butcher
/ˈbʊtʃə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈbʊtʃər/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈbu̇-chər/ (ame, mw) · /ˈbʊtʃ.ər/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈbʊtʃ.ɚ/ (ame, ipa)
butcher — noun
- butchersingular
- butchersplural
1. a person whose job is to prepare and sell meat as food.
a person whose job is to prepare and sell meat as food.
The butcher wrapped the lamb chops in brown paper for Mrs. Okafor.
collocation: butcher + wraps meat in paper
Wei asked the butcher to mince the beef for making dumplings.
My grandfather worked as a butcher in the local market for forty years.
The butcher sharpened his knife before cutting the chicken.
- meat seller
more general, less common in everyday speech
- meat vendor
more formal, often used in commercial contexts
用法筆記
Often used with a possessive ('the butcher's') to refer to the shop where the butcher works.
常見錯誤
2. a shop where fresh meat is sold, usually run by a person trained as a butcher.
a shop where fresh meat is sold, usually run by a person trained as a butcher.
The butcher's on Main Street sells the best sausages in town.
the butcher's = the shop
Camila stopped by the butcher to pick up some chicken for dinner.
There is a butcher between the bakery and the grocery store.
- butcher shop
more common in American English
- butcher's
the possessive form, standard in British English
用法筆記
In British English, people usually say 'the butcher's' (possessive form) to mean the shop. In American English, 'the butcher' or 'the butcher shop' are more common.
常見錯誤
3. a person who kills large numbers of people in a violent and cruel way, or who ca
a person who kills large numbers of people in a violent and cruel way, or who causes great suffering.
The dictator was described as a butcher who ordered the deaths of thousands.
figurative use: dictator = butcher
History remembers the general as a butcher, not a military hero.
The newspaper called the warlord a butcher after the attack on the village.
- mass murderer
focuses on the number killed, less emotional than 'butcher'
- slaughterer
even more brutal-sounding but less common
- protector
someone who keeps others safe
用法筆記
Used in strong condemnation. This sense carries heavy negative moral judgment and is common in historical and political writing.
常見錯誤
4. someone who does a job or task so badly that they ruin the result completely.
someone who does a job or task so badly that they ruin the result completely.
The tailor was a butcher — he ruined my wedding dress completely.
figurative: person who ruins things = butcher
Do not let that plumber near the pipes; he is a butcher who always makes things worse.
The previous editor was a butcher who cut every article to pieces without understanding it.
- bungler
less emotional, focuses on repeated mistakes
- incompetent
more general, less vivid
用法筆記
Strongly critical and informal. Often used for tradespeople (plumbers, tailors, builders) who do very poor work, but can extend to any profession.
常見錯誤
butcher — verb
- butcherpresent simple I / you / we / they
- butchers3rd person singular
- butchering-ing form
- butcheredpast simple
1. to kill an animal and cut it up into pieces to be sold or used as food.
to kill an animal and cut it up into pieces to be sold or used as food.
The farmer butchered a pig to supply meat for the village festival.
butcher + animal (pig)
In some regions, families butcher a goat for wedding celebrations.
The slaughterhouse butchers about two hundred cattle every day.
Kenji learned how to butcher a chicken from his grandmother.
文法句型
butcher + animal
用法筆記
Object is always an animal. Unlike 'slaughter', which can be done for disease control or other reasons, 'butcher' implies the animal is being processed for food.
常見錯誤
2. to kill people in a very violent, cruel way, especially in large numbers.
to kill people in a very violent, cruel way, especially in large numbers.
The invading army butchered innocent villagers during the war.
butcher + people (victims)
Reports say the rebels butchered more than a hundred civilians in the attack.
The documentary showed how the regime butchered its political opponents.
- massacre
focuses on the mass nature of the killing, often of defenceless people
- slaughter
similar emotional weight but also used for animals
- exterminate
sounds more systematic and deliberate
文法句型
butcher + people
用法筆記
Carries very strong emotional weight. Implies not just killing but cruelty and lack of humanity. Typically used for large-scale or systematic killing.
常見錯誤
3. to spoil or ruin something completely by doing it very badly or making serious m
to spoil or ruin something completely by doing it very badly or making serious mistakes — for example, playing a piece of music terribly, or installing a kitchen so poorly it cannot be used.
The builder butchered the kitchen renovation — the cabinets do not close properly.
butcher = ruin through bad work
The young guitarist butchered the solo during the concert and the audience groaned.
Do not let your brother cut your hair; he will butcher it completely.
The translator butchered the poem by changing every line into something dull.
文法句型
butcher + noun phrase
用法筆記
Informal and expressive. Can be used for any activity where the result is far worse than expected — music, building, writing, cooking, translation.