hat
hat — noun
1. an item worn on the head, typically with a rounded top and a brim that sticks ou
an item worn on the head, typically with a rounded top and a brim that sticks out around the edge, used especially outdoors to shield from sunshine or cold or as part of a uniform or ceremonial dress.
Gabriela wore a wide straw hat to protect her face from the summer sun.
collocation: straw hat / sun hat for weather protection
The old man tipped his hat politely as Anong walked past his shop.
collocation: tip one's hat as a greeting
In winter, Ryo always puts a warm wool hat on his daughter before school.
Jack bought a red and white baseball-style hat from the stadium gift shop.
Lara hung her wet rain hat on a hook to let it dry.
文法句型
wear a [type of] hat
put on / take off a hat
[person] + tip(s) one's hat
常見錯誤
❌ 'She wore a hat on her head and a scarf around her neck.' — This is grammatically correct but redundant: hats are always worn on the head. Omit 'on her head.'
2. one of several jobs or areas of responsibility that a person has, especially whe
one of several jobs or areas of responsibility that a person has, especially when they play different roles in different situations — for example, a manager who also acts as the team's driver and IT support.
At the village school, Obi wears many hats — teacher, cook, and bus driver.
pattern: wear many hats for multiple roles
Caleb is speaking in his hat as finance head, not as a friend.
pattern: in one's hat as [role] for official capacity
When you run your own business, you quickly learn to wear several hats at once.
Dr. Zayd changed hats from surgeon to hospital administrator when he walked into the boardroom.
文法句型
wear + [number/several/many] + hats
change hats
in one's hat as + [role]
用法筆記
This sense is almost always used in fixed expressions such as wear many hats, change hats, or in one's hat as [role]. It is not used as a standalone countable noun (❌ 'She has a new hat' for 'She has a new role'). The metaphor comes from the idea that different official positions in history had distinct headwear, so a person 'wearing a different hat' means they are acting in a different capacity.
常見錯誤
hat — verb
1. to put a hat on yourself or on someone else's head; to provide or cover with a h
to put a hat on yourself or on someone else's head; to provide or cover with a hat, especially as part of a formal outfit or ceremonial dress.
All the racegoers were hatted in bright silk for the annual derby at the racetrack.
passive: be hatted in [garment] for formal occasions
Anong hatted herself carefully before stepping out into the strong afternoon sun.
reflexive: hat oneself as a deliberate action
Mei hatted her son in a bright orange rain hat before the sudden downpour started.
The guests arrived for the garden party smartly hatted in spring colours.
- put on a hat
the natural everyday phrase instead of the verb 'hat'; far more common in all registers
- wear a hat
describes the state of having a hat on, rather than the action of putting one on
文法句型
be hatted in [garment/material]
hat oneself
hat [someone] in [garment]
用法筆記
This verb sense is uncommon in everyday modern English. People normally say 'put on a hat' or 'wear a hat' rather than using 'hat' as a verb. The past participle 'hatted' appears occasionally in formal or literary descriptions ('a well-hatted crowd,' 'she was hatted in blue velvet'). The transitive use 'the milliner hatted the party' is very rare and mainly historical.