souring
souring — verb
- souringpresent simple I / you / we / they
- sourings3rd person singular
- souringing-ing form
- souringedpast simple
1. If a food or drink sours, or if a person or process sours it, the item develops
If a food or drink sours, or if a person or process sours it, the item develops a sharp, acidic flavour — often because it is no longer fresh or is starting to ferment.
The milk soured after being left out of the fridge overnight.
intransitive: milk/cream sours naturally
If you add lemon juice to the cream, it will sour quickly and form curds.
transitive: sour + cream by adding acid
The hot weather caused the leftover soup to sour before anyone could eat it.
Vivek soured the fresh cream by adding a little vinegar to make a traditional dessert.
- sweeten
to make sweet, the opposite flavour direction
文法句型
sour + noun phrase (food/drink)
noun phrase (food/drink) + sour
用法筆記
Often describes dairy products, wine, or leftover food that has been left in warm conditions. The intransitive form (the food sours) is more common than the transitive form (someone sours the food).
常見錯誤
2. If a relationship, mood, or situation sours, or if an event or action sours it,
If a relationship, mood, or situation sours, or if an event or action sours it, the situation becomes less friendly, enjoyable, or positive than it was previously.
Their friendship soured after a bitter argument about dividing the family home.
intransitive: relationship/mood sours (figurative)
The long wait in heavy rain soured the mood of everyone at the outdoor concert.
Years of unresolved conflict soured relations between the two neighbouring communities.
The heated argument about politics soured the usually warm atmosphere at the dinner table.
Noa's enthusiasm for the volunteer project soured when the committee rejected her ideas.
- worsen
more general; applies to any situation becoming worse
- deteriorate
more formal; suggests a gradual decline over time
- turn bitter
emphasises resentment or hostility in relationships
文法句型
sour + noun phrase (relationship/mood)
noun phrase (relationship/mood/atmosphere) + sour
用法筆記
The subject is typically an event, disagreement, or negative experience. The object is always abstract: mood, relationship, atmosphere, enthusiasm, deal, or friendship. Not used for physical objects becoming unpleasant.
常見錯誤
souring — adjective
- souringpositive
- more souringcomparative
- most souringsuperlative
1. having the sharp, acidic flavour that is typical of lemons, vinegar, or fruit th
having the sharp, acidic flavour that is typical of lemons, vinegar, or fruit that has not yet ripened — as opposed to being sweet, salty, or bitter.
These green apples are too sour to eat without adding some sugar.
collocation: sour + fruit (apples, lemons, plums)
The chef added a little honey to balance the sour flavour of the lemon sauce.
Amira bit into the unripe plum and made a face at the sour taste.
The sour smell from the bin told Karim the leftovers had definitely gone bad.
Pim prefers sweet cherries to sour ones, so he always checks before buying.
文法句型
be + sour
sour + noun (taste/flavour/fruit/smell)
用法筆記
One of the five basic tastes alongside sweet, salty, bitter, and umami. Sourness is often a sign of freshness in citrus fruit but of spoilage in dairy products.
常見錯誤
2. showing or expressing anger, dislike, or a lack of friendliness — used especiall
showing or expressing anