folly

/ˈfɒli/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈfɑːli/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈfä-lē/ (ame, mw)

folly — noun

  • follysingular
  • folliesplural

1. behaviour or a specific action that shows a serious failure of good judgment, of

1.名詞B2
釋義

behaviour or a specific action that shows a serious failure of good judgment, often leading to harm or regret

例句

Eitan thought it was folly to invest all his savings in a single new company.

it + be + folly + to-infinitive — stating an action is unwise

The construction manager's decision to ignore the safety warnings proved a costly folly.

noun phrase: costly folly — a financially damaging mistake

同義詞
  • foolishness

    less formal; can describe both minor and major errors

  • stupidity

    harsher and more direct than folly; less literary

  • recklessness

    emphasizes lack of caution rather than lack of judgment

  • madness

    much stronger; implies complete irrationality

反義詞
  • wisdom

    the quality of having good judgment and foresight

文法句型

folly + of + gerund

it + be + folly + to-infinitive

possessive + folly

用法筆記

More formal and literary than 'stupidity' or 'foolishness.' Often appears in written criticism or serious commentary to describe a decision with major negative consequences. The uncountable form (sheer folly, act of folly) is more common than the countable one (a folly, costly follies).

常見錯誤

❌It was a folly to buy cheap shoes.
✅It was foolish to buy cheap shoes.
💡'folly' is too strong for minor, everyday mistakes; use 'foolish' for trivial matters.
❌His folly made everyone laugh at the party.
✅His foolishness made everyone laugh at the party.
💡'folly' carries serious consequences, not light social embarrassment.

2. a small building designed to look like a castle, temple, or old ruin, placed on

2.名詞C1
釋義

a small building designed to look like a castle, temple, or old ruin, placed on the grounds of a large estate for decoration rather than everyday use

例句

The 18th-century estate has a Gothic folly hidden among the oak trees.

Gothic folly — describing the architectural style

Visitors can explore the crumbling stone folly that overlooks the lake.

同義詞
  • pavilion

    can also be a decorative garden building, but often has practical use such as shelter

  • gazebo

    open-sided structure offering shade; not a castle or temple replica

文法句型

adjective + folly

folly + verb

用法筆記

Primarily found in descriptions of British and European country estates from the 18th and 19th centuries. The term often suggests a whimsical or romantic structure that imitates older architectural styles. Not used for functional garden buildings like sheds or greenhouses.