carpet
carpet — noun
1. thick, soft fabric, typically made from wool or synthetic fibres, that people in
thick, soft fabric, typically made from wool or synthetic fibres, that people install on a room's floor to make it warmer and more comfortable underfoot.
The children sat on the soft carpet and played with their building blocks.
carpet as floor covering for sitting on
We decided to replace the old brown carpet in the living room with wooden flooring.
A vacuum cleaner is the easiest way to keep a wall-to-wall carpet clean.
The hotel hallway was lined with a thick red carpet that felt soft underfoot.
用法筆記
As an uncountable noun, carpet refers to the material itself ('we bought new carpet for the bedroom'). As a countable noun, it emphasises a specific piece or fitted covering ('a large carpet in the hall').
常見錯誤
2. a natural substance — such as leaves, flowers, snow, or moss — that spreads acro
a natural substance — such as leaves, flowers, snow, or moss — that spreads across the ground in a thick, even layer, like a soft covering.
A thick carpet of autumn leaves covered the garden path after the storm.
carpet of + natural material (leaves, snow, flowers)
When the cherry trees bloom, the park is covered in a pink carpet of petals.
The forest floor was hidden under a soft green carpet of moss.
After heavy snowfall, the whole village lay under a white carpet of snow.
用法筆記
Only used in singular form. This sense always appears in the pattern 'a carpet of + [natural substance]' or 'a [colour] carpet of [substance]'. The substance is typically natural (leaves, snow, flowers, moss, grass). Do not use for man-made coverings like gravel or plastic.
常見錯誤
3. a ceremonial walkway made of red fabric, put in place at formal events such as f
a ceremonial walkway made of red fabric, put in place at formal events such as film premieres, award galas, or state receptions so that honoured guests can step out of their vehicles and enter in style.
The star walked down the red carpet surrounded by photographers and fans.
red carpet as ceremonial walkway at events
Award nominees begin arriving on the red carpet about two hours before the ceremony starts.
The palace rolled out the red carpet for the visiting president and his delegation.
In a long gold gown, Leila stopped on the red carpet to pose for photos.
- ceremonial carpet
less common but more precise when the carpet itself is the focus
用法筆記
Often used in the fixed phrase 'the red carpet' (with definite article) to refer to the ceremonial event itself ('the red carpet was full of stars'), or in the idiomatic expression 'roll out the red carpet for someone', meaning to give someone a very special, formal welcome.
常見錯誤
carpet — verb
1. to put a fitted carpet onto a floor, covering it completely.
to put a fitted carpet onto a floor, covering it completely.
We plan to carpet the entire upstairs before the new baby arrives.
carpet as verb: cover a room/floor with fitted carpet
The landlord agreed to carpet the living room and both bedrooms.
Our neighbours had their hallway carpeted in a light grey colour.
The couple decided to carpet the stairs instead of leaving them bare.
- fit carpet
more specific to the installation process; 'carpet' as verb is more general
文法句型
carpet + noun phrase
用法筆記
Almost always used of floors and stairs. The object is the room, hallway, or area receiving the carpet, not the carpet itself ('carpet the bedroom', NOT 'carpet the wool'). Frequently appears in the causative pattern 'have/get something carpeted'.
常見錯誤
2. to be completely covered by a thick, soft layer of something natural, such as le
to be completely covered by a thick, soft layer of something natural, such as leaves, flowers, or snow — for example, a hillside carpeted with wildflowers in spring.
The valley was carpeted with wild poppies that stretched beyond the horizon.
passive + with: be carpeted with [natural thing]
After the overnight snowfall, the streets were carpeted in thick white snow.
passive + in: be carpeted in [substance]
Pine needles carpeted the ground beneath the tall trees.
Autumn leaves carpeted the driveway, crunching under Rohan's boots as he walked.
文法句型
be carpeted with/in + noun phrase
用法筆記
Most commonly appears in the passive voice ('the ground was carpeted with leaves'). In the active voice, the subject is the covering substance itself ('leaves carpeted the ground'), not a person doing the covering. Distinguish from verb sense 1: this sense describes natural layers, not a person installing floor covering.
3. to give a person a harsh verbal scolding for an error or wrongdoing, with the sp
to give a person a harsh verbal scolding for an error or wrongdoing, with the speaker typically being a manager, supervisor, or other figure in charge.
The manager carpeted the junior staff for arriving late to the morning meeting.
reprimand: carpet + person + for + reason
Yusuf was carpeted by his supervisor after the client complained about the delay.
passive: be carpeted by [authority figure]
The head teacher carpeted the entire class for cheating on the exam.
When the shipment arrived damaged, the warehouse manager carpeted the loading crew.
- reprimand
more formal; 'carpet' is informal British
- tell off
similar register but less severe; used in both UK and US
- dress down
American equivalent; informal
- chew out
American English; very informal and forceful
文法句型
carpet + person + for + noun phrase/gerund
用法筆記
This is an informal British usage. The person doing the carpeting is always in a position of authority over the recipient. The idiom likely evolved from the image of being called 'on the carpet' (i.e., into the boss's carpeted office) to receive a dressing-down. In American English, 'dress down' or 'chew out' is preferred.