thick
thick — 名詞
1. the part of a situation, event, or place where the most activity, energy, or dan
激烈處；核心
事件或活動最忙碌激烈的地帶
the part of a situation, event, or place where the most activity, energy, or danger is happening — for example, being in the middle of a heated argument, a busy protest, or a fast-moving rescue effort.
Quinn found herself in the thick of a heated city council meeting.
Quinn 發現自己身處一場激烈的市議會會議的核心。
idiom pattern: in the thick of + event/location
Volunteers worked in the thick of the flood relief operation all night.
志工們在洪水救援行動最忙碌的地帶徹夜工作。
In the thick of the argument, Vikram suddenly stood up and left the room.
在爭論最激烈的時刻，Vikram 突然站起來離開房間。
Élise stayed in the thick of the dance floor until the music stopped.
Élise 一直待在舞池最擁擠的地方，直到音樂停止。
文法句型
the thick of + something
用法筆記
Almost always occurs in the fixed phrase 'in the thick of (something)'. The something is typically a conflicted, busy, or intense situation — a debate, a battle, a crisis, a celebration.
常見錯誤
2. the widest or most solid part of an object or body part — for example, the thick
最厚處
物體或身體部位最寬厚的部分
the widest or most solid part of an object or body part — for example, the thick of a plank where it is hardest to break, or the thick of a person's thumb where the muscle bulges out.
The thick of the old tree trunk was nearly a metre across.
那棵老樹幹最厚的地方直徑將近一公尺。
pattern: the thick of + object
Dr. Okafor pressed gently on the thick of Amani's forearm.
Okafor 醫生輕輕按壓 Amani 前臂最厚的地方。
Ignacio measured the thick of the metal bar before cutting it.
Ignacio 在切割之前測量了金屬棒最厚的地方。
The thick of the rope had worn thin from years of use on the boat.
繩索最厚的部分因在船上使用多年而磨損變薄。
- widest point
descriptive but not a single-word synonym; has a more technical feel
- bulk
refers to the main mass rather than the single thickest point
- thin part
the narrowest or thinnest section
文法句型
the thick of + body part or object
用法筆記
Refers to the physically thickest point of an object or body part. This sense is less widely used than sense 1; it appears most often when describing measurements, body parts, or the strongest section of a material.
thick — 形容詞
1. used to describe objects whose two outer faces are far apart — for example, a wa
厚的
兩面之間的距離大的
used to describe objects whose two outer faces are far apart — for example, a wall that is a metre from the inside to the outside, or a book that measures several centimetres across.
The walls of the old castle were almost a metre thick.
那座古城堡的城牆幾乎有一公尺厚。
A thick layer of snow covered the garden by morning.
到早上時，一層厚厚的雪覆蓋了整個花園。
collocation: thick layer of [substance]
The book Eve borrowed from the library is nearly four centimetres thick.
Eve 從圖書館借來的那本書將近四公分厚。
Rodrigo wrapped the gift in thick brown paper so nothing would break.
Rodrigo 用厚厚的牛皮紙把禮物包好，以免東西摔破。
A thick slice of bread is better for making toast in the morning.
用厚片土司做早餐吐司效果比較好。
- thin
having a small distance between opposite surfaces
文法句型
be + thick
be + number + unit + thick
用法筆記
When asking about or stating measurements, use the pattern: subject + be + number + unit of measurement + thick (e.g. 'How thick is the ice? — It is about ten centimetres thick.').
常見錯誤
2. growing or placed very close together so that there is little space between indi
茂密的
植物或毛髮長得很密
growing or placed very close together so that there is little space between individual items — used to describe hair, trees, plants, or other things that form a crowded mass.
The path was hard to follow because of the thick bushes on both sides.
那條小徑兩旁長滿茂密的灌木，很難走。
Aylin brushed her thick black hair before putting it in a ponytail.
Aylin 梳了梳她那頭濃密的黑髮，然後綁成馬尾。
collocation: thick hair
A thick forest stood between the village and the nearest town.
村莊和最近的城鎮之間隔著一片茂密的森林。
The grass grew so thick that the children could hide in it easily.
草長得非常茂密，孩子們可以輕易躲在裡面。
Min's garden is thick with wildflowers every spring after the rain.
每到春天雨後，Min 的花園裡就開滿了密密麻麻的野花。
- sparse
with things placed far apart; not dense at all
文法句型
thick with [plants/hair/objects]
用法筆記
Frequently used with 'with' to name what is filling the space: 'thick with weeds', 'thick with spectators'. Also common after 'so thick that' to describe the result of the density.
常見錯誤
3. so full of something like fog, smoke, or dust that it is hard or impossible to s
濃厚的
霧、煙等讓人看不清楚
so full of something like fog, smoke, or dust that it is hard or impossible to see through it clearly.
Thick fog made it impossible for the ferry to leave the harbour.
