mutt

IPA/mʌt/
KK[mˈʌt]IPA/mʌt/

mutt — noun

  • muttsingular
  • muttsplural

1. someone who acts foolishly or carelessly, often doing silly things without think

1.名詞B2
釋義

someone who acts foolishly or carelessly, often doing silly things without thinking first

例句

Theo's classmates called him a mutt after he locked his keys in the car again.

collocation: call someone a mutt

Stop being such a mutt and check the map before we get completely lost.

informal imperative: stop being such a mutt

同義詞
  • fool

    more common and slightly stronger; can sound harsher than 'mutt'

  • idiot

    much stronger and more offensive; avoid unless you mean real anger

  • clown

    similar playful tone, but focuses on doing ridiculous things rather than careless mistakes

  • goof

    mainly American English; very mild and always friendly

用法筆記

Mildly insulting but often used playfully among close friends. More frequent in British English than American English.

常見錯誤

❌My boss called me a mutt during the meeting.
✅My boss called me a mutt during a casual chat after work.
💡the word is too informal for serious or professional situations.

2. a dog of mixed breed, with parents from two or more different kinds of dog

2.名詞B1
釋義

a dog of mixed breed, with parents from two or more different kinds of dog

例句

The animal shelter had six playful mutts waiting for new families on Sunday morning.

plural usage: mutts as a group

Dmitri's mutt has a terrier's pointed ears and a dachshund's long body.

describing mixed physical traits

同義詞
  • mongrel

    more technical and can sound harsh; used in formal contexts like veterinary science

  • crossbreed

    neutral term, often used when the two parent breeds are known

  • mixed-breed

    polite, neutral alternative suitable for any situation

  • cur

    old-fashioned and strongly negative; implies the dog is worthless or aggressive

反義詞
  • purebred

    a dog whose parents belong to the same recognised breed

  • pedigree

    a dog with documented pure ancestry, often registered with a kennel club

用法筆記

Commonly used as a warm, affectionate term for a pet. Unlike the more formal 'mongrel,' which can sound cold or technical, 'mutt' carries a friendly tone.

常見錯誤

❌The veterinarian described the animal as a mutt in her report.
✅The veterinarian described the animal as a mixed-breed dog in her report.
💡'mutt' is informal; formal or scientific writing uses 'mixed-breed' or 'mongrel.'