toad

IPA/təʊd/
KK[tˈod]IPA/təʊd/

toad — 名詞

  • toadsingular
  • toadsplural

1. a small animal with dry, lumpy skin that lives mainly on land and looks somewhat

1.名詞B1
釋義

蟾蜍

像青蛙但皮膚乾燥多疣的兩棲動物

a small animal with dry, lumpy skin that lives mainly on land and looks somewhat like a frog; it goes into ponds or streams only when producing young

例句

Esme found a small toad sitting on a rock near the stream in her backyard.

Esme 在後院靠近溪流的一塊岩石上發現了一隻小蟾蜍。

collocation: find a toad

Unlike frogs, toads have dry, bumpy skin that helps them live farther from water.

和青蛙不同，蟾蜍的皮膚乾燥粗糙，讓牠們能夠生活在離水較遠的地方。

同義詞
  • frog

    frogs have smoother, moister skin and spend more time in or near water; toads are more terrestrial with drier, bumpier skin

  • amphibian

    broader category that includes both frogs and toads as well as salamanders and newts

常見錯誤

❌A toad has smooth, wet skin.
✅A toad has dry, bumpy or warty skin.
💡Toads are known for their dry, rough skin, unlike frogs whose skin stays moist and smooth.

2. an informal and insulting word for a person — usually a man — who behaves in a r

2.名詞B2
釋義

討厭鬼

令人厭惡的人（多指男性）

an informal and insulting word for a person — usually a man — who behaves in a rude, selfish, or unpleasant way, or whose appearance is unattractive

例句

Gabriel called his old boss 'a miserable old toad' after the unfair pay cut.

Gabriel 在被不公平地減薪後，稱他的老闆是「那個可惡的老傢伙」。

collocation: miserable old toad

Folake shouted 'You lying toad!' when her colleague blamed her for his own mistake.

Folake 對著同事大喊「你這個說謊的討厭鬼！」，因為對方把自己的錯誤推到她頭上。

direct address: 'you ... toad!'

同義詞
  • creep

    milder and more general than 'toad'; describes someone who makes others feel uncomfortable rather than specifically unpleasant

  • slimeball

    similar strength but focuses more on dishonesty and untrustworthiness than on physical appearance

用法筆記

Strongly offensive when used directly to someone's face ('You toad!'). Less harsh when used about a person in the third person. Common in British English; less frequent in American English.

常見錯誤

❌She called him a toad' as a mild complaint.
✅She called him a miserable old toad' after he truly behaved badly.
💡'Toad' is a strong insult and sounds odd in trivial situations.