pals

pals — noun

1. people who know each other well and enjoy spending time together in a relaxed, f

1.名詞B1
釋義

people who know each other well and enjoy spending time together in a relaxed, friendly way.

例句

Mateo and Sivan stayed pals after their families moved away.

stay pals after moving away

The old pals met outside the cinema and ordered noodles together.

collocation: old pals

同義詞
  • friends

    neutral and suitable in both formal and informal contexts

  • buddies

    informal, especially common in American English

  • mates

    informal, especially common in British and Australian English

  • chums

    older and slightly playful in tone

反義詞
  • strangers

    people you do not know

  • rivals

    people who compete rather than act as friends

文法句型

be pals

[adjective] pals

[possessive] pals

用法筆記

Used in casual speech and informal writing, especially for people who have a friendly history together. Distinguish from sense 2, which is a form of address rather than a name for real friends.

常見錯誤

❌The conference pals will present after lunch.
✅The conference participants will present after lunch.
💡'pals' means friends, not just people attending the same event.

2. a word used when speaking directly to a group of men, sometimes warmly but more

2.名詞B2
釋義

a word used when speaking directly to a group of men, sometimes warmly but more often when you are annoyed with them.

例句

Easy there, pals, that table is reserved for the night staff.

annoyed vocative to a group

Thanks, pals, you carried those heavy boxes up three flights.

friendly vocative after help

同義詞
  • guys

    neutral informal group address

  • fellas

    informal and often directed to men

  • friends

    softer and more welcoming than pals in direct address

文法句型

used vocatively: '..., pals.'

用法筆記

Used only when calling out to people, not as an ordinary noun inside a sentence. In current English it often sounds confrontational unless the context clearly shows friendly gratitude.

常見錯誤

❌Good evening, pals and parents.
✅Good evening, everyone and parents.
💡this form of address is too casual and often too aggressive for formal announcements.

pals — verb