濃霧讓渡輪無法離開港口。
collocation: thick fog
Smoke from the fire was so thick that Élise could barely see her hand in front of her face.
火災產生的煙霧非常濃，Élise 幾乎看不清自己面前的手。
pattern: so thick that [result]
The windows were covered in a thick layer of dust from years of neglect.
窗戶上積了一層厚厚的灰塵，好幾年沒打掃了。
Drivers were warned to stay off roads because of the thick mist in the valley.
當局警告駕駛人不要上路，因為山谷裡有濃霧。
文法句型
thick + [substance noun]
用法筆記
Also describes air that is difficult to breathe, such as air filled with smoke, chemicals, or extreme humidity: 'The air in the room was thick with cigarette smoke.'
4. describes a liquid that does not flow easily because it is heavy and dense, like
濃稠的
液體不容易流動的
describes a liquid that does not flow easily because it is heavy and dense, like cold honey, heavy cream, or certain sauces.
The soup was thick and creamy, perfect for a cold winter evening.
那碗湯又濃又滑順，很適合寒冷的冬夜。
collocation: thick soup
Baraka stirred the paint until it was thick enough to cover the scratches on the wall.
Baraka 攪拌油漆，直到它變得夠濃稠，能蓋住牆上的刮痕。
Cold honey is much thicker than warm honey and pours very slowly.
冷蜂蜜比溫蜂蜜濃稠很多，倒出來的速度很慢。
The sauce was too thick, so Padma added a little water to make it thinner.
醬汁太濃了，Padma 加了一點水讓它稀一些。
Thick oil dripped slowly from the engine onto the garage floor.
濃稠的機油緩緩從引擎滴到車庫地板上。
文法句型
thick + [liquid noun]
用法筆記
Often used with 'too thick' when a liquid needs thinning, or 'thick enough' when the right consistency is needed for cooking or industrial use.
常見錯誤
5. informal and potentially offensive way to say that someone is not intelligent or
笨的
口語貶義，理解力差
informal and potentially offensive way to say that someone is not intelligent or has trouble understanding things that others find simple.
The teacher called him thick just because he needed more time with maths problems.
老師罵他笨，只因為他做數學題需要多一點時間。
informal and offensive
Indra felt frustrated when her classmates acted thick on purpose to annoy the substitute teacher.
Indra 很氣餒，因為她的同學故意裝笨來鬧代課老師。
Kwame stared at the circuit diagram upside down until his roommate laughed and called him thick.
Kwame 把電路圖拿反了還在那邊看，室友笑著罵他笨。
Feng found the instructions confusing and worried the others would think he was thick.
Feng 覺得說明書很難懂，擔心別人會覺得他笨。
文法句型
be + thick
用法筆記
This sense is considered insulting and rude. It is safer to use 'slow to understand' or 'not very quick' instead. Avoid using this sense in formal writing, professional settings, or when talking about real people.
常見錯誤
6. so full of people or things that they are densely packed together — for example,
充滿的
某處擠滿了人或事物
so full of people or things that they are densely packed together — for example, a park thick with picnickers, an essay thick with examples, or air thick with excitement.
The streets were thick with shoppers during the holiday weekend.
放假期間，街上擠滿了購物的人潮。
pattern: thick with [people]
The air in the stadium was thick with excitement before the final match began.
決賽開始前，體育館裡充滿了興奮的氣氛。
pattern: thick with [emotion/atmosphere]
Sophia's essay was thick with examples that supported every argument she made.
Sophia 的文章裡充滿了例子，來支持她提出的每一個論點。
Tech jobs are thick on the ground in that part of the city.
那個城市的那一區科技業的工作機會很多。
The park was thick with families enjoying the sunny Saturday afternoon.
公園裡到處都是享受週六午后陽光的家庭。
文法句型
thick with [people/things]
用法筆記
Almost always followed by 'with' to specify what fills the place. The opposite idiom 'thin on the ground' means there are very few of something.
7. very close and friendly with someone; sometimes used when the closeness seems un
要好；親密
形容朋友之間非常親近友好
very close and friendly with someone; sometimes used when the closeness seems unusually quick or possibly secretive
The two managers were thick as thieves, always sharing lunch together.
那兩位主管好得跟什麼似的，午餐總是一起吃。
thick as thieves — fixed phrase for close, sometimes suspicious friendship
Sumin found it odd how thick her colleagues had become after just one meeting.
Sumin 覺得奇怪，她的同事們才開了一次會就變得這麼要好。
become thick — growing very close very quickly
Jude and Priya grew thick while working together on the project for several months.
Jude 和 Priya 一起合作專案幾個月後，變得非常要好。
The journalist found it worrying how thick the mayor and the business owner had become.
那名記者覺得市長和那位企業主走得太近，令人擔憂。
文法句型
be thick with [someone]
grow/become thick
thick as thieves
用法筆記
Frequently used in the fixed phrase 'thick as thieves'. Often carries a suspicion that the close friendship involves something improper.
