foils
foils — noun
1. an extremely thin layer of metal, often wrapped around food so it stays fresh.
an extremely thin layer of metal, often wrapped around food so it stays fresh.
Salma wrapped the warm corn in foil before packing the picnic basket.
wrap food in foil to keep it fresh
The baker covered the pie with foil when the crust browned too fast.
Dad tore a strip of foil to cover the lunch box.
Ayana folded the foil over the fish before it went into the oven.
- sheet metal
broader and often thicker than this everyday wrapping material
- aluminum foil
the most common household type of this material
文法句型
wrap food in foil
cover something with foil
a sheet of foil
用法筆記
Usually refers to kitchen wrapping material. Distinguish it from sense 2, where each foil is a separate piece wrapped around hair during coloring.
2. a small piece of thin metal or paper folded around a section of hair while its c
a small piece of thin metal or paper folded around a section of hair while its color is changed.
Élise stacked clean foils beside the chair before the color appointment.
foils used before a hair-color appointment
The stylist slid fresh foils under Mira's curls to add pale streaks.
By noon, silver foils covered half the bride's hair at the salon.
Anjali peeked at the foils while the dye warmed beside the mirror.
文法句型
put foils in someone's hair
slide a foil under a section of hair
用法筆記
Used in salons when small sections of hair are wrapped during coloring. Unlike sense 1, these foils are single pieces placed around hair, not general food wrapping material.
3. a person or thing that makes someone else's qualities stand out because they are
a person or thing that makes someone else's qualities stand out because they are so different.
Kenji's quiet kindness made Omar's rude jokes a harsh foil.
a foil that makes another quality stand out
The bare stone wall was a perfect foil for the bright mural.
Ryan served as a comic foil to the captain's serious speeches.
The plain white plate became a foil for the red summer berries.
- contrast
focuses on difference itself, not the person or thing creating it
- counterpart
can mean a matching partner, not necessarily one that highlights difference
文法句型
a foil for something
serve as a foil to someone
用法筆記
Often used when one person, object, or style makes another stand out more clearly. This sense is about contrast, not metal or fencing equipment.
4. a light narrow sword used in fencing.
a light narrow sword used in fencing.
Arjun practiced lunges with a foil before the school fencing match.
practice with a foil in fencing
The coach checked each foil for loose wires after the tournament.
Christopher bent his foil slightly when he hit the metal guard.
Two beginners borrowed foils from the club on their first night.
文法句型
fence with a foil
pick up a foil
用法筆記
Names the weapon rather than the sport. It is the light flexible sword used in one kind of fencing event.
foils — verb
1. to stop a plan, attempt, or attack from succeeding.
to stop a plan, attempt, or attack from succeeding.
Quick action by nurses foiled the thief before he reached the exit.
foil a crime before it succeeds
Heavy rain foiled our plan to show films in the park.
Security cameras foiled two late-night break-ins at the pharmacy.
The goalkeeper's outstretched foot foiled Ezra's final shot.
- enable
means to make success possible rather than stopping it
文法句型
foil a plan
foil an escape
foil an attack
用法筆記
Often used for plans, crimes, attacks, or escape attempts. It suggests that the effort failed, not simply that it was delayed.
2. to put a layer of metal foil on the back or surface of something.
to put a layer of metal foil on the back or surface of something.
The printer foiled the wedding cards with a thin gold border.
foil an object with a decorative metal layer
Workers foiled the chocolate boxes before stacking them in cases.
At the workshop, Sari foiled the sign so it shone in sunlight.
The decorator foiled each menu cover with silver at the corners.
文法句型
foil a card
foil a box
foil a sign
用法筆記
Usually appears in printing, packaging, or decoration. It means adding a foil layer to a surface, not stopping someone's plans as in sense 1.