skinny
/ˈskɪni/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈskɪni/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈski-nē/ (ame, mw) · /ˈskɪn.i/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈskɪn.i/ (ame, ipa)
skinny — adjective
- skinnypositive
- skinniercomparative
- skinniestsuperlative
1. extremely thin, with so little flesh that the bones can be seen and the person o
extremely thin, with so little flesh that the bones can be seen and the person or animal does not look healthy.
After his long illness, Eli looked pale and skinny, with his collarbones clearly visible.
be + skinny describing a person's condition
A skinny stray cat with matted fur was hiding underneath the abandoned car.
skinny + noun for an animal
Tara worried that her puppy was too skinny, so she took it to the vet.
The old photograph showed a group of skinny children standing outside a war shelter.
- plump
pleasantly fat or rounded
文法句型
skinny + noun
be + skinny
用法筆記
Often carries a negative or critical tone when applied to people. 'Slim' and 'slender' are positive alternatives that suggest attractive thinness.
常見錯誤
2. sewn so that it presses snugly against the wearer's figure, with almost no loose
sewn so that it presses snugly against the wearer's figure, with almost no loose fabric, most often describing trousers, jeans, and tops.
David wore black skinny jeans with a leather jacket and boots to the concert.
skinny jeans (most common collocation)
Marta tried on skinny trousers, but they felt too tight around her knees.
The fashion store on the corner sells skinny suits cut very close to the body.
Lucas pulled on his favourite skinny sweater and checked his reflection in the mirror.
- tight
more general; can describe any fitting garment
- close-fitting
more formal term used in fashion catalogues
- slim-fit
slightly looser than skinny, common for shirts
文法句型
skinny + clothing noun
用法筆記
Common in fashion retail. 'Skinny fit' is a standard term for clothing sizes, while 'skinny' alone usually describes jeans or trousers.
常見錯誤
3. made with skimmed or low-fat milk instead of whole milk, used especially for cof
made with skimmed or low-fat milk instead of whole milk, used especially for coffee-shop drinks such as lattes and cappuccinos.
Hassan always orders a skinny latte when he visits the café near his office.
skinny + latte (most common collocation)
The barista asked whether I wanted regular or skinny milk in my cappuccino.
skinny milk vs regular milk contrast
Yan switched to skinny coffee drinks after her doctor recommended cutting down on dairy fat.
Quinn drinks skinny hot chocolate because it has fewer calories than the regular version.
文法句型
skinny + coffee drink noun
用法筆記
Used almost exclusively for coffee-shop beverages. A 'skinny latte' replaces whole milk with skimmed milk. The term is rarely applied to other food items.
4. much smaller or weaker than what is needed for a particular purpose, leaving the
much smaller or weaker than what is needed for a particular purpose, leaving the result unsatisfactory.
The department's skinny budget meant they could only hire one temporary assistant.
skinny + budget (money)
Hari argued the report was too skinny an analysis to convince the investors.
too skinny + abstract noun
The town's emergency plan was too skinny to address basic flood safety.
Vinícius got a skinny pay rise that barely covered his higher monthly rent.
- meagre
more formal; very small in amount
- insufficient
neutral and formal; not enough
- scant
barely enough; slightly more formal
文法句型
skinny + abstract noun
用法筆記
Typically modifies abstract nouns such as 'budget', 'plan', 'argument', or 'report'. Not used for physical objects in this sense.
skinny — noun
1. trousers made of denim that are cut very narrow and fit tightly against the legs
trousers made of denim that are cut very narrow and fit tightly against the legs from hip to ankle, often shortened to 'skinnies'.
Ayana wore her favourite black skinnies with a pair of brown leather ankle boots.
skinnies (shortened form) + colour + accessories
The store is having a sale on skinnies in various colours this weekend.
Joon prefers skinnies over baggy jeans because they look cleaner and more professional.
Élise washed her only pair of skinnies the night before her important job interview.
- baggy jeans
loose-fitting denim trousers
- boot-cut jeans
jeans that flare at the ankle
文法句型
skinnies
a pair of skinnies
用法筆記
Often shortened to 'skinnies' in everyday speech and fashion retail. The full term 'skinny jeans' is more common in formal or written contexts.
常見錯誤
2. secret or interesting facts about a person, event, or situation, especially when
secret or interesting facts about a person, event, or situation, especially when they are not yet widely known.
Have you heard the skinny on why the manager resigned so suddenly last week?
the skinny on [topic] — question form
Linh gave me the skinny about the new project before the official company announcement.
give someone the skinny about [topic]
The journalist claimed her article contained the real skinny on the celebrity's secret wedding ceremony.
For the skinny on the best restaurants, ask the shop owners on Main Street.
文法句型
the skinny + on + noun phrase
用法筆記
Always used with the definite article 'the'. The pattern is 'the skinny on [something]'. Common in informal conversations and journalism about gossip or behind-the-scenes details.