8. describes a way of speaking that is strongly shaped by a person's region, illnes
濃重；含糊
形容口音重或聲音因情緒而含糊
describes a way of speaking that is strongly shaped by a person's region, illness, or feelings, making the words harder than usual to understand
Jude's thick Scottish accent made it hard for the tourists to follow his directions.
Jude 濃重的蘇格蘭口音讓遊客很難聽懂他指的路。
thick + accent — strongly marked regional quality
When Diya woke up, her voice was thick with sleep and she could barely speak.
Diya 醒來時，她的聲音帶著濃濃的睡意，幾乎無法說話。
thick with [sleep/emotion] — voice affected by a temporary state
The singer's voice grew thick with emotion during the final verse of the song.
那位歌手在唱最後一段副歌時，聲音因激動而變得哽咽。
After crying for an hour, all Tamás could manage was a thick whisper.
哭了一個小時後，Tamás 只能含糊地低語幾句。
The old fisherman had a thick Devon accent that charmed everyone at the market.
那位老漁夫濃濃的德文郡口音讓市場裡每個人都很著迷。
文法句型
thick [accent]
thick with [emotion/state]
用法筆記
Subject is typically a voice, accent, or way of speaking. With 'thick with + noun', the noun is always a state (sleep, emotion, tears) — not a person or object.
9. describes darkness or night that is so deep and complete that it feels almost so
濃密
形容黑暗非常深邃濃密
describes darkness or night that is so deep and complete that it feels almost solid or hard to see through
The thick darkness of the cave made it impossible to see one's own hand.
洞穴中一片漆黑，伸手不見五指。
thick darkness — darkness so dense it feels solid
A thick darkness fell over the village as the storm clouds blocked out the moon.
暴風雨烏雲遮蔽了月亮，村子籠罩在一片濃重的黑暗之中。
The children huddled together, afraid of the thick darkness in the basement.
孩子們擠在一起，害怕地下室裡那濃密的黑暗。
Through the thick darkness of the night, only one small lantern glowed.
穿過濃濃的夜色，只有一盞小燈籠發出微光。
- deep
less physical; suggests intensity of darkness rather than its density
- impenetrable
more formal and dramatic; emphasizes the inability to see
- pitch-black
more common in everyday speech; emphasizes total absence of light
文法句型
thick [darkness/night/fog]
用法筆記
Almost always used before the noun (attributive) — 'thick darkness', 'thick night'. Not used predicatively ('the darkness was thick' would instead refer to sense 3 or 4).
10. describes a person whose body is broad, solid, and muscular, rather than tall or
粗壯；魁梧
形容人身材結實、體格強壯
describes a person whose body is broad, solid, and muscular, rather than tall or slender
The thick security guard stood at the entrance with his arms crossed.
那名粗壯的警衛雙手抱胸站在入口處。
thick [noun] — describing a person's solid, broad physique
Yael had a thick build from years of working on the family farm.
Yael 因為多年在農場工作，體格非常粗壯。
The rugby team was full of thick, powerful players who did not move easily.
那支橄欖球隊裡全是身材魁梧、力量強大的球員，很難被推倒。
Sophia's grandfather was a thick man with broad shoulders and large hands.
Sophia 的祖父是個身材魁梧的男人，肩膀寬闊，手掌厚實。
文法句型
thick [body part]
thick build
用法筆記
Used to describe a person's general body shape. Can modify the person directly ('a thick man') or body parts ('thick arms', 'thick neck'). Neutral in tone — not an insult.
常見錯誤
thick — 副詞
1. in a way that creates a thick layer or a dense covering on a surface — used espe
厚厚地
以厚層或濃稠的方式
in a way that creates a thick layer or a dense covering on a surface — used especially after verbs of spreading, cutting, piling, or settling, as in spreading butter thick on bread or cutting slices thick.
Tamar spread the butter thick on her toast before taking a bite.
Tamar 在吐司上厚厚地抹了一層奶油，然後咬了一口。
verb + thick + on + surface: spread thick on toast
The fog lay thick across the valley, hiding the village below.
濃霧厚厚地籠罩著山谷，遮掩了底下的村莊。
inanimate subject + verb + thick: fog lay thick
Hoa cut the slices thick so the bread would hold the soup.
Hoa 把麵包切得很厚，這樣麵包才撐得住湯汁。
Dust had settled thick on every shelf in the old library.
灰塵厚厚地積在舊圖書館的每個架子上。
Kwame piled the blankets thick over his son before closing the window.
Kwame 在兒子身上厚厚地蓋了好幾層毯子，然後關上窗戶。
- thinly
opposite meaning — spread, cut, or pile so the layer is shallow or sparse
文法句型
verb + thick
verb + thick + prepositional phrase
用法筆記
Post-verbal position only — thick as an adverb almost always comes directly after the verb it modifies, not before it. Common with verbs of covering, spreading, cutting, or accumulating (spread, cut, pile, lay, settle).