doll
doll — noun
1. an object made to look like a person or baby, used by children as a plaything
an object made to look like a person or baby, used by children as a plaything
Jisoo put her doll to bed and covered it with a tiny blanket.
put [doll] to bed
The little boy carried his rag doll everywhere he went.
rag doll
Nia's grandmother sewed tiny dresses for her collection of paper dolls.
Kenji bought a doll's house with tiny furniture for his niece's birthday.
The toddler hugged her cloth doll tightly during the car ride.
- toy
a general term for any plaything; doll is a specific kind of toy
- action figure
a poseable doll representing a character from a film or comic, usually sold for boys
- figurine
a small decorative figure, not intended as a plaything
用法筆記
Doll is the general term; specific types include rag doll, porcelain doll, and paper doll. A doll's house is a miniature house for dolls to live in.
常見錯誤
2. a word used to refer to a young woman in a way that many people now find insulti
a word used to refer to a young woman in a way that many people now find insulting, especially when it focuses on her appearance
Some men still call young women 'dolls,' but the term is now seen as insulting.
The manager was told to stop calling female staff 'dolls' because it made them uncomfortable.
offensive register: referring to women as 'dolls' in workplace
Old films sometimes describe a pretty young woman as a 'doll,' which sounds very dated.
Linh felt insulted when a stranger called her 'doll,' as if she were an object.
文法句型
used as a term of address or reference
用法筆記
This sense is widely considered offensive or disrespectful, especially in professional or public settings. It reduces a woman to her appearance. Avoid using it unless you are discussing the term itself or describing dated language.
常見錯誤
3. someone who is kind, helpful, or pleasant — used as a friendly way to address or
someone who is kind, helpful, or pleasant — used as a friendly way to address or describe a person
Be a doll and grab me a coffee while you're at the counter.
be a doll and [request]
Élise is such a doll — she brought home-made soup when I was sick.
Thanks for watching the kids while I ran errands — you're a real doll!
The woman next door is a sweet doll who always shares her garden vegetables.
Ignacio's assistant is a doll; she even remembered his mother's birthday.
- sweetheart
similar affectionate term, but more commonly used as direct address
- darling
warmer and more intimate; common between romantic partners or to children
- gem
suggests someone who is especially helpful or reliable, less intimate
文法句型
be a doll and [imperative]
用法筆記
Used affectionately, this sense is not offensive — unlike sense 2. It is most common in the fixed phrases 'be a doll' (making a friendly request) and 'you're a doll' (expressing thanks). Typically used between people who know each other.