swan
swan — noun
1. A graceful bird with white feathers and a long, slender neck, commonly seen swim
A graceful bird with white feathers and a long, slender neck, commonly seen swimming on lakes and rivers.
Hana spotted a white swan gliding across the lake near her grandmother's house.
a white swan — colour + noun pattern
A park ranger warned visitors not to feed swans bread as it harms their health.
A pair of swans built a nest among the reeds near the pond.
Trang watched a swan stretch its long neck to reach water plants below the surface.
Every winter the swans gather along the riverbank near Caleb's village before flying further south.
文法句型
a [adjective] swan
pair of swans
swan + verb
用法筆記
Swan can refer to either the singular bird or the species generally. A male swan is called a cob, a female a pen, and a young swan a cygnet — though these terms are rarely needed by learners.
常見錯誤
swan — verb
1. To move or travel in a relaxed, unhurried way, typically without a clear purpose
To move or travel in a relaxed, unhurried way, typically without a clear purpose and in a manner that others may consider irresponsible or annoying.
Quinn spent the afternoon swanning around the city instead of finishing the monthly sales report.
swanning around + place — British informal pattern for relaxed wandering
Christopher swanned into the meeting twenty minutes late, looking completely relaxed and unconcerned.
While the rest of the team worked late, Roya swanned off to a weekend spa.
Élise's flatmate kept swanning about the kitchen on the phone while dishes piled up.
Hamza told his team they could not swan off for lunch before the deadline.
文法句型
swan + around/about/off
swan + prepositional phrase
用法筆記
Almost always used with a particle (around, about, off) or a directional phrase. Carries a mildly critical tone — the speaker feels the person should be more serious or hardworking. Common in British English but rare in American English.