menace
/ˈmenəs/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈmenəs/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈme-nəs/ (ame, mw) · /ˈmen.ɪs/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈmen.əs/ (ame, ipa)
menace — noun
- menacesingular
- menacesplural
1. a person, animal, or situation seen as a real source of harm, damage, or fear fo
a person, animal, or situation seen as a real source of harm, damage, or fear for the people around it.
Drunk drivers are a menace to everyone who shares the road.
a menace to + group noun
Nadia warned the council that the broken bridge was a menace to local schoolchildren.
Wildfires have become a serious menace to villages along the dry valley.
The escaped bull was treated as a public menace until the farmer arrived.
Plastic waste in the river is now a menace to the fish and the birds.
- safeguard
something that protects rather than harms
文法句型
a menace to + noun
用法筆記
Subject is usually something that can hurt many people or living things — a person, animal, machine, or environmental hazard. Often followed by 'to' plus the group at risk.
常見錯誤
2. a quiet but frightening quality in someone's voice, look, or in a place — making
a quiet but frightening quality in someone's voice, look, or in a place — making you feel that something bad is about to happen.
There was a quiet menace in Eliska's voice as she stood up from the table.
collocation: menace in [someone's] voice
The old factory had an air of menace once the streetlights went out.
collocation: an air of menace
Christopher spoke softly, but the menace behind every word was clear.
The dark forest carried a sense of menace that kept the children close to their parents.
Her stare held just enough menace to make the boys drop the stolen apples.
- intimidation
stronger; implies active pressure on a person
- threat
more concrete; usually a specific warning rather than an atmosphere
- warmth
opposite atmosphere — kind and welcoming
文法句型
a sense / air / hint of menace
用法筆記
Uncountable here, unlike sense 1. Frequently in 'a sense of menace', 'an air of menace', 'a hint of menace'. Distinguish from sense 1: this is the feeling something gives off, not the dangerous thing itself.
常見錯誤
3. someone, often a child or pet, who keeps causing small trouble in a way that is
someone, often a child or pet, who keeps causing small trouble in a way that is funny or irritating rather than truly dangerous.
Lara's little brother is an absolute menace at family dinners.
collocation: an absolute menace
The neighbours call the new puppy a menace because it chews every shoe in the house.
Baraka is six years old and a real menace whenever Grandma visits.
The twins at the back of the class are little menaces during music lessons.
- angel
informal — a very well-behaved child
文法句型
a menace (often of a child or pet)
用法筆記
Informal and often affectionate — said with a smile about a child, pet, or playful adult. Distinguish from sense 1: the harm here is small and social, not physical or dangerous.
常見錯誤
4. threats used to force someone to hand over money or property — a legal term, mos
threats used to force someone to hand over money or property — a legal term, mostly seen in the phrase 'demand with menaces'.
Rania was charged with demanding money with menaces from her former employer.
fixed legal phrase: demand money with menaces
The two suspects had been collecting cash from local shops with menaces for over a year.
Under English law, demanding payment with menaces is treated as blackmail.
The young clerk reported that Mizuki had tried to obtain her bank card with menaces.
文法句型
with menaces
用法筆記
Almost only appears in fixed legal phrases — 'demand with menaces', 'obtain X with menaces'. Mostly British and formal; learners will mostly meet it in newspapers reporting court cases.
常見錯誤
menace — verb
- menacepresent simple I / you / we / they
- menaces3rd person singular
- menacing-ing form
- menacedpast simple
1. to put someone or something in serious danger, or to behave in a way that makes
to put someone or something in serious danger, or to behave in a way that makes others afraid of being hurt.
Storms have menaced the coast for three nights and damaged several fishing boats.
transitive: [thing] menaces [people / place]
Beatrix said the stray dogs menaced her every morning on the way to school.
Coastal villages are menaced by rising sea levels each rainy season.
Yael waved her stick and menaced at the crows until they left the corn field.
The angry crowd menaced the speaker, and the police led him out through a side door.
- threaten
everyday equivalent; can take a to-infinitive (threaten to do)
- endanger
focuses on putting at risk, not on the show of intent
- intimidate
about scaring a specific person, not about general danger
文法句型
menace + noun
be menaced by + noun
用法筆記
Often passive when the subject is a place at risk: 'X is menaced by Y'. As an intransitive verb (sense covered in ex.4), it usually pairs with 'at' to mean make threatening movements toward someone or something. More formal than 'threaten'.