martinet

/ˌmɑːtɪˈnet/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌmɑːrtnˈet/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌmär-tə-ˈnet/ (ame, mw)

martinet — noun

  • martinetsingular
  • martinetsplural

1. a person who insists that every rule and order be followed exactly, even when be

1.名詞C2
釋義

a person who insists that every rule and order be followed exactly, even when bending them would be more sensible or kind.

例句

The new headmaster was a martinet who punished students for the smallest uniform mistake.

common pattern: be a martinet (be + indefinite article + noun)

Sergeant Manuela had a reputation as a martinet, drilling the recruits before sunrise every morning.

typical military context; subject is a person in authority

同義詞
  • disciplinarian

    neutral; describes someone who enforces discipline without the negative judgment of 'martinet'

  • stickler

    broader; can be about any small detail (grammar, manners), not only rules and orders

  • tyrant

    much stronger; implies cruelty and abuse of power, not just rigidity

反義詞
  • pushover

    informal; someone who lets others get away with anything

文法句型

a martinet

用法筆記

Almost always describes a person in a position of authority (military officer, manager, teacher, parent). The label is judgmental — the speaker disapproves of the rigidity, not just the strictness.

常見錯誤

❌My teacher is a martinet because she gives a lot of homework.
✅My teacher is strict because she gives a lot of homework.
💡'martinet' is about rigid rule-enforcement, not workload.
❌The hotel staff were martinets about cleanliness.
✅The hotel staff were very strict about cleanliness.
💡'martinet' applies to a single person enforcing rules on others, not to careful workers.