pacifier

/ˈpæsɪfaɪə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈpæsɪfaɪər/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈpa-sə-ˌfī(-ə)r/ (ame, mw)

pacifier — noun

  • pacifiersingular
  • pacifiersplural

1. a small rubber or plastic piece, shaped like a nipple, that a baby holds in the

1.名詞B1
釋義

a small rubber or plastic piece, shaped like a nipple, that a baby holds in the mouth and sucks on to feel calm or fall asleep

例句

Maeve dropped her pacifier on the floor and started crying loudly.

noun used as direct object: drop / wash / hand someone a pacifier

The new parents kept a spare pacifier in every room of the apartment.

collocation: spare / clean / favourite pacifier

同義詞
  • dummy

    British English equivalent; same physical object

  • soother

    Canadian and Irish English variant

  • binky

    informal American word, often used by parents and young children

文法句型

a pacifier

give [baby] a pacifier

用法筆記

Standard term in American English; British English speakers usually say 'dummy' for the same object. Almost always paired with babies or toddlers — using it for an older child or adult is metaphorical.

常見錯誤

❌The baby is sucking the pacifier on her thumb.
✅The baby is sucking on her pacifier.
💡you suck ON a pacifier, not suck a pacifier 'on' something else.

2. an action, offer, or object that is meant to stop people feeling angry or upset,

2.名詞C1
釋義

an action, offer, or object that is meant to stop people feeling angry or upset, often used when the deeper problem has not really been solved

例句

The small pay rise was just a pacifier to stop the workers going on strike.

framed as: just a pacifier to stop / prevent something

Critics said the new policy was a pacifier for angry voters before the election.

common pattern: a pacifier for [group of upset people]

同義詞
  • sop

    stronger negative tone; clearly worthless concession

  • placebo

    more neutral; emphasis on lack of real effect

  • token gesture

    small action meant to look meaningful without being so

反義詞

文法句型

a pacifier for [someone]

as a pacifier

用法筆記

Distinct from sense 1 (the baby object) because here the 'pacifier' is an abstract gesture — money, words, or a concession — given to calm adults. The tone is usually skeptical: the speaker thinks the gesture is too small or insincere.

常見錯誤

❌They offered a pacifier the angry customers.
✅They offered a pacifier to the angry customers.
💡needs preposition 'to' before the people being calmed.