coddle

/ˈkɒdl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈkɑːdl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈkä-dᵊl/ (ame, mw) · /ˈkɒd.əl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈkɑː.dəl/ (ame, ipa)

coddle — verb

  • coddlepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • coddleshe / she / it
  • coddledpast simple
  • coddling-ing form

1. to give someone, especially a child or athlete, far more care, comfort, and prot

1.動詞及物C2
釋義

to give someone, especially a child or athlete, far more care, comfort, and protection than they actually need, so that they never have to deal with difficulty on their own.

例句

Kabir's grandmother coddled him every summer, refusing to let him carry his own bag.

coddle + person object; everyday family context

Tariro felt her younger brother had been coddled by their parents for years.

passive: be coddled by [parents/family]

同義詞
  • pamper

    near-synonym; slightly more positive, often about physical comfort like spa treatment

  • mollycoddle

    stronger and more disapproving; almost always negative

  • spoil

    broader; often suggests damage to character, not just over-protection

  • indulge

    more neutral; focuses on giving in to wants rather than shielding from hardship

反義詞
  • toughen

    deliberately expose someone to difficulty so they grow stronger

  • neglect

    the opposite extreme — give too little care rather than too much

文法句型

coddle + someone

用法筆記

Usually carries a disapproving tone — the speaker thinks the protection is excessive. Subject is typically a parent, teacher, coach, or institution; object is typically someone younger or less powerful.

常見錯誤

❌My boss coddled me on the project deadline.
✅My boss was lenient with me on the project deadline.
💡'coddle' is for protecting a person broadly from difficulty, not for going easy on one specific task.

2. to cook a delicate food, almost always eggs, by holding it in hot water that is

2.動詞及物C2
釋義

to cook a delicate food, almost always eggs, by holding it in hot water that is kept hot but not allowed to bubble, so the food stays soft and creamy.

例句

Élise coddled two eggs in small porcelain cups for her morning toast.

coddle + eggs (the typical object)

The chef coddled the eggs for exactly six minutes before serving them with smoked salmon.

specific cooking time often given

同義詞
  • poach

    closely related cooking method; poaching usually means submerging eggs directly in water, while coddling uses a small cup or shell

  • simmer

    broader cooking term; simmering is the heat level, coddling is the whole technique

文法句型

coddle + eggs/food

用法筆記

Mainly a cookbook term in British English; rare in conversation. The water must stay just below boiling — actual boiling makes the eggs rubbery and ruins the technique.

常見錯誤

❌Hamza coddled the steak in the pan.
✅Hamza pan-fried the steak.
💡'coddle' refers to a specific water-bath technique, almost exclusively for eggs.

coddle — noun