rusty

rusty — adjective

1. having a reddish-brown layer on the surface that forms when iron or steel reacts

1.形容詞B1
釋義

having a reddish-brown layer on the surface that forms when iron or steel reacts with air and water over time.

例句

Astrid found the old bicycle chain completely rusty from years of rain.

be + rusty from [cause]

The garden gate was so rusty that Ezra could not push it open.

so + rusty + that-clause (result)

同義詞
  • corroded

    stronger; suggests metal eaten away by chemicals rather than just surface rust

  • tarnished

    used for silver or brass losing shine; less severe than rusty

  • oxidised

    technical term for any metal reacting with oxygen; broader than rusty

反義詞
  • shiny

    smooth and reflecting light; opposite of rusty

  • polished

    made smooth and bright by rubbing; opposite of rusty

用法筆記

Frequently used with nouns naming metal objects such as tools, chains, pipes, gates, and vehicles.

常見錯誤

❌The orange juice went rusty in the fridge.
✅The orange juice went bad in the fridge.
💡rusty only applies to metal oxidisation, not food spoiling.
❌Her voice sounded rusty from shouting.
✅Her voice sounded hoarse from shouting.
💡'rusty' for voice is rare; 'hoarse' is the standard word.

2. less able at a task or skill than you once were, due to not having done it regul

2.形容詞B2
釋義

less able at a task or skill than you once were, due to not having done it regularly for some time.

例句

After not touching the piano for years, Ryo felt rusty during the recital.

feel + rusty

Bilal's Spanish was rusty, so he struggled to order food at the Madrid market.

possessive + rusty [skill/language]

同義詞
  • out of practice

    more literal and slightly more informal than rusty

  • unpractised

    formal; suggests never having built the skill well

  • deteriorated

    more general; can describe any decline, not just skills

反義詞
  • practised

    having had a lot of practice; opposite of rusty

  • polished

    smooth and highly competent; opposite of rusty

用法筆記

Commonly used with skills involving physical movement, languages, music, and sports. Typically describes a temporary drop in ability rather than permanent loss.

常見錯誤

❌The chicken meat was rusty.
✅The chicken meat was tough/dry.
💡'rusty' does not describe food texture or taste.
❌My friend is rusty at being kind.
✅My friend is rusty at tennis.
💡rusty is for learned skills, not personality traits.

3. of a reddish-brown colour similar to that of rusted iron.

3.形容詞B1
釋義

of a reddish-brown colour similar to that of rusted iron.

例句

Tamar bought a sweater in a warm rusty red colour.

rusty + colour name

The autumn leaves turned a deep rusty orange before falling.

同義詞
  • russet

    formal; describes a reddish-brown autumn colour, especially of leaves or fruit

  • copper-coloured

    more orange and metallic than rusty

  • terracotta

    warm reddish-brown like baked clay; distinct from rusty's metallic association

用法筆記

Often combined with another colour word, e.g. rusty red, rusty brown, rusty orange. More common in fashion and design writing than everyday speech.