moping
moping — verb
- mopingpresent simple I / you / we / they
- mopings3rd person singular
- mopinging-ing form
- mopingedpast simple
1. To feel unhappy and show it by staying quiet, inactive, or alone, especially aft
To feel unhappy and show it by staying quiet, inactive, or alone, especially after a disappointment or rejection.
After failing the maths test, Mei moped about the house for two days.
mope + about + [place] — shows location of the moping
Kofi refused to mope over the rejection letter and immediately applied to other jobs.
mope + over + [reason] — shows the cause
Ananya's roommate noticed she had been moping all week and invited her for coffee.
After the loss, the whole team sat moping until the coach brought them pizza.
Instead of moping about the cancelled flight, Siti explored the airport shops.
文法句型
mope + about/over + [reason]
mope + around + [place]
spend + [time] + moping
用法筆記
Frequently used with 'about', 'over', or 'around' to indicate either the reason for the unhappiness or the location. Unlike 'sulk', which suggests refusing to talk, 'mope' describes a quieter, more passive low-energy state.
常見錯誤
2. To move or walk in a slow, lazy way without energy or a clear purpose, often bec
To move or walk in a slow, lazy way without energy or a clear purpose, often because of boredom or sadness.
Diego moped through the crowded market, stopping to look at nothing in particular.
mope + through + [place] — shows movement across a space
The tired children moped along the beach, too hot to run or play.
With nothing else to do, Lucia moped slowly down the street towards the bus stop.
An old dog moped across the garden, its tail hanging low behind it.
文法句型
mope + [adverb of direction]
mope + through/along/across + [place]
用法筆記
This sense focuses on the physical movement itself rather than the emotional state. The person or animal appears to have no goal or destination in mind. It is less common than verb sense 1 (MOPE AROUND).
常見錯誤
moping — noun
1. A person who is unhappy, complains a lot, or does not have enough energy or inte
A person who is unhappy, complains a lot, or does not have enough energy or interest to do things.
Don't be such a mope — the concert has not even started yet!
be a mope — direct address, informal warning
Finn was never a mope; even during difficult times he kept smiling.
The camp counsellor sat beside the little mope and asked him about his day.
Amara's friends called her a mope when she spent the party sitting in the corner.
- cheerful person
someone who is happy and positive
文法句型
be a mope
call someone a mope
such a mope
用法筆記
Informal and mildly critical. It is not a clinical term but a casual way to describe someone acting sad or withdrawn. Often used humorously among friends.
常見錯誤
2. A feeling of sadness, low energy, or lack of interest that lasts for a period of
A feeling of sadness, low energy, or lack of interest that lasts for a period of time.
A bad case of the mopes kept Soo-jin indoors all Saturday afternoon.
the mopes — fixed plural form for this meaning
After the sad film ended, a quiet mope settled over the group of friends.
Omar tried to shake off his mope by going for a run in the rain.
The grey winter weather gave everyone in the office a bad case of the mopes.
- high spirits
a state of happiness and energy
- good mood
a happy or positive emotional state
文法句型
have the mopes
a case of the mopes
shake off the mopes
用法筆記
The plural form 'the mopes' is the most common way to express this meaning, especially in the fixed phrases 'have the mopes' and 'a case of the mopes'. The singular form 'a mope' (a feeling) is much rarer and may sound old-fashioned.