poison
poison — noun
1. a chemical or natural material that can badly hurt or kill a living thing when s
a chemical or natural material that can badly hurt or kill a living thing when swallowed, breathed in, or absorbed.
The farmer kept rat poison in a locked box above the sink.
collocation: rat poison
Police found poison in the lemonade bottle on the kitchen table.
Doctors worked all night because the child had swallowed the poison.
In old stories, kings feared poison in their cups at dinner.
文法句型
poison in [food/drink]
poison for [animal/pest]
用法筆記
Often used for substances in food, drink, bait, or medicine. Distinguish from venom, which enters the body by a bite or sting.
常見錯誤
2. something, such as an idea or feeling, that slowly damages people, relationships
something, such as an idea or feeling, that slowly damages people, relationships, or a situation.
Jealousy became a poison that slowly broke the two sisters apart.
figurative use with emotions
Online lies are a poison in public debate before an election.
Silence can turn into poison inside a family after a lie.
The coach said fear was poison for a young team's confidence.
文法句型
a poison in [group/society]
be poison for [relationship/process]
用法筆記
Common in figurative statements and does not refer to a real chemical. It often names a force that spreads harm over time.
poison — verb
1. to use a toxic substance to make someone or an animal very ill, or to cause thei
to use a toxic substance to make someone or an animal very ill, or to cause their death.
Someone poisoned the village dogs during the night.
poison + person/animal directly
The spy poisoned the king and fled across the river.
Bad mushrooms poisoned two hikers after their camp dinner.
Factory waste poisoned the cows that drank from the ditch.
- heal
means to make someone or something healthy again
文法句型
poison + person/animal
用法筆記
In sense 1, the direct object is the person or animal harmed. Distinguish from sense 2, where the direct object is the food or drink that receives the poison.
2. to secretly mix a toxic substance into what a person will eat or drink.
to secretly mix a toxic substance into what a person will eat or drink.
A thief poisoned the soup before the wedding guests arrived.
poison + food/drink
Police believe someone poisoned Maria's coffee at the station.
The cook was jailed for poisoning the wine with cleaning fluid.
Who poisoned the cat food left outside the back door?
- tamper with
broader; means to secretly change something, not only by adding poison
- spike
usually means to add alcohol or drugs to a drink
- lace
often informal; used for mixing a substance into food or drink
文法句型
poison + food/drink
poison + food/drink + with + substance
用法筆記
The object is the thing eaten or drunk, not the person. Distinguish from sense 1, where the poisoned person or animal is the direct object.
常見錯誤
3. to make air, water, land, or another place dangerous by adding harmful chemicals
to make air, water, land, or another place dangerous by adding harmful chemicals or waste.
Illegal waste poisoned the river for miles below the factory.
poison + river/water source
Smoke from the fire poisoned the air inside the tunnel.
Years of mining poisoned the soil around the mountain village.
Oil from the ship poisoned coastal waters near the fishing town.
- contaminate
neutral and technical; means to make something dirty or unsafe
- pollute
most common for damage to the environment
- taint
suggests an unwelcome substance or quality spreading into something
- purify
means to make something clean or safe again
文法句型
poison + air/water/soil
poison + place
用法筆記
The object is usually air, water, soil, or a place, and the harm may spread over time instead of affecting one person immediately.
4. to damage a relationship or situation so badly that it becomes full of anger, di
to damage a relationship or situation so badly that it becomes full of anger, distrust, or bitterness.
One cruel rumour poisoned the friendship between Lena and June.
poison + friendship/relationship
Years of blame poisoned family dinners at Grandpa's house.
The pay dispute poisoned relations between nurses and managers.
Constant suspicion poisoned the atmosphere in their small flat.
- mend
means to improve or repair a damaged relationship or situation
文法句型
poison + relationship/situation
poison relations between + groups
用法筆記
Used figuratively with words like friendship, relations, debate, or atmosphere. Distinguish from sense 3, which describes real physical contamination.
poison — adjective
1. able to harm or kill because poison is naturally in it, not because someone adde
able to harm or kill because poison is naturally in it, not because someone added it.
A poison plant grew beside the stream near the children's camp.
before noun in set combinations
A tiny poison frog sat on a wet green leaf.
collocation: poison frog
Soldiers wore masks against poison gas drifting over the field.
The guide pointed out a poison plant beside the narrow path.
- harmless
not able to cause injury or illness
文法句型
poison gas
poison frog
poison plant
用法筆記
Mostly used before a noun in fixed combinations such as poison gas, poison frog, and poison plant. After be, poisonous is far more common in everyday English.
常見錯誤
2. made dangerous because poison has been put on it or mixed into it.
made dangerous because poison has been put on it or mixed into it.
The hunter hid several poison arrows inside a leather case.
collocation: poison arrow
Police found poison bait near the gate of the farm.
collocation: poison bait
A poison needle was taped under the handle.
The ranger sealed the poison bait in two metal tins.
- clean
free from dangerous added substances
文法句型
poison arrow
poison bait
poison needle
用法筆記
Describes something that has had poison put on it or mixed into it, such as bait, arrows, or powder. Distinguish from adjective sense 1, which is about something naturally harmful or generally toxic.