flap
flap — 動詞
1. to move something broad and flat, such as a wing or a piece of cloth, up and dow
拍動；擺動
上下或左右移動翅膀、布片等扁平物體
to move something broad and flat, such as a wing or a piece of cloth, up and down or from side to side
The injured seagull flapped its wings but could not lift off the beach.
那隻受傷的海鷗拍動翅膀，卻無法從沙灘上起飛。
transitive: flap + object (wings)
Curtains flapped noisily against the open window all night long.
窗簾整夜在敞開的窗戶旁發出噪音般啪噠作響。
intransitive: curtain/cloth flaps in wind
The flag above the town hall flapped gently in the afternoon breeze.
市政廳上方的旗幟在午後微風中輕輕飄動。
Lauren flapped a newspaper at the smoke coming from the kitchen.
Lauren 對著廚房冒出的煙揮動報紙。
A large grey bird flapped slowly across the lake at sunset.
一隻灰色大鳥在日落時分緩緩拍翅飛過湖面。
文法句型
flap + object (transitive)
flap (intransitive)
flap + prepositional phrase
用法筆記
Frequently used with 'wings', 'arms', or flat objects like cloth and sails. The transitive pattern (flap + object) implies deliberate action, while the intransitive pattern describes something moving on its own.
常見錯誤
2. to become very anxious and show it through restless or hurried actions
慌張
因緊張或擔憂而表現出急躁不安的行為
to become very anxious and show it through restless or hurried actions
Maeve flapped around the house all morning before her job interview.
Maeve 在求職面試前整個早上都在屋裡慌慌張張地走來走去。
flap + adverb (around) to show restless movement
There is no need to flap — the train will not leave for another hour.
不用慌張——火車再過一個小時才會開走。
idiom: 'no need to flap' — informal reassurance
Bilal started flapping when he realized his passport was missing.
Bilal 發現護照不見了，開始急得團團轉。
The manager flapped about the broken window, shouting at everyone.
經理氣急敗壞地嚷嚷著那扇破窗戶，對每個人吼叫。
- stay calm
opposite of becoming anxious and restless
文法句型
flap (intransitive)
flap + prepositional phrase (about/around)
用法筆記
Almost always intransitive. Common in British informal English. Often in the phrases 'there is no need to flap' or 'get in a flap'.
常見錯誤
3. to produce a consonant sound by quickly hitting the roof of the mouth with the t
發彈音
用舌尖快速輕觸上顎發出輔音
to produce a consonant sound by quickly hitting the roof of the mouth with the tip of the tongue
When Anong first visited New York, she noticed that locals flap the 't' in words like 'butter' and 'city'.
Anong 第一次去紐約時，她注意到當地人說 'butter' 和 'city' 這類字時會把 't' 發成彈音。
linguistic context: flap + specific consonant ('t')
The phonetics student learned to flap her tongue against the roof of her mouth.
那位語音學學生練習用舌尖快速彈觸上顎來發彈音。
During her linguistics exam, Valentina had to demonstrate how English speakers flap the 't' between vowels.
Valentina 在語言學考試時，必須示範英語使用者如何在母音之間把 't' 發成彈音。
Hui noticed that Americans often flap the 't' when speaking quickly.
Hui 注意到美國人說話快時常把 't' 發成彈音。
- tap
similar but technically distinct in linguistics; a tap is a direct strike, a flap has a sweeping motion
文法句型
flap + consonant (linguistic)
用法筆記
A technical term in phonetics. The flapped consonant (also called a tap) is common in American English for /t/ and /d/ between vowels, as in 'ladder' or 'latter'.
常見錯誤
flap — 名詞
1. a broad, flexible piece of fabric, paper, or plastic that is fastened on one sid
蓋片
一邊固定、用於遮蓋或封閉的扁平材料
a broad, flexible piece of fabric, paper, or plastic that is fastened on one side and can hang over or seal an opening
The envelope had a sticky flap that sealed tightly when pressed down.
那個信封有一個黏性蓋片，壓緊後就能密封。
collocation: envelope flap
Ilan tucked his shirt pocket flap back after pulling out a pen.
Ilan 拿出筆後，把襯衫口袋的蓋片塞回原處。
collocation: pocket flap
The tent's entrance flap was tied open to let in the morning air.
帳篷入口的布簾被綁起來，讓早晨的空氣流進來。
A loose flap of fabric hung from the bottom of the old sofa.
舊沙發底部垂下一塊鬆脫的布料。
Each box had a cardboard flap that folded shut to keep the contents safe.
每個盒子都有一個可以折起來蓋住內容物的紙板蓋。
文法句型
flap of [item]
[item] flap
用法筆記
Common in compound nouns: envelope flap, pocket flap, tent flap. Also used in medical contexts for skin flaps in surgery.
常見錯誤
2. a feeling of worry and agitation that makes someone unable to stay calm or act s
慌亂
因緊張擔憂而無法保持冷靜的狀態
a feeling of worry and agitation that makes someone unable to stay calm or act sensibly
Aunt Rosa was in a flap because she could not find her reading glasses.
Rosa 阿姨因為找不到老花眼鏡而慌慌張張。
collocation: 'in a flap' — phrase for agitated worry
The whole office was in a flap when the fire alarm went off.
