slay

IPA/sleɪ/
KK[slˈe]IPA/sleɪ/

slay — 動詞

  • slaypresent simple I / you / we / they
  • slayshe / she / it
  • slewpast simple
  • slainpast participle
  • slaying-ing form

1. to kill a person, animal, or creature through violent force, especially in a bat

1.動詞及物B2
釋義

殘殺

以暴力殺害,尤指戰鬥中

to kill a person, animal, or creature through violent force, especially in a battle, war, or legendary conflict

例句

In the old folktale, the fisherman's son slays the giant with nothing but his wits and a wooden club.

在古老的民間故事中,漁夫的兒子只靠機智和一根木棍就殘殺了巨人。

slay + noun phrase (legendary creature)

Hundreds of soldiers were slain in the battle that lasted three days and three nights.

在那場持續三天三夜的戰役中,數百名士兵被殘殺。

passive: be slain in battle/war

同義詞
  • kill

    neutral, everyday term; slay is more literary and violent

  • massacre

    refers to killing many people at once; stronger connotation of cruelty

  • butcher

    emphasises extreme violence; often used metaphorically

反義詞

文法句型

slay + noun phrase (person/creature)

用法筆記

Traditionally takes irregular forms: slew (past tense) and slain (past participle). In modern informal use of other senses, the regular form slayed is standard.

常見錯誤

The comedian slew the audience with his jokes' (using traditional form for slang sense).
The comedian slayed the audience with his jokes.
💡For the 'amuse/impress' meanings, use the regular form 'slayed', not 'slew'.

2. to murder someone; used in news reports as a more dramatic or formal word for ki

2.動詞及物C1
釋義

謀殺

(新聞用語)殺害某人

to murder someone; used in news reports as a more dramatic or formal word for killing a person

例句

Two people were slain in a suspected gang shooting outside a downtown restaurant on Friday night.

週五晚間,兩人在市中心一間餐廳外的一起疑似幫派槍擊事件中遭到謀殺。

passive: were slain in [context]

The detective revealed that the victim had been slain with a knife from her own kitchen.

警探透露,受害者是被自己廚房裡的一把刀殺害的。

同義詞
  • murder

    the standard neutral term; slay sounds more dramatic

  • kill

    more general; murder implies unlawful intent

文法句型

slay + noun phrase (person)

be slain (by someone)

用法筆記

This sense is characteristic of American newspaper journalism. The past participle slain is more common than slayed in this context. British English prefers murdered.

3. to create a very strong favourable impression on people through one's performanc

3.動詞及物 / 不及物B2
釋義

驚豔

表現極為出色,讓人大為驚嘆

to create a very strong favourable impression on people through one's performance, appearance, or skill, so that they are full of admiration

例句

Padma slayed the competition with her dazzling dance routine and won first prize.

Padma 以炫目的舞蹈表演驚豔全場,贏得第一名。

slay + noun phrase (competition, audience)

Every time Stephanie walks into a party wearing one of her bold outfits, she absolutely slays.

Stephanie 每次穿著大膽的服裝走進派對,都絕對驚豔全場。

intransitive: absolutely slay

同義詞
  • impress

    neutral and general; slay is much stronger and more informal

  • wow

    similar informal register, but wowing someone is a single event; slaying suggests sustained excellence

  • kill it

    phrasal verb with the same slang register; 'killed it' = 'slayed it'

文法句型

slay + noun phrase (audience, competition)

slay (intransitive) — you slay!

用法筆記

Frequently used in fashion, entertainment, and social media contexts. Often appears as an exclamation ('Slay!') or in the phrase 'slay the game / slay the look.' The regular past form slayed is standard — do not use slew.

常見錯誤

She was slain at the karaoke night' (sounds like she was killed).
She slayed at the karaoke night.
💡For the 'impress' meaning, always use the regular slayed form to avoid confusion with the violent sense.

4. to cause someone to feel deeply let down or emotionally hurt, often because an e

4.動詞及物C1
釋義

傷心

讓人大為失望或難過

to cause someone to feel deeply let down or emotionally hurt, often because an event or situation turns out badly

例句

It slays me that Eli studied for months but still failed the driving test.

Eli 苦讀了幾個月還是沒通過駕照考試,這件事讓我很傷心。

it slays + person + that-clause

Lakan was completely slayed when his best friend moved abroad without even saying goodbye.

Lakan 最要好的朋友搬到國外,連再見都沒說一聲,讓他非常傷心。

passive: be slayed by [news/event]

同義詞
  • devastate

    stronger and more formal; slay is more casual and conversational

  • crush

    similar informal register; 'crush someone' also means upset them greatly

文法句型

it slays + noun phrase (person) — it slays me that...

用法筆記

The subject is often a situation or piece of news ('it slays me that...'). Less common than slay in the 'impress' or 'amuse' senses.

5. to be of outstanding quality or very skilled; used as a general term of enthusia

5.動詞不及物B2
釋義

超棒

極好、非常出色

to be of outstanding quality or very skilled; used as a general term of enthusiastic praise for anything impressive

例句

That new Korean barbecue place near campus absolutely slays — we should go there this weekend.

校園附近那家新開的韓式烤肉店超棒——我們這週末應該去試試。

inanimate subject: [place/thing] slays

Aoi's homemade lemon pie slays; every time she brings it to a party, people ask for the recipe.

Aoi 自製的檸檬派超棒;每次帶去聚會都會有人問食譜。

同義詞
  • rock

    similar slang register; 'this place rocks' = 'this place slays'

  • be amazing

    neutral register; slay is much more informal

  • be fire

    slang with same register; 'this album is fire'

文法句型

subject + slays

用法筆記

Intransitive — the subject is the thing being praised. Often used with adverbs like absolutely, totally. Very common in social media, product reviews, and informal recommendations.

常見錯誤

This restaurant slays people' (makes it sound violent).
This restaurant slays
💡the 'be excellent' sense is intransitive; do not add an object.

6. to amuse or delight someone hugely, especially by saying something very funny or

6.動詞及物C1
釋義

笑翻

讓人捧腹大笑

to amuse or delight someone hugely, especially by saying something very funny or clever

例句

Romi's impression of the maths teacher absolutely slayed the whole class, and nobody could stop laughing.

Romi 模仿數學老師的樣子讓全班笑翻,大家都笑個不停。

slay + noun phrase (person/group)

Every time Ziad tells that story about the airport, he slays me — I cry with laughter every single time.

每次 Ziad 講那個在機場的故事,我都笑翻——每次都會笑到流淚。

informal fixed phrase: you slay me

同義詞
  • crack up

    phrasal verb with same informal register; 'you crack me up' vs 'you slay me'

  • kill

    same construction; 'you kill me' means the same thing in this context

文法句型

subject + slays + noun phrase (person) — you slay me

用法筆記

Often used in the set phrase 'you slay me!' to express that someone has said something hilarious. Common in conversational American English among younger speakers.

slay — 名詞

slay — 形容詞

slay — 感嘆詞