gorilla

gorilla — 名詞

1. the largest type of ape, with a heavy body and thick black or brown fur, that li

1.名詞A2
釋義

大猩猩

棲息於非洲的大型靈長類動物

the largest type of ape, with a heavy body and thick black or brown fur, that lives in the tropical forests of Africa and feeds mainly on plants, fruits, and leaves.

例句

The zoo's new baby gorilla, Kian, quickly became a favourite with local families.

動物園新來的大猩猩寶寶 Kian 很快就成了當地家庭最喜愛的動物。

noun as subject describing animal behaviour

Amani spent a quiet hour watching a family of gorillas in the rainforest.

Amani 花了一小時靜靜地觀察雨林中的一個大猩猩家族。

同義詞
  • ape

    a broader category that includes gorillas, chimpanzees, orangutans, and gibbons

  • primate

    the scientific order that includes gorillas, monkeys, apes, and humans; more general and academic

  • silverback

    specifically an adult male gorilla, not the species as a whole

文法句型

a [adjective] gorilla

gorilla + verb

用法筆記

Often used with 'mountain', 'lowland', or 'western' to specify the subspecies (e.g., 'mountain gorilla', 'western lowland gorilla'). The term 'silverback' refers to an adult male gorilla with a grey patch of fur on its back.

常見錯誤

❌Gorilla's are very strong animals.
✅Gorillas are very strong animals.
💡No apostrophe needed for plural nouns.
❌I saw a gorilla at the zoo — it was a guerilla.
✅I saw a gorilla at the zoo.
💡'Guerilla' (spelled differently) means a rebel fighter, not the ape.

2. a man who is very large, physically strong, and has a rough or frightening appea

2.名詞B2
釋義

彪形大漢

高大粗壯、令人畏懼的男子

a man who is very large, physically strong, and has a rough or frightening appearance, often used to describe someone who uses their size to intimidate others.

例句

The nightclub hired a 140-kilogram gorilla as a bouncer to keep order.

這家夜店雇用了一名一百四十公斤的彪形大漢當保鏢來維持秩序。

figurative use: 'hired a gorilla' for someone hired for physical presence

Ezra felt nervous when a gorilla of a man sat next to him on the subway.

Ezra 看到一個巨人般的彪形大漢在地鐵上坐在他旁邊，感到緊張不安。

pattern: 'a gorilla of a [noun]'

同義詞
  • hulk

    emphasises great size and heaviness; less aggressive than 'gorilla'

  • brute

    stresses violence or cruelty, not just size

  • giant

    neutral or even positive; does not imply aggression

  • bull

    suggests physical power and stubbornness, common in sports contexts

反義詞
  • weakling

    a person lacking physical strength, the opposite of a 'gorilla'

文法句型

a gorilla of a [noun]

[number] gorilla(s)

用法筆記

Always used informally and often carries a negative or threatening tone. Unlike sense 1 (the animal), this sense is metaphorical and applies only to men. The phrase 'a gorilla of a man' is a common fixed structure.

常見錯誤

❌She is a gorilla.' (for a large woman)
✅He is a gorilla.
💡This term is almost exclusively applied to men in its figurative use.

3. a person, typically working for a powerful group or organisation, who uses threa

3.名詞C2
釋義

打手；爪牙

受僱進行威脅或暴力的人

a person, typically working for a powerful group or organisation, who uses threats, violence, or intimidation to achieve their employer's goals — for example, breaking strikes, silencing opponents, or collecting debts.

例句

The company sent gorillas to threaten striking workers into returning to their jobs.

這家公司派了打手去威脅罷工工人，逼他們回去上班。

collocation: 'send gorillas' for hired intimidators

Sahil refused to be silenced when the politician's gorillas showed up at his office.

那位政客的手下來到 Sahil 的辦公室時，Sahil 拒絕保持沉默。

同義詞
  • thug

    broader term for a violent criminal; does not necessarily imply being hired by an organisation

  • goon

    very similar to 'gorilla' in meaning; also informal and derogatory

  • enforcer

    emphasises the role of maintaining discipline or carrying out punishment within an organisation

  • strongman

    can be used politically (a leader who rules by force) but is broader in meaning

文法句型

[number] gorilla(s)

send / bring in the gorillas

用法筆記

Strongly derogatory and informal. This sense differs from sense 2 in that it emphasises the person's ROLE as a hired intimidator rather than just their physical size or appearance. Common in political and crime reporting, especially in older American English.

常見錯誤

❌The bouncer was a gorilla who checked IDs.' (confusing role)
✅The company sent gorillas to break up the strike.
💡Sense 3 specifically refers to someone who uses threats or violence on behalf of an organisation, not just a large person in a security role.