puppy

puppy — 名詞

1. a very young dog, especially one that still needs its mother's care and has not

1.名詞A2
釋義

小狗

出生沒多久的幼犬

a very young dog, especially one that still needs its mother's care and has not yet grown to its full adult size

例句

Theo's new puppy was so small it could sleep in a shoe box.

Theo 的新小狗非常小，可以睡在鞋盒裡。

Eri feeds her puppy at six o'clock every morning before school.

Eri 每天早上六點上學前餵她的小狗。

collocation: feed + puppy

同義詞
  • pup

    shorter, more neutral term used by breeders and vets; also applies to young seals and otters

  • dog

    the adult animal; puppy refers specifically to the young stage

反義詞
  • adult dog

    a fully grown dog that has passed the puppy stage

文法句型

a + puppy

plural: puppies

常見錯誤

❌My cat had three puppies.
✅My cat had three kittens.
💡a puppy is a baby dog, not a baby cat.
❌Look at the lion puppy!
✅Look at the lion cub!
💡the young of large wild cats are called cubs, not puppies.

2. a young man who behaves in a rude, overconfident way that annoys other people, o

2.名詞C1
釋義

狂妄小子

缺乏經驗又態度傲慢的年輕男子

a young man who behaves in a rude, overconfident way that annoys other people, often because he lacks real experience or skill

例句

The senior engineer called the new hire a puppy for bragging about his degree.

那位資深工程師叫新進員工狂妄小子，因為他到處炫耀自己的學位。

pejorative use: call + [person] + a puppy

That arrogant puppy thinks he knows more than the entire management team.

那個傲慢的小子自以為比整個管理團隊還厲害。

phrasal pattern: that + [adjective] + puppy

同義詞
  • brat

    focuses on childish, selfish behaviour rather than arrogance; often describes a spoiled child

  • upstart

    more formal, about someone who has risen to a position too quickly and behaves arrogantly

  • whippersnapper

    old-fashioned and humorous; a cheeky young person, not truly threatening

反義詞
  • gentleman

    a polite, respectful, well-mannered young man

文法句型

call + [person] + a puppy

that + [adjective] + puppy

用法筆記

Always pejorative and dismissive when applied to a person. Commonly appears in the structures 'call someone a puppy', 'that arrogant puppy', and 'a spoiled puppy'. Unlike sense 1, this sense cannot be used affectionately.

常見錯誤

❌He is a young puppy who works very hard.
✅The senior staff called him a puppy for interrupting the meeting.
💡puppy is always insulting when used for a person; it cannot be used as a neutral or positive description.