火災警報響起時，整間辦公室一片慌亂。
Saira tends to get in a flap before any important exam.
Saira 在重要考試前總是會陷入一陣慌亂。
Manuela tried to calm the customers who were in a flap about the delay.
Manuela 試圖安撫那些因延誤而驚慌失措的顧客。
- calm
state of being relaxed and untroubled
文法句型
in a flap
get into a flap
用法筆記
Typically in the phrase 'in a flap' or 'get into a flap.' Refers to personal agitation, not public controversy — contrast with sense 3 (PUBLIC OUTCRY).
常見錯誤
3. a strong reaction of public anger, criticism, or excited discussion about an eve
爭議
公眾因某事件或言論產生的強烈憤怒或批評
a strong reaction of public anger, criticism, or excited discussion about an event or statement
The mayor's comments created a flap among local residents.
市長的言論在當地居民中引發了一場爭議。
collocation: create a flap
A political flap erupted after the report was made public.
該報告公開後，一場政治風波隨之爆發。
collocation: political flap
The celebrity's remarks caused a media flap that lasted for weeks.
那位名人的言論引發了一場為期數週的媒體風波。
What started as a small flap grew into a national debate about safety rules.
原本的小爭議演變成一場關於安全規範的全國性辯論。
- controversy
more formal; refers to prolonged public disagreement
- uproar
stronger; suggests loud anger and protest
- fuss
milder; can imply the reaction is exaggerated over something minor
文法句型
a flap
cause a flap
political flap
用法筆記
Often used with 'cause' or 'create a flap,' or in compounds like 'political flap' and 'media flap.' Refers to public or media controversy, not personal nervousness — contrast with sense 2 (NERVOUS STATE).
常見錯誤
4. a movable part on the back edge of a plane wing that pilots extend to create mor
襟翼
機翼後緣可動、用於控制升力和速度的翼面
a movable part on the back edge of a plane wing that pilots extend to create more upward force, allowing the plane to fly more slowly and safely during takeoff and landing
The pilot lowered the flaps to slow the plane before landing.
飛行員放下襟翼，讓飛機在降落前減速。
aeronautical: lower the flaps for landing
Each wing has two flaps that extend during takeoff and landing.
每側機翼各有兩個襟翼，在起飛和降落時展開。
Before takeoff, the pilot extended the flaps by ten degrees to give the wing more lift.
起飛前，飛行員將襟翼放下十度，以便機翼獲得更多升力。
When the flaps are fully extended, the plane can fly at a much slower speed.
當襟翼完全展開時，飛機可以用慢得多的速度飛行。
- aileron
different function: ailerons control roll (side-to-side tilt), flaps control lift and drag
文法句型
the flaps
lower flaps
extend flaps
用法筆記
Usually plural (flaps) because they appear on both wings. Not the same as ailerons — flaps affect lift and speed, while ailerons control the plane's roll.
常見錯誤
5. the way a wide, flat object or body part repeatedly rises and falls through the
拍動；飄動
鳥類翅膀或扁平物體的上下擺動動作
the way a wide, flat object or body part repeatedly rises and falls through the air, especially a bird moving its wings
Hui watched the flap of the eagle's wings as it rose into the sky.
Hui 看著老鷹的翅膀拍動，緩緩升入天空。
The flap of the sail in the wind told the sailors a storm was near.
船帆在風中啪嗒作響，告訴水手們暴風雨即將來臨。
With one final flap of its wings, the butterfly landed on a flower.
蝴蝶最後一次拍動翅膀，落在一朵花上。
Marco could hear the flap of laundry drying on the line outside.
Marco 可以聽到外面晾衣繩上衣物飄動的聲音。
文法句型
a flap of [wings/sail/flag]
with a flap
用法筆記
Often used in the pattern 'a flap of [something's wings]', particularly with birds. Can also describe the action of sails, flags, and loose fabric.
常見錯誤
6. a short consonant sound produced by a quick strike of the tongue against the roo
彈音
舌尖快速觸碰齒齦發出的輔音
a short consonant sound produced by a quick strike of the tongue against the roof of the mouth, common in some English dialects
When Kwame said 'ladder' with a clear 'd', his roommate from Boston showed him the quicker flap sound instead.
當 Kwame 用清晰的 'd' 說 'ladder' 時，他來自波士頓的室友示範了更快、更自然的彈音。
linguistic: flap sound vs. standard [d]
Alessia practiced producing a flap by saying 'city' very quickly.
Alessia 透過很快地唸 'city' 來練習發出彈音。
The flap sound in 'butter' is so brief that many learners of English do not notice it at first.
'Butter' 一詞中的彈音非常短促，許多英語學習者一開始根本聽不出來。
In phonetics class, students listened for the flap in recordings of everyday speech.
在語音學課上，學生們聆聽日常對話錄音中的彈音。
- tap
technically distinct in linguistics; a tap is a direct vertical strike, while a flap involves a sweeping, hooked motion of the tongue tip
文法句型
a flap
flap sound
flap consonant
用法筆記
A technical term in phonetics. The English flap (or tap) typically appears for /t/ and /d/ between vowels, as in 'butter', 'latter', or 'ladder'.