lather
lather — 名詞
1. The layer of small white bubbles that appears when soap or detergent rubs agains
泡沫
肥皂與水混合產生的白色泡沫
The layer of small white bubbles that appears when soap or detergent rubs against water and air during washing, shaving, or cleaning.
Ravi worked up a thick lather with the shaving brush and applied it to his chin.
Ravi 用刮鬍刷搓出厚厚的泡沫，然後塗在下巴上。
collocation: work up a lather
The lavender soap bar produced almost no lather in the hard tap water.
那塊薰衣草肥皂在硬水中幾乎搓不出泡沫。
verb pattern: produce + lather (intransitive result)
After rinsing her hair twice, Hana found traces of white lather in the shower drain.
Hana 沖了兩次頭髮後，在淋浴排水孔看到白色的泡沫殘留。
A good shaving cream creates a rich, creamy lather that stays on the skin.
好的刮鬍膏能產生豐潤的泡沫，停留在皮膚上。
Leila squeezed the wet sponge and watched the soapy lather drip into the metal bucket.
Leila 擠了濕海綿，看著肥皂泡沫滴進金屬水桶裡。
文法句型
a lather
lather
用法筆記
Often used in the expression 'work up a lather,' which describes the action of rubbing soap against a brush, sponge, or hands to create foam. The uncountable form (lather) is more common than 'a lather.'
常見錯誤
2. The white foamy sweat that appears across a horse's coat when the animal has bee
汗沫
馬匹運動後皮膚上的白色汗沫
The white foamy sweat that appears across a horse's coat when the animal has been ridden or exercised intensely.
The stable hand wiped the foamy lather from the mare's neck after her long gallop.
馬伕擦拭母馬長途奔馳後脖子上的泡沫汗漬。
collocation: foamy lather
When the riders reached the barn, the pony's flanks were covered in white lather.
當騎手們抵達馬廄時，小馬的側腹已經覆滿了白色的汗沫。
passive: be covered in lather
A thick layer of lather had formed on the stallion's shoulders after the afternoon jumping session.
下午的跳躍訓練過後，種馬的肩膀上結了一層厚厚的汗沫。
Tomás ran a rubber curry comb over the lather on the gelding's back to cool him down.
Tomás 用橡膠馬梳刷掉騸馬背上的汗沫，幫他降溫。
The vet said a light layer of lather after exercise is normal for a fit horse.
獸醫說，一匹健康的馬運動後出現薄薄一層汗沫是正常的。
- sweat foam
a descriptive non-idiomatic alternative; plainer but less natural in equestrian contexts
- froth
sometimes used for horse sweat foam but is more general and less precise
文法句型
lather
covered in lather
用法筆記
Used almost exclusively for horses, not for other animals or people. The lather appears white or greyish and is a sign of genuine exertion, not overheating.
常見錯誤
3. A state of nervous worry, anger, or excitement that makes you tense and unable t
焦躁
緊張、激動或煩躁的狀態
A state of nervous worry, anger, or excitement that makes you tense and unable to think clearly, usually because of a problem or urgent situation.
Priya was in a lather all morning before her final exam results came out.
Priya 在期末成績公布前的整個早上都焦躁不安。
fixed phrase: in a lather
The project manager worked himself into a lather over the missing quarterly reports.
專案經理因為遺失的季報而把自己氣得焦躁不已。
reflexive pattern: work + oneself + into a lather
No need to get in a lather — the train is only five minutes behind schedule.
沒必要那麼緊張——火車只晚了五分鐘而已。
Grandpa was in a proper lather when he could not find his reading glasses anywhere.
爺爺找不到老花眼鏡的時候，急得團團轉。
Yara got herself into a lather trying to finish the presentation before the midday deadline.
Yara 為了趕在中午截止前完成簡報，把自己搞得焦慮萬分。
- dither
a weaker state of indecisive worry; less intense than 'in a lather'
- frenzy
more intense and uncontrolled; suggests panic rather than worry
- state of agitation
more formal register; not idiomatic
文法句型
in a lather
get into a lather
work oneself into a lather
用法筆記
Almost always appears in the fixed phrase 'in a lather' or 'get into a lather' / 'work oneself into a lather.' Uncommon outside these expressions. The underlying metaphor compares emotional agitation to the foaming sweat of a horse (sense 2).
常見錯誤
lather — 動詞
1. To rub soap or shaving cream over a surface until it turns into foam, or for the
起泡沫
使肥皂產生泡沫或塗抹泡沫
To rub soap or shaving cream over a surface until it turns into foam, or for the soap itself to produce foam when water is added and it is rubbed.
Diego lathered his face with warm water and shaving cream before picking up the razor.
Diego 用溫水和刮鬍膏塗抹全臉起泡，然後拿起了刮鬍刀。
transitive: lather + body part
This handmade olive-oil soap lathers beautifully even in cold tap water.
這款手工橄欖油肥皂即使在冷水中也能搓出漂亮的泡沫。
intransitive: soap + lathers + adverb
Theo lathered the dog's wet fur thoroughly before rinsing out the shampoo.
Theo 仔細地把狗溼漉漉的毛髮塗滿肥皂泡，然後沖掉洗毛精。
Nadia lathered her hands with the rose-scented soap while humming a quiet tune.
Nadia 用玫瑰香皂搓出泡沫抹在手上，一邊哼著輕柔的旋律。
You should lather the sponge first before rubbing it over the car's painted surface.
你應該先讓海綿起泡，再把它擦到車子的烤漆面上。
- rinse
to remove soap rather than apply it
文法句型
lather + object
lather + adverb
lather + up
用法筆記
The intransitive use (e.g., 'this soap lathers well') describes how a product performs. The transitive use (e.g., 'lather your hands') is the active cleaning action. 'Lather up' is a common phrasal alternative meaning to apply lather to oneself.