copying
copying — verb
1. to deliberately produce a near-identical version of someone else's work, often w
to deliberately produce a near-identical version of someone else's work, often without their permission.
Aoi was caught copying her neighbor's answers during the math exam.
copy + noun (answers) + from someone
Obi spent two days copying the medieval map onto thick parchment paper.
copy + noun + onto + surface
Several students were punished for copying entire paragraphs from Wikipedia.
The young painter learned by copying the brushwork of Monet for hours each day.
- duplicate
neutral, often used for documents and files
- reproduce
formal; suggests careful, exact copying
- plagiarize
negative; copying someone's work and pretending it is yours
- create
make something new, not based on an existing work
文法句型
copy + noun (work/text/picture)
copy + noun + from + source
用法筆記
Object is usually a creative or original work (essay, picture, song, code). Distinguish from sense 4: this sense covers reproducing whole pieces of work; sense 4 covers the keyboard action of moving text.
常見錯誤
2. to act, dress, or talk like another person on purpose, usually because you look
to act, dress, or talk like another person on purpose, usually because you look up to them or want to fit in.
Padma copied her older sister's hairstyle and even her way of laughing.
copy + person's + behavior/style
Many young footballers copy Messi's free-kick technique on the practice field.
copy + famous person + skill
Kenji copies his father's stern voice whenever he scolds the family dog.
The toddler copied every funny face her grandmother made at the dinner table.
文法句型
copy + person
copy + person's + behavior/clothes/accent
用法筆記
Subject is usually a person who admires, follows, or wants to learn from another. Often used with younger people learning from older role models. Less negative than 'mimic', which can suggest mockery.
常見錯誤
3. to produce an identical electronic duplicate of a file, document, folder, or pro
to produce an identical electronic duplicate of a file, document, folder, or program from its original.
Walid copied the spreadsheet to his USB drive before leaving the office.
copy + file + to + location
Please copy the project folder onto the shared network before the meeting.
copy + folder + onto + drive
The system was copying thousands of photos from the old phone to the new one.
Adina copied the contract template and saved it under a different filename.
- delete
remove rather than reproduce
文法句型
copy + noun (file/document)
copy + noun + to + location
用法筆記
Common with prepositions 'to', 'onto', 'into' for the destination, and 'from' for the source. Often appears in technical instructions ('copy the file to the desktop').
常見錯誤
4. to use a keyboard or menu to take a piece of text or an image from one place on
to use a keyboard or menu to take a piece of text or an image from one place on a screen and put it somewhere else.
Sophia copied and pasted the address from the email into Google Maps.
copy and paste + noun + from X + into Y
Just copy the link, then paste it into the chat box.
imperative pattern: copy + noun, then paste
Lucía copied the chart from Excel and pasted it directly into her slide.
Students often copy quotes from articles and paste them into their notes app.
- duplicate
more formal; less natural for the on-screen Ctrl+C / Ctrl+V action
- cut
remove the original instead of leaving it in place
文法句型
copy and paste + noun
copy + noun + into + document
用法筆記
Almost always paired with 'paste'. Distinguish from sense 3: this sense is the brief on-screen action (Ctrl+C / Cmd+C, then Ctrl+V); sense 3 is duplicating a whole file at the file-system level.
常見錯誤
5. in radio talk, to say that you have clearly heard and understood the message tha
in radio talk, to say that you have clearly heard and understood the message that was just sent.
Iris pressed the radio button and said, 'Copy that, base camp — we are heading down now.'
fixed expression: 'copy that'
The pilot copied the new landing instructions from the control tower.
copy + noun (message/instructions)
Do you copy, Bravo Team? Please respond within thirty seconds.
'I copy you loud and clear,' replied Christopher from the rescue helicopter.
- roger
older radio slang meaning the same thing
- acknowledge
formal equivalent used in written procedures
文法句型
copy + that
do you copy?
用法筆記
Mostly heard in military, aviation, police, and emergency-services contexts. Often appears as the fixed phrases 'copy that', 'do you copy?', and 'loud and clear'. Has spread into casual speech as a slightly playful way to say 'understood'.