moonlight
moonlight — noun
1. the soft pale light that comes from the moon at night, making outdoor objects vi
the soft pale light that comes from the moon at night, making outdoor objects visible without the sun.
Sirin stood at the window, watching the moonlight dance on the lake.
uncountable noun: the moonlight + verb of motion
The old house was filled with soft moonlight streaming through the curtains.
Faisal could read a book by the light of the full moon when the electricity went out.
By moonlight, the snow-covered fields looked almost magical to the children.
A pale strip of moonlight fell across the bedroom floor while everyone was asleep.
用法筆記
Always uncountable — native speakers do not say 'a moonlight' or 'two moonlights.' Use 'a ray of moonlight' or 'a patch of moonlight' for a specific instance.
常見錯誤
2. a sudden secret departure from a rented home or business, carried out at night b
a sudden secret departure from a rented home or business, carried out at night by someone who owes rent or other debts and wants to escape being caught.
The tenants did a moonlight flit in the middle of the night, leaving the flat empty.
fixed phrase: 'do a moonlight flit' (British informal)
When the landlord came to collect the rent, he discovered that the young couple had made a moonlight exit.
After the restaurant went bankrupt, the owner pulled a moonlight flit to escape his creditors.
The young couple did a moonlight flit to escape their growing debts.
- disappearance
neutral term without the 'at night' or 'debt' connotations
- bolt
sudden escape; similar sense of urgency but less specific to debts
用法筆記
Almost always appears in the fixed phrases 'moonlight flit' or 'moonlight exit.' The verb form 'to moonlight' (meaning to leave secretly) exists but is far less common than 'do a moonlight flit.' Distinguish from verb sense 1 (WORK SECOND JOB), which has a completely unrelated meaning.
常見錯誤
moonlight — verb
1. to perform a second job alongside your main full-time position, typically withou
to perform a second job alongside your main full-time position, typically without informing your primary employer that you are doing so.
Jenna moonlights as a web designer for a small agency in London.
moonlight + as + profession
Beatrix has been moonlighting at a café on weekends to save money for college.
Talia was fired when her boss discovered she had been moonlighting for a competitor.
Many teachers in rural areas moonlight as private tutors to supplement their income.
After losing his main job, Rafael regretted that he had never tried moonlighting while he had the chance.
- freelance
implies self-employed work for multiple clients; does not suggest hiding it from a main employer
- side hustle
modern informal term for any extra income-earning activity alongside a main job
- hold two jobs
neutral description without the covert implication
文法句型
moonlight + as + profession/noun
moonlight + for + employer
用法筆記
Intransitive — cannot take a direct object (❌ 'He moonlights a taxi job'). Use 'moonlight as a taxi driver' instead. The gerund 'moonlighting' is very common as both a noun (e.g. 'Moonlighting is risky if your contract forbids it') and an adjective ('a moonlighting teacher'). Often carries a slightly secretive tone — the implication is that the main employer does not know or would not approve.