goad
goad — verb
- goadpresent simple I / you / we / they
- goadshe / she / it
- goadedpast simple
- goading-ing form
1. to keep picking at someone — teasing, daring, or criticising them again and agai
to keep picking at someone — teasing, daring, or criticising them again and again — not letting up until they are pushed into reacting or doing what you wanted them to do
Ryo's older brother goaded him into climbing the high wall by calling him a coward.
goad + someone + into + -ing
The crowd goaded the speaker with non-stop jeers until he shouted back at them.
goad + someone + with + noun (jeers, insults)
Nicholas stayed calm even though his teammates goaded him about the missed goal.
The older boys goaded Sana to climb the water tower, but she refused.
Amira felt she had been goaded into the argument and later wished she had walked away.
- provoke
broader — can be a single action rather than continual pressure
- egg on
informal; often used when someone pushes another to do something foolish
- needle
informal; focuses on persistent small jabs rather than driving to a result
- spur
more positive — to motivate or encourage, not necessarily through irritation
文法句型
goad + someone + into + -ing
goad + someone + to-infinitive
be goaded + into + -ing
用法筆記
Often followed by 'into + -ing' or 'to + infinitive'. The subject is usually a person or a group; the object is the person being pushed to react. This is the sense you want when people are using words, not physical objects.
常見錯誤
2. to prod livestock with a sharp pole, forcing the beast to move ahead or rousing
to prod livestock with a sharp pole, forcing the beast to move ahead or rousing it until it charges
The farmer goaded the tired ox with a sharp stick to keep it moving along the path.
literal: goad + animal + with + pointed instrument
Otis picked up a long pole and goaded the donkey up the steep, rocky hill.
In the old painting, a herder goads a pair of buffaloes across a dusty field.
Marco goaded the elephant by jabbing its thick skin, but it refused to move.
文法句型
goad + animal + with + noun
用法筆記
This is the literal sense — the action uses a physical pointed stick or pole. For the figurative sense of pushing someone with words, see sense 1 (PROVOKE INTO ACTION).
goad — noun
- goadsingular
- goadsplural
1. an irritating push — something that needles and drives you to finally act, often
an irritating push — something that needles and drives you to finally act, often because you can no longer stand being poked at
The constant noise from the construction site became a goad that drove Hoa to move house.
noun: a goad that drives someone to act
Eli saw his rival's success as a goad to train harder every single day.
noun: a goad to + infinitive
The tax increase acted as a goad, pushing local businesses to organise and protest.
Ramón used the memory of his failure as a goad to study harder for the next exam.
- deterrent
something that stops you from acting
用法筆記
Often used with 'as a goad' or 'a goad to do something'. The goad is rarely welcome — it pushes you through discomfort, not through encouragement.
常見錯誤
2. a long stick with a sharpened tip, used for prodding oxen or other work animals
a long stick with a sharpened tip, used for prodding oxen or other work animals to keep them moving
The herder carried a long goad with a metal tip to prod the cattle across the plain.
literal tool: a goad with a metal tip
Apinya saw an old wooden goad hanging on the barn wall, dusty and unused for years.
In the museum, a bronze goad from ancient Egypt sat beside a wooden plough.
Mateo sharpened the end of his goad before leading the oxen out into the field.
- prod
can refer to any pointed poking tool, not only for driving animals
- cattle prod
modern equivalent, usually electric
用法筆記
This is the literal tool. The figurative noun sense (IRRITATING STIMULUS) developed from the image of this stick prodding an animal forward.