funk
funk — noun
1. A style of dance music that came out of African American communities in the 1960
A style of dance music that came out of African American communities in the 1960s, built on a strong repeated beat, deep bass lines, and influences from soul, jazz, and rhythm and blues.
Christopher put on a funk record, and the whole room started dancing.
funk + noun modifier: funk record
Vinícius's album blends classic funk basslines with hip-hop and electronic sounds from Brazil.
blends funk with [other genres]
Femi put on a James Brown record, and the funk bass made everyone start dancing.
Ayesha learned to play funk bass by listening to old Parliament records.
The festival featured funk bands alongside soul and jazz acts from Senegal and Japan.
文法句型
funk + noun (modifier)
用法筆記
Often used as a modifier before nouns: funk music, funk band, funk guitar. The adjective 'funky' is much more common in everyday conversation.
2. A temporary period of sadness, low energy, or lack of confidence, often without
A temporary period of sadness, low energy, or lack of confidence, often without a clear cause.
After quitting her job, Renata was in a funk for nearly a month.
in a funk (temporary low period)
Yuki tried going for a run every morning to lift herself out of her funk.
lift / pull out of a funk
The team's losing streak put the coach in a deep funk that lasted weeks.
Wren could not shake the funk after moving to a new city by herself.
Sade's roommate noticed she was in a funk and made her favourite dinner.
- high spirits
state of happiness and energy
文法句型
in a funk
in a bit of a funk
in a blue funk
用法筆記
Almost always appears in the fixed phrase 'in a funk'. The intensity is usually mild — closer to 'the blues' than to clinical depression. 'Blue funk' is a slightly stronger variant.
常見錯誤
3. A state of nervous fear or worry about an upcoming event, as opposed to the gene
A state of nervous fear or worry about an upcoming event, as opposed to the general sadness of sense 2.
Hui was in a blue funk before her final exam and could barely sleep.
blue funk (strong fear/anxiety)
The actor was in a blue funk before shows, trembling too hard to hold the script.
Obi fell into a blue funk just thinking about the job interview.
The pilot was in a blue funk before every solo mission, even after months of training.
- calm
state of peace and control
文法句型
in a funk
in a blue funk
用法筆記
Closely related to sense 2 (DEPRESSION), but this sense emphasizes fear and worry rather than sadness. 'Blue funk' is particularly associated with this meaning.
4. A strong, unpleasant odor, especially one that is stale, sweaty, or musty and ha
A strong, unpleasant odor, especially one that is stale, sweaty, or musty and has built up over time.
A strange funk filled the kitchen after the garbage sat unemptied all weekend.
a funk filled [place]
The old gym locker room had a permanent funk that no cleaner could remove.
Mauricio noticed a damp funk rising from the basement after weeks of rain.
The taxi driver rolled down the window to let out the funk of old smoke.
- fragrance
a pleasant, sweet smell
文法句型
a funk of + noun
用法筆記
This sense is now rare in isolation, but it lives on in the adjective 'funky', which originally meant 'strong-smelling' or 'earthy' before acquiring its positive musical meaning.
funk — verb
1. To suddenly move back or hesitate because something has scared or surprised you.
To suddenly move back or hesitate because something has scared or surprised you.
The horse funked at the loud crack of thunder and refused to move forward.
funk at [sudden stimulus]
Imran funked when the wave rose above him and paddled frantically toward the shore.
The puppy funked at its own reflection in the hallway mirror.
Kian funked when the dentist picked up the drill and grabbed the armrest.
- stand firm
not be moved by fear
文法句型
funk at [something]
用法筆記
This sense is chiefly British in modern usage and is considered old-fashioned. Most speakers today would use 'flinch', 'back away', or 'freeze' instead.
2. To feel very worried or frightened about something that has not happened yet.
To feel very worried or frightened about something that has not happened yet.
Mira funked the thought of giving a speech in front of five hundred people.
funk + the thought of [event]
Arjun funked the dental appointment so badly that he cancelled three times.
Hoa funked the phone call to her landlord about the broken heater and spent two freezing nights before she dialed.
Talia funked the meeting with her professor to discuss the failing grade.
- look forward to
to feel excited about a future event
文法句型
funk + noun
用法筆記
Old-fashioned in modern English. Usually replaced by 'dread', 'be terrified of', or 'panic about'. The object is typically an event or situation, not a person.
3. To choose not to do something difficult or frightening because you do not have e
To choose not to do something difficult or frightening because you do not have enough courage.
Takeshi funked the challenge of climbing the mountain despite months of training.
funk + noun (a challenge/task)
Élise funked telling her parents the truth about the accident until it was too late.
Rania funked leading the team on the biggest project of the year and asked her boss for a co-leader.
Lauren funked the difficult talk with her partner and let things get worse.
- chicken out of
more common informal equivalent
- bottle out of
British informal equivalent
- avoid
neutral and much more common
文法句型
funk + noun/verb-ing
用法筆記
By far the rarest of the verb senses. In modern English, 'bottle out (of)', 'chicken out (of)', or 'avoid' are used instead. The object is always something the subject was expected or obliged to do.