon marinade.
Butterfly the pork tenderloin so the herbs can reach the centre of the meat.
- spatchcock
specifically for poultry; involves removing the backbone, not just slicing through
文法句型
butterfly + [meat / fish / shrimp]
用法筆記
Almost always used in cooking contexts. Usually transitive with a meat or seafood object; the past participle 'butterflied' is also used as an adjective (see adjective sense 1).
常見錯誤
butterfly — adjective
1. (of meat, fish, or seafood) sliced almost in half along the centre and spread ou
(of meat, fish, or seafood) sliced almost in half along the centre and spread out so it lies flat and looks like an open pair of wings.
The menu listed butterfly prawns served with a sweet chilli dip.
butterfly prawns (attributive)
Maria ordered a butterfly pork chop with mashed potatoes and peas.
butterfly pork chop (food item)
The butterfly chicken cooked in less than fifteen minutes on the hot grill.
At the steakhouse, Ben asked for a butterfly sirloin so his dinner would arrive faster.
- butterflied
past-participle form, more common in recipe writing
- whole
uncut and not opened up
文法句型
butterfly + [meat noun]
用法筆記
Used only before a noun (attributively). The fuller form 'butterflied' (past participle) appears in similar positions: 'butterflied chicken'. Distinguish from adjective sense 2, which is about shape rather than how the food is cut.
2. having the form of a butterfly, or made to open from the centre into two matchin
having the form of a butterfly, or made to open from the centre into two matching halves that look like spread wings.
The cottage had pretty butterfly shutters that swung open from the middle.
butterfly shutters (open from middle)
Nina fastened her thick ponytail with a pink butterfly clip from the gift shop.
butterfly clip (shape resemblance)
Eva wore a silver butterfly mask to the costume ball, with painted wings spreading across her cheeks.
Lina chose a delicate butterfly necklace with two enamel wings as her birthday gift to her sister.
- wing-shaped
more general; not tied to butterflies specifically
文法句型
butterfly + [object noun]
用法筆記
Used before a noun (attributively) for objects that visually resemble a butterfly or open like its wings. Distinguish from adjective sense 1: that one is specifically about food cut open for cooking; this one is about shape and visual resemblance.