froth
/frɒθ/ (bre, ipa) · /frɔːθ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈfrȯth/ (ame, mw) · /frɑːθ/ (ame, ipa)
froth — noun
1. a light layer of tiny bubbles collecting on top of a liquid or churned water
a light layer of tiny bubbles collecting on top of a liquid or churned water
A ring of froth formed on the hot milk in Beatriz's mug.
pattern: froth on the surface of a drink
Dylan wiped the beer froth from his upper lip.
Sea froth blew across the rocks after the wave broke.
A line of froth drifted behind the ferry near the dock.
文法句型
froth on [liquid]
a layer of froth
froth drifts behind [boat]
用法筆記
Usually uncountable when you mean a visible bubbly layer on a drink or the sea. It focuses on the foam you can see on top or around the liquid.
常見錯誤
2. showy talk, entertainment, or ideas that seem lively but offer little substance
showy talk, entertainment, or ideas that seem lively but offer little substance
After ten minutes, the debate turned into froth about celebrity clothes.
figurative use: shallow media talk
Lotte skipped the froth and read only the health reports.
The film's froth hid the fact that no one changed.
The campaign leaflet was mostly froth and smiling family photos.
- fluff
more informal, especially for light but unimportant material
- hype
focuses on exaggerated publicity rather than the content itself
- window dressing
suggests decorative display hiding a lack of substance
文法句型
all froth
skip the froth
froth about [topic]
用法筆記
Used critically for writing, media, or public talk that looks bright and appealing but lacks serious thought or value.
常見錯誤
froth — verb
- frothpresent simple I / you / we / they
- froths3rd person singular
- frothing-ing form
- frothedpast simple
1. to fill with many small bubbles, or to make a liquid do this
to fill with many small bubbles, or to make a liquid do this
The milk froths quickly when Joon uses the small hand whisk.
pattern: liquid froths when a tool is used
Gita frothed the shampoo in her palms before washing the dog.
transitive use: froth the shampoo
Warm water frothed around the soap bar in the sink.
The cook frothed the matcha with a bamboo brush.
文法句型
[liquid] froths
[person] froths [milk/soap]
[liquid] froths when [something] is added
用法筆記
Both transitive and intransitive. In everyday use it often describes milk, soap, or sea water becoming visibly foamy.
常見錯誤
2. to have foam coming from the mouth because of illness, poison, or another physic
to have foam coming from the mouth because of illness, poison, or another physical crisis
The dog began to froth at the mouth after the snake bite.
fixed pattern: froth at the mouth
By the time help arrived, the horse was frothing at the mouth.
The patient started frothing when the nurse checked his breathing.
Villagers pulled back when the fox came frothing from the bushes.
- foam at the mouth
the common everyday fixed phrase for this symptom
- drool
means saliva runs from the mouth, not a mass of bubbles
文法句型
[person/animal] froths at the mouth
[person/animal] starts frothing
[person/animal] comes frothing toward [person/place]
用法筆記
Usually appears in the pattern 'froth at the mouth'. It describes a dangerous physical symptom, not ordinary anger or excitement.
常見錯誤
3. to show extreme anger in a loud, uncontrolled, almost violent way
to show extreme anger in a loud, uncontrolled, almost violent way
Otis was frothing over the referee's late penalty call.
pattern: froth over a decision
Adina frothed at the mouth when the airline lost her cello.
figurative use of froth at the mouth
Online traders frothed with anger after the sudden tax announcement.
Jack spent the bus ride frothing about the delayed train.
- stay calm
to remain controlled instead of erupting in anger
文法句型
[person] froths over [issue]
[person] froths with rage
[person] froths about [topic]
用法筆記
Often paired with 'with rage' or 'at the mouth' for emphasis. Unlike sense 2, this use is figurative and talks about emotional overreaction.