browbeat

/ˈbraʊbiːt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈbraʊbiːt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈbrau̇-ˌbēt/ (ame, mw)

browbeat — verb

  • browbeatpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • browbeatshe / she / it
  • browbeatenpast participle
  • browbeating-ing form

1. to force someone to do something by using stern words, angry looks, or repeated

1.動詞及物C1
釋義

to force someone to do something by using stern words, angry looks, or repeated demands, so that they feel they have no choice but to give in

例句

Kwame's boss tried to browbeat him into working weekends without extra pay.

browbeat + into + gerund (working)

The landlord browbeat the elderly tenants into signing an unfair new lease agreement.

同義詞
  • intimidate

    focuses on creating fear, not necessarily forcing a specific action

  • bully

    more general; can include physical or social aggression beyond verbal pressure

  • coerce

    more neutral and formal; can involve threats, rewards, or manipulation

  • bulldoze

    informal; implies pushing past resistance with aggressive insistence

反義詞
  • encourage

    builds someone's confidence rather than breaking it down

  • coax

    uses gentle persuasion instead of threats or force

文法句型

browbeat + person + into + -ing form

be browbeaten + by + agent + into + -ing form

用法筆記

Almost always used with 'into' + gerund to state the forced action. The passive construction ('be browbeaten') is common and often omits the agent. Distinguish from 'bully', which can describe repeated physical or social intimidation without a specific demanded action — browbeating always targets a particular outcome.

常見錯誤

❌The manager browbeated his team until they quit.
✅The manager browbeat his team until they quit.
💡'browbeat' is irregular: present/browbeat, past/browbeat, past participle/browbeaten. Never add '-ed'.
❌The older students browbeat the younger ones.
✅The older students browbeat the younger ones into handing over their lunch money.
💡'browbeat' requires 'into' + the specific action the victim was forced to do.
❌I felt browbeaten by her argument.
✅I felt browbeaten by her aggressive tone during the argument.
💡'browbeaten' describes the feeling of being pressured by a person's manner, not by the logical force of an argument.