mock
/mɒk/ (bre, ipa) · [mˈɑk] /mɑːk/ (ame, ipa) · [mˈɑk] /ˈmäk ˈmȯk/ (ame, mw)
mock — verb
- mockpresent simple I / you / we / they
- mockshe / she / it
- mockedpast simple
- mocking-ing form
1. To say unkind things about someone or copy their voice, movements, or appearance
To say unkind things about someone or copy their voice, movements, or appearance in a way that makes them look foolish or silly.
The older boys mocked Kenji for his accent during his first week at school.
mock + someone + for + something
Folake felt hurt when her classmates mocked the way she pronounced certain words.
Stop mocking your little sister — she is still learning how to draw.
A local newspaper article mocked the politician for promising tax cuts with no clear plan.
- ridicule
more formal and intellectual; focuses on making ideas or efforts seem absurd
- tease
lighter in tone, can be affectionate between friends
- make fun of
common informal phrase; can be cruel or playful
- deride
formal and literary; expresses strong contempt
- praise
express warm approval or admiration
- compliment
express polite praise or admiration
文法句型
mock + someone/something
mock + someone + for + something
用法筆記
Frequently used with the preposition 'for' to state the reason for the mockery. Can also be used intransitively: 'Stop mocking!'
常見錯誤
2. To make a rule, system, effort, or standard seem so weak or ineffective that it
To make a rule, system, effort, or standard seem so weak or ineffective that it looks worthless or even ridiculous.
The tiny fine mocked the company's serious pollution of the local river.
Hamza felt that the school's dress code was mocked by students who ignored it daily.
passive: was mocked by
The low salary offer mocked all the effort Apinya had put into her training.
New safety rules were mocked by the complete lack of inspections across the region.
- undermine
weaken something gradually; less dramatic than mock
- trivialize
make something seem less important or serious than it is
- render futile
more formal; emphasises that effort becomes pointless
文法句型
mock + noun phrase
用法筆記
The subject is typically a concrete thing (a fine, a salary, a lack of enforcement) that makes a system or effort seem pointless. Common in formal or critical writing.
常見錯誤
mock — adjective
- mockpositive
- mockercomparative
- mockestsuperlative
1. Made to look or seem exactly like the real thing, but used for practice, testing
Made to look or seem exactly like the real thing, but used for practice, testing, or giving a particular impression rather than being genuine.
Inês took a mock driving test the day before her real driving exam.
mock + [practice test/exam]
The soldiers trained with mock weapons during the four-week exercise.
Ravindra put on a look of mock surprise when his friends entered the room.
The class held a mock trial to learn how the legal system works in practice.
Ryan responded with mock anger when he lost the board game to his younger sister.
文法句型
mock + noun
用法筆記
Almost always used directly before a noun (attributive). Very common in education (mock exam, mock test), the military (mock battle), and descriptions of pretend emotions (mock surprise, mock horror).
常見錯誤
mock — noun
- mocksingular
- mocksplural
1. A practice test that students take to prepare for a real, official examination.
A practice test that students take to prepare for a real, official examination.
Christopher spent the whole weekend revising for his mocks in maths and science.
mocks (plural) for a set of practice exams
Maeve's grades in the mocks were much better than she had expected.
Students in their final year take three mock exams before the real ones in June.
Élise used her mock results to decide which subjects needed more study time.
- practice test
common in American English; broader meaning
- practice exam
slightly more formal than 'practice test'
- final exam
the real, official examination at the end of a course
- real exam
the actual examination as opposed to practice
文法句型
take a mock
mock exam
用法筆記
Commonly used in the plural form 'mocks' by British students to refer to the whole set of practice exams. Less common in American English, where 'practice test' or 'practice exam' is preferred.