putty

/ˈpʌti/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈpʌti/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈpə-tē/ (ame, mw)

putty — noun

1. a soft material that is pressed into gaps around window glass to hold it in plac

1.名詞B1
釋義

a soft material that is pressed into gaps around window glass to hold it in place, or pushed into small openings in wood so the surface becomes even before painting

例句

Lan used putty to fix the loose window pane before winter arrived.

putty + window pane (typical collocation)

The old wooden frame needed fresh putty to fill the cracks.

fill cracks with putty (collocation)

同義詞
  • filler

    a broader term for any substance that fills holes; putty is a specific type of filler

  • sealant

    often a flexible rubber-like material used for waterproofing, whereas putty is more clay-like and dries hard

  • caulk

    typically a soft, flexible sealant for gaps around bathrooms or kitchens, while putty is stiffer and used more on windows and wood

文法句型

putty + (is) + used for + noun/gerund

用法筆記

Putty is an uncountable noun — you cannot say 'a putty' or 'putties' for the material.

常見錯誤

❌I bought some putties from the hardware store.
✅I bought some putty from the hardware store.
💡Putty is uncountable and has no plural form when referring to the material.

2. a person who is very easy to control, persuade, or influence, especially because

2.名詞B2
釋義

a person who is very easy to control, persuade, or influence, especially because they are weak-willed or have strong feelings for someone

例句

Anong was putty in the salesperson's hands and bought everything offered.

be putty in someone's hands (fixed expression)

The grandchildren had their grandfather wrapped around their fingers — he was pure putty.

pure putty (intensifier with the idiom)

同義詞
  • pushover

    more common and slightly more negative; suggests someone gives in too easily to requests

  • pawn

    suggests being used as a tool by others, with less willingness than putty implies

  • doormat

    more disapproving; implies someone who accepts unfair treatment without complaint

反義詞
  • strong-willed person

    someone who is difficult to persuade or control

  • leader

    someone who influences others rather than being influenced

文法句型

be + putty + in + possessive + hands

用法筆記

This sense almost always appears in the fixed expression 'putty in someone's hands' or with a similar possessive structure. It describes a temporary state of being easily influenced, not a permanent personality trait.

常見錯誤

❌He is a putty, so his friends make all the decisions.
✅He is putty in his friends' hands, so they make all the decisions.
💡The figurative meaning requires the full expression with 'in someone's hands'; 'a putty' is ungrammatical.

putty — verb