threat
threat — noun
1. a spoken or written warning that you will hurt someone or cause them trouble, es
a spoken or written warning that you will hurt someone or cause them trouble, especially to make them follow your orders
Jiwoo ignored her boss's threat to fire her and kept speaking out.
threat + to-infinitive for intended punishment
The masked man delivered a threat to the bank manager, demanding the money by noon.
Cole laughed off the threat, but his roommate Amira called the police anyway.
Eliska filed a police report after receiving a death threat from an unknown caller.
Noor's threat to report the corruption made the officials very nervous.
- promise
a commitment to do something good, rather than something harmful
- reassurance
words intended to remove fear, not create it
文法句型
threat + to-infinitive
threat + of + noun phrase
make + threat
carry out + threat
用法筆記
Common in legal and formal reporting contexts. Often followed by a to-infinitive or an of-phrase that specifies the intended harmful action.
常見錯誤
2. a situation in which something bad, dangerous, or unpleasant is likely to happen
a situation in which something bad, dangerous, or unpleasant is likely to happen or to affect someone or something
The flood threat forced Eitan's family to evacuate their home at midnight.
[noun] + threat — compound structure for a danger type
Beatriz felt a constant threat of violence living in the damaged city during the war.
The earthquake threat remains high along the Pacific coast, so residents stay prepared.
Mayumi believes that climate change is the greatest threat facing the modern world.
Sahil saw the angry dog as a threat and slowly backed away from the gate.
文法句型
under + threat
pose + threat + to
threat + of + noun
[noun] + threat
用法筆記
Subject of the threat is often a natural disaster, disease, or other impersonal force. Common in the pattern 'under threat (of something)' to indicate a current state of danger.
常見錯誤
threat — verb
1. to state that you intend to harm, punish, or cause trouble for someone, especial
to state that you intend to harm, punish, or cause trouble for someone, especially in order to force them to do something; also used for non-human forces that show signs of causing something bad
Élise threatened to quit if the company did not improve the working conditions.
threaten + to-infinitive for ultimatum
Kasia's boss threatened her with a pay cut when she asked for time off.
threaten + object + with + noun
The dark clouds threatened rain all afternoon, but the storm never came.
Local residents threatened legal action against the factory for polluting the river.
- warn
less strong; can be intended to protect the listener, not just to force compliance
- menace
more literary and dramatic; suggests a looming, frightening danger
- intimidate
focuses on creating fear rather than stating a specific intention
文法句型
threaten + to-infinitive
threaten + object + with + noun
threaten + that-clause
用法筆記
In modern English the verb form 'threaten' is far more common than using 'threat' as a verb. The examples above reflect 'threaten' usage since 'threat' as a verb is rare outside dictionary listings.