herds
herds — noun
1. many animals belonging to a single species that travel, eat, or rest close to ea
many animals belonging to a single species that travel, eat, or rest close to each other — for example cows, deer, or elephants on open land.
Herds of zebras crossed the river in eastern Kenya every July.
herds of + plural animal noun
Karim watched two herds of cattle grazing on the dry yellow hills.
Small herds of wild horses still live in the mountains of central Spain.
The ranger counted six herds of elephants near the watering hole at dawn.
In winter the deer form large herds for warmth and safety.
文法句型
herd of + plural noun
用法筆記
Subject animals are usually large grazing mammals (cattle, sheep, deer, elephants, zebras). For birds use 'flocks', for fish use 'shoals', for wolves use 'packs'.
常見錯誤
2. crowds of people thought of as one mass that follows the same trends, opinions,
crowds of people thought of as one mass that follows the same trends, opinions, or routines without thinking for themselves.
Herds of tourists pour into Kyoto every spring to see the cherry blossoms.
herds of + people noun, mildly disapproving
Apinya hated joining the morning herds of office workers on the train.
On Black Friday, herds of shoppers waited outside the mall before sunrise.
Constanza writes for readers who refuse to follow the herds of fashion.
Herds of fans waited six hours in the rain to enter the stadium.
- individuals
people thought of one by one rather than as a group
文法句型
herds of + people noun
用法筆記
Often carries a critical tone — speakers use it to suggest that the people act without individual thought. Distinguish from sense 1: animals graze, people consume or follow trends.
常見錯誤
herds — verb
1. moves a group of animals from one place to another, usually by walking behind or
moves a group of animals from one place to another, usually by walking behind or beside them, often with the help of dogs.
Every evening Bao herds his goats back to the pen behind the farmhouse.
herds + animals + back to + place
A border collie herds the sheep down the hillside while the farmer watches.
Wren herds the calves into a small field before the morning milking.
The young cowboy herds cattle across the dusty plain for nine hours each day.
Kabir herds the ducks toward the pond using a long bamboo stick.
- scatters
sends animals in different directions instead of together
文法句型
herds + animal noun + into/toward + place
用法筆記
Subject is usually a person, working dog, or vehicle. Object must be a group of animals — you cannot 'herd' a single animal. Common with directional phrases (into, toward, across, back to).
常見錯誤
2. directs a group of people to walk somewhere together, often quickly and without
directs a group of people to walk somewhere together, often quickly and without their full agreement, the way one might move animals.
The guard herds the new prisoners into a small grey waiting room.
herds + people + into + place, often unwilling
Rachid herds his class of fifth-graders onto the school bus after the trip.
Airport staff herds passengers through security in long winding lines.
Eli quietly herds the wedding guests toward the dining hall for dinner.
The teacher herds the noisy children back into the classroom after lunch.
- disperses
sends a group of people away in different directions
文法句型
herds + people + into/onto + place
用法筆記
Often suggests the people have little choice — used of crowds, students, prisoners, or passengers. Distinguish from sense 1 (animals): here the object is a group of people, and the directing is social, not physical force.