viper

viper — noun

1. a type of poisonous snake with a broad, triangular head and long hollow fangs th

1.名詞B1
釋義

a type of poisonous snake with a broad, triangular head and long hollow fangs that fold back against the roof of its mouth when not in use. Vipers inject venom into the animals they bite in order to kill or paralyse them.

例句

Hari spotted a viper coiled under a bush near the hiking trail.

The horned viper is one of the most common venomous snakes in North Africa.

countable noun in generic reference: 'the horned viper'

同義詞
  • adder

    used for certain vipers in Europe and parts of Africa; 'adder' is the common name for the only venomous snake in the UK

  • rattlesnake

    a type of viper found in the Americas, named for the rattle at the end of its tail

  • pit viper

    a subfamily of vipers with heat-sensing pits between the eye and nostril; includes rattlesnakes and copperheads

用法筆記

The word 'viper' refers to a whole family of snakes (Viperidae), not a single species. Learners often use 'viper' loosely for any venomous snake, but specialists distinguish vipers from elapids (such as cobras) by their retractable fangs.

常見錯誤

❌A viper is a type of snake that lays eggs.
✅Most vipers give birth to live young instead of laying eggs.
💡Unlike many snakes, vipers are ovoviviparous; the female keeps the eggs inside her body until they hatch.

2. a person who is cruel, dishonest, and secretly tries to harm others, especially

2.名詞C1
釋義

a person who is cruel, dishonest, and secretly tries to harm others, especially people who think they can trust that person. The word compares someone's behaviour to the hidden danger of a viper's bite.

例句

The other staff soon realised that their friendly new manager was a viper.

metaphor: 'was a viper' — describing a person as a snake

Salma called her former business partner a viper after he stole client money.

同義詞
  • backstabber

    more informal and direct; describes someone who betrays a trusting relationship

  • traitor

    specifically someone who betrays a country, group, or cause; stronger and more political

  • snake

    the same metaphor but more common in everyday English; 'snake' is broader and slightly less dramatic

  • villain

    focuses on evil character rather than specifically on betrayal

反義詞
  • ally

    someone who supports and stands by you, the opposite of a secret enemy

  • friend

    a person you trust and care about

用法筆記

This figurative sense is much less common in everyday speech than the literal snake meaning. It belongs to a formal or literary register and is often used in political commentary, fiction, or dramatic accusations.

常見錯誤

❌My brother is a viper because he forgot my birthday.
✅The politician turned out to be a viper who betrayed every promise he made.
💡'Viper' for a person implies deliberate malice and betrayal, not minor faults or carelessness.