craw
craw — noun
1. a small bag-like organ in a bird's throat (or a similar structure in some insect
a small bag-like organ in a bird's throat (or a similar structure in some insects) where food is stored and softened before it moves into the stomach.
The robin's craw was full of berries after a morning in the garden.
A vet can tell what a wild bird has been eating by checking its craw.
collocation: check one's craw
Yuna brought a pigeon to the vet, who found gravel in its craw.
Some insects have a craw-like pouch that holds food before digestion begins.
The biologist showed students how a chicken's craw slowly softens hard grain.
- crop
the standard biological term; 'crop' is more common than 'craw' in modern scientific writing
用法筆記
This is the original literal meaning. In everyday conversation, 'craw' is almost always used in the idiom 'stick in one's craw' (see idioms below) rather than as a standalone biological term.
2. a feeling that words are very difficult to say aloud, usually because of strong
a feeling that words are very difficult to say aloud, usually because of strong emotion such as embarrassment, guilt, or anger.
The apology stuck in Henrik's craw, but he forced himself to say it.
pattern: apology + stuck in one's craw
Gita tried to thank her rival, but the words stuck in her craw.
Yasmin wanted to confess to breaking her sister's lamp, but the words stuck in her craw.
The compliment stuck in Leo's craw because he did not mean a word of it.
- choke on
more physical; 'choke on one's words' suggests the speaker literally cannot get the words out
文法句型
words / phrase + stick in one's craw
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 3: this sense focuses on the difficulty of SPEAKING, while sense 3 focuses on the difficulty of ACCEPTING a situation. Both senses are always used in the idiom 'stick in one's craw', never as standalone noun meanings.
常見錯誤
3. a situation, idea, or decision that angers you because you find it unfair and ca
a situation, idea, or decision that angers you because you find it unfair and cannot bring yourself to agree with it.
It stuck in Olivia's craw that her partner took all the credit.
pattern: it sticks in one's craw that...
The new rule sticks in the craw of every teacher who has to enforce it.
What really sticks in my craw is that nobody even apologised for the mistake.
Sade's unfair promotion stuck in the craw of everyone who had worked harder for years.
The manager's rude comment stuck in Talia's craw long after the meeting ended.
- accept
the opposite emotional response — to agree to something rather than resent it
文法句型
something + sticks in one's craw
it sticks in one's craw that...
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 2: this sense is about a SITUATION or DECISION you cannot accept, not about words you cannot say. The subject is typically an event, a rule, or a piece of news, whereas sense 2's subject is words or an apology.