shine
shine — verb
1. to produce light, whether from a star, a bulb, or another source, or to reflect
to produce light, whether from a star, a bulb, or another source, or to reflect light from a glossy surface.
The morning sun shone through the kitchen windows, warming the tiles.
intransitive: shine + through + [location]
Valentina held the diamond up to the light, and it shone brightly in every direction.
A tiny light shone from the window of the mountain hut far below.
The wooden floor had been polished so well that it shone like a mirror.
文法句型
shine + through/on/into [place]
用法筆記
This sense is intransitive — the thing producing or reflecting light is the subject. Do not use a direct object: 'The sun shines' (correct), not 'The sun shines light' (incorrect) in this sense.
常見錯誤
2. when someone's eyes and face show an emotion so strongly that the feeling looks
when someone's eyes and face show an emotion so strongly that the feeling looks like a bright glow on them.
Talia's eyes shone with excitement when she saw the puppy at the shelter.
eyes shine with [emotion]
The old man's face shone with pride as his granddaughter accepted the scholarship.
face shines with [emotion]
Harper's eyes shone with tears of joy at the wedding reception.
When Yara talked about her marine biology research, her whole face shone with passion.
文法句型
eyes/face shine with [emotion]
用法筆記
Frequently paired with prepositions 'with' or 'from' naming the emotion. Subject is almost always 'eyes' or 'face' (or a person's name possessed by them). Compare with sense 1: here the 'light' is emotional, not physical.
常見錯誤
3. to aim the beam of a torch, lamp, or other light source so that it falls on a sp
to aim the beam of a torch, lamp, or other light source so that it falls on a specific person, object, or area.
The night-shift nurse shone a small torch on the patient's bandage to check the wound.
shine + [light source] + on + [target]
Christopher shone his phone light down the dark staircase to see where he was going.
The librarian shone a flashlight along the shelf, searching for the red-covered book.
Tara shone the desk lamp directly at the painting to examine the brushstrokes more closely.
文法句型
shine + [light source] + on/at/into [target]
用法筆記
This is the transitive sense — the subject shines a light (direct object) at a target. Unlike sense 1, the verb takes both an object (the light source) and a prepositional phrase (the target).
常見錯誤
4. to rub the surface of an object, especially shoes, metal items, or wooden furnit
to rub the surface of an object, especially shoes, metal items, or wooden furniture, until it becomes smooth, clean, and able to reflect light.
Theo spent an hour shining his leather shoes before the job interview.
shine [object] — make smooth and bright by rubbing
Chef Morales shone the brass pots until they looked like new.
Niran carefully shone the silver cutlery with a soft cloth before the dinner party.
The antique dealer shone every piece of furniture in the shop window before opening.
文法句型
shine [object]
用法筆記
Common objects include 'shoes', 'silver', 'brass', 'furniture', and 'floors'. Can also be used as a phrasal verb with 'up': 'shine up the silver'. The past tense is 'shined' in American English for this sense.
常見錯誤
5. to do something so well that your skill is clearly noticeable, especially when c
to do something so well that your skill is clearly noticeable, especially when compared with other people in the same situation.
Luca shines at mathematics and often helps his classmates solve difficult problems.
shine at [skill/subject]
Yasmin shone in the national debate competition and won the top prize.
shine in [competition/event]
The young violinist truly shines when performing solo pieces for an audience.
Dr. Park shines as a teacher because she explains complicated ideas with such clarity.
- excel
more formal; to do something at a very high level
- stand out
to be noticeably better than others; more informal
- distinguish oneself
formal; to be recognized as excellent
文法句型
shine at/in/as [skill/context]
用法筆記
Followed by 'at' (a skill), 'in' (a competition, field, or situation), or 'as' (a role). Typically occurs in present or past simple; the continuous form 'shining' is less common but acceptable in informal speech.
常見錯誤
shine — noun
1. the bright, glossy quality that appears on a surface when it reflects light well
the bright, glossy quality that appears on a surface when it reflects light well, often because it has been polished or is naturally smooth.
The mechanic buffed the car bonnet until it had a deep, mirror-like shine.
have a shine (appearance of a polished surface)
Antonia's hair had a natural, healthy shine after using the herbal conditioner.
The shine on the marble floor reflected the lights from the chandelier above.
A layer of wax will bring back the shine on old wooden furniture.
文法句型
the shine
a shine
have a shine
用法筆記
Typically uncountable ('the shine', 'some shine') but can appear with the indefinite article in the pattern 'has a + adjective + shine' (e.g. 'a beautiful shine'). Commonly paired with 'take the shine off' (to make less impressive) as an idiom.