hairy

hairy — adjective

1. describes a person or animal that has thick hair growing on the body, especially

1.形容詞B1
釋義

describes a person or animal that has thick hair growing on the body, especially where people typically have little or no hair

例句

Stefan rolled up his sleeves to reveal a pair of very hairy arms.

collocation: hairy arms / hairy legs / hairy chest

The stray cat was so hairy that its eyes were nearly hidden beneath its fur.

同義詞
  • furry

    used for animals with soft, thick fur; rarely for humans, and then usually playfully

  • hirsute

    formal or medical term for body hair; very uncommon in everyday speech

  • stubbly

    describes short, rough facial hair (a day or two without shaving), not the same as thick body hair

反義詞
  • hairless

    having no body hair at all, often by shaving or genetics

  • bald

    specifically for a scalp with no hair; not used for the rest of the body

文法句型

hairy + noun (hairy legs, hairy chest)

be/look/get + hairy

用法筆記

Unlike hirsute (a formal, clinical word for the same idea), hairy is everyday English and can sound slightly negative or teasing depending on tone. Frequently used with body parts that are normally visible: arms, legs, chest, back.

常見錯誤

❌My head feels very hairy after swimming.
✅My hair feels very wet after swimming.
💡Hairy describes skin/fur, not hair on the scalp. Use 'hair' as a noun for what grows on your head.

2. used in informal conversation to describe a risky or scary experience that also

2.形容詞B2
釋義

used in informal conversation to describe a risky or scary experience that also feels exciting or thrilling, like a narrow escape

例句

The plane landing grew hairy when the wind shifted at the last second.

pattern: a bit / a little / pretty / grow + hairy (intensifiers with gradable adjective)

Kabir described the hairy moment his car skidded on the icy bridge.

collocation: hairy moment / hairy situation

同義詞
  • scary

    more general; can describe any fear, not just exciting risk

  • nerve-racking

    focuses on the anxiety rather than the excitement

  • white-knuckle

    used almost exclusively for rides, flights, or drives that are thrillingly dangerous

  • dicey

    British informal; similar meaning but emphasises uncertainty rather than thrill

反義詞
  • safe

    the opposite of risky; without danger

  • smooth

    used for a journey or process without problems or scares

文法句型

hairy + noun (hairy moment, hairy situation)

get + hairy

用法筆記

Only used for situations that are scary-but-exciting, like driving fast, risky sports, or near-accidents. NOT used for slow dangers (illness, financial trouble) or abstract threats — saying 'the meeting got hairy' suggests a confrontation that was tense and unpredictable, not merely difficult.

常見錯誤

❌The exam was very hairy — I studied all night.
✅The exam was very tough
💡I studied all night.' — Hairy does not mean 'difficult' in the sense of mentally challenging; it means physically or emotionally dangerous/thrilling.