fog
/fɒɡ/ (bre, ipa) · /fɔːɡ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈfȯg fäg/ (ame, mw) · /fɑːɡ/ (ame, ipa)
fog — noun
1. a mass of tiny water drops that sits just above the ground and stops people from
a mass of tiny water drops that sits just above the ground and stops people from seeing things that are far away.
Thick fog covered the city, so drivers could barely see the road ahead.
collocation: thick fog / dense fog
The boat could not leave the harbour because of the heavy fog that morning.
Layla could barely see ten metres ahead as fog rolled across the valley.
Fog often forms near the coast when warm damp air meets cold sea water.
Drivers turned on their fog lights as the fog grew thicker on the highway.
文法句型
fog + verb (fog lifts/clears/rolls in)
a + adjective + fog (a thick fog, a dense fog)
用法筆記
Commonly used with adjectives like thick, dense, heavy, and patchy. The verb collocates fog lifts, fog clears, or fog rolls in describe changes in fog.
常見錯誤
2. a condition of the mind where you feel confused, cannot think properly, or strug
a condition of the mind where you feel confused, cannot think properly, or struggle to grasp what is going on around you.
After the accident, Sayaka felt like she was walking around in a fog all day.
idiom: in a fog
The instructions used such difficult language that I was completely lost in a fog.
His mind was in a fog of exhaustion after studying for twelve hours straight.
Trying to understand the new tax rules left most people in a fog of confusion.
- clarity
clearness of thought, the opposite of being in a fog
文法句型
in a fog
a fog of + noun (a fog of exhaustion / confusion)
用法筆記
Almost always used in the phrase in a fog or a fog of [something]. The something is typically an abstract noun describing the cause of confusion (exhaustion, grief, worry).
常見錯誤
3. the uncertainty and lack of clear information that soldiers and leaders experien
the uncertainty and lack of clear information that soldiers and leaders experience during a battle or war, making it hard to know what is actually happening.
In the fog of war, commanders often make decisions based on incomplete information.
fixed phrase: fog of war
Historians still argue about what happened during the fog of that particular battle.
The fog of war can cause friendly troops to be mistaken for enemy soldiers.
News coming out of the war zone was unreliable because of the fog of conflict.
- uncertainty
a general term; fog of war implies a military context with potentially dangerous consequences
- chaos
emphasises disorder rather than lack of information; broader in meaning
文法句型
the fog of war
the fog of + conflict-related noun
用法筆記
The phrase the fog of war is a fixed expression. It is used both in literal military contexts and metaphorically for any chaotic situation where facts are unclear.
fog — verb
- fogpresent simple I / you / we / they
- fogs3rd person singular
- fogging-ing form
- foggedpast simple
1. to cause an issue, situation, or someone's thoughts to become less clear and mor
to cause an issue, situation, or someone's thoughts to become less clear and more difficult to understand or deal with.
All the conflicting news reports only served to fog the issue further.
transitive: fog + [issue / mind / memory]
Lack of sleep can fog your judgment and make you careless at work.
The politician tried to fog the facts by using vague and complicated language.
Sivan's memories of that night were fogged by the stress of the situation.
- clarify
to make clear, the opposite of fogging an issue
文法句型
fog + noun phrase (fog the issue / fog someone's mind)
用法筆記
The object is typically an abstract noun: issue, facts, memory, judgment, mind. The passive form (be fogged by) is common, especially when the cause is emotional or physical stress.
常見錯誤
2. to become covered with a layer of tiny water drops so that a surface is no longe
to become covered with a layer of tiny water drops so that a surface is no longer clear to see through, or to cause this to happen.
The bathroom mirror fogged up completely after Ishaan took a long hot shower.
phrasal verb: fog up
Mateo's glasses fogged up the moment he stepped into the warm kitchen.
The windscreen of the car fogged over as the temperature dropped outside.
Her breath fogged the cold window pane as she looked out at the garden.
Élise wiped the fogged-up mirror with a towel before getting dressed.
- clear
the opposite of fogging up; the glass cleared after wiping, or the mist cleared
文法句型
something fogs up/over
something fogs something (her breath fogged the glass)
用法筆記
Used both transitively (breath fogged the glass) and intransitively (the glass fogged up). The phrasal forms fog up and fog over are more common than the bare verb in everyday speech.