phlegm
phlegm — noun
1. the thick, sticky fluid that collects in the airways when a person has a cold, a
the thick, sticky fluid that collects in the airways when a person has a cold, a cough, or another lung infection
Tomás coughed up a thick blob of phlegm during his chest infection.
cough up + phlegm — common verb collocation
The doctor asked Nkechi whether her phlegm had changed colour since yesterday.
Eve drank hot ginger tea every night to help loosen the phlegm in her chest.
Phlegm often turns yellow or green when the body is fighting a bacterial infection.
Eleni swallowed uncomfortably, feeling phlegm gather at the back of her throat.
文法句型
uncountable noun
用法筆記
Unlike saliva (produced in the mouth), phlegm is produced in the respiratory tract and is typically coughed up rather than swallowed. In medical contexts, doctors may ask patients to describe the colour and consistency of phlegm.
常見錯誤
2. the ability to keep your emotions under control and stay calm when facing a diff
the ability to keep your emotions under control and stay calm when facing a difficult, dangerous, or upsetting situation
Rohan faced the angry crowd with remarkable phlegm, never raising his voice.
with (remarkable / characteristic / unusual) phlegm — typical phrase structure
The principal showed remarkable phlegm during the earthquake, leading children to safety.
The surgeon's phlegm in the operating room reassured the entire medical team.
Hamza accepted the disappointing test results with characteristic phlegm and began planning his next steps.
The CEO's phlegm during the hostile takeover bid impressed shareholders and journalists alike.
- composure
more common and less formal; composure can be regained after losing it, while phlegm implies an unchanging calm
- equanimity
similar in meaning to phlegm but emphasizes mental balance and acceptance rather than emotional restraint
- poise
carries a connotation of elegance and social grace, while phlegm emphasises inner emotional control
- coolness
less formal and often used in contexts of physical danger or confrontation, similar to 'keeping cool'
文法句型
uncountable noun
usually used in phrase 'with phlegm'
用法筆記
This sense is formal and appears more often in written or literary English than in everyday conversation. It is frequently used in the phrase 'with phlegm' or preceded by an adjective such as 'remarkable', 'characteristic', or 'unusual'.
常見錯誤
3. a lack of interest, concern, or emotional response to things that would normally
a lack of interest, concern, or emotional response to things that would normally make people react with excitement, sympathy, or worry
Allison listened to her friend's story of hardship with complete phlegm and offered no comfort.
with complete/total/surprising phlegm — common intensifier pattern
The public's phlegm toward the housing crisis frustrated community organisers who had campaigned for months.
Emre showed surprising phlegm when they announced his project had been cancelled without explanation.
Critics condemned the government's phlegm in responding to the wildfire that destroyed hundreds of homes.
Lakan's phlegm at the memorial service struck many mourners as cold and disrespectful.
- apathy
more direct and common; apathy emphasises absence of interest, while phlegm emphasises absence of emotional reaction
- indifference
focuses on not caring about something; phlegm carries a slightly more stoic or detached quality
- detachment
less negative; can imply a deliberate emotional distance for self-protection, while phlegm suggests a temperamental coldness
- coldness
emphasises the lack of warmth in manner, overlapping with phlegm but broader in use
文法句型
uncountable noun
usually preceded by adjective (complete / surprising / total)
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 2 (CALM COMPOSURE), which carries a positive or admiring tone. Sense 3 describes a negative, cold lack of feeling that others often judge as inappropriate or unkind. Context and the adjective used (e.g. 'complete' vs 'remarkable') usually disambiguate which meaning is intended.