killing
killing — noun
1. an event in which one person deliberately causes another person's death
an event in which one person deliberately causes another person's death
The police arrested a suspect in connection with the killing of a shopkeeper last night.
the killing of + person
Valentina's testimony described a brutal killing that shocked the entire neighbourhood.
possessive + killing
After the killing of the diplomat, the embassy was closed for several days.
Mark could not forget the images of the killing he had witnessed during the war.
The documentary examines the political killing of activists in the 1970s.
文法句型
the killing of + person
possessive + killing
用法筆記
Often used with a possessive noun or 'of'-phrase to specify the victim. 'Killing' can describe both a single event and the general act, though the latter is more common as the verb 'kill'.
常見錯誤
2. a very large amount of money earned quickly, especially from a business deal, in
a very large amount of money earned quickly, especially from a business deal, investment, or lucky opportunity
Investors who bought shares early made a killing when the company went public.
make a killing — fixed phrase
Apinya's father made a killing in real estate during the housing boom.
make a killing in [market/sector]
Those who sold their homes before the crash made a killing on the market.
The app developers made a killing after their game became a global hit.
文法句型
make a killing
用法筆記
Almost exclusively used in the fixed phrase 'make a killing'. The noun cannot be pluralised (*killings*) or modified by adjectives in this sense.
常見錯誤
killing — adjective
1. causing someone to feel completely worn out, usually because of difficult physic
causing someone to feel completely worn out, usually because of difficult physical work, a long activity, or intense mental effort
The hike up the mountain was killing — we could barely walk the next day.
subject + be + killing
Astrid found her new job killing because she worked twelve hours every day.
find + object + killing
Waking up at four in the morning for the flight was absolutely killing.
The killing heat in the factory made everyone feel dizzy and weak.
- exhausting
standard neutral term; same intensity but not informal
- draining
emphasises loss of energy or emotional resources
- gruelling
suggests a long, demanding, and physically hard experience
- refreshing
restoring energy rather than taking it away
- energising
giving someone more energy instead of wearing them out
文法句型
[subject] + be + killing
find + [object] + killing
用法筆記
Predominantly used predicatively ('The work is killing') rather than attributively ('*a killing job'). The attributive use (as in 'killing heat') is possible but much rarer and restricted to describing extreme conditions.
常見錯誤
2. extremely amusing and causing someone to laugh very hard
extremely amusing and causing someone to laugh very hard
Jude told a killing story about his cat getting stuck in a tree.
a killing story — attributive use
The comedian's impressions of the mayor and the governor were absolutely killing.
subject + be + absolutely killing
Sofia thought her brother's joke was killing, but nobody else laughed.
It was killing to watch Christopher try to dance at his cousin's wedding party.
- hilarious
standard term for extremely funny; appropriate in all registers
- side-splitting
very informal and vivid; implies uncontrollable laughter
- uproarious
suggests loud, unrestrained laughter from a group of people
文法句型
[subject] + be + killing
a + killing + noun
用法筆記
Unlike the 'exhausting' sense, this meaning is commonly used both predicatively and attributively ('a killing joke'). Strongly informal — use 'hilarious' in formal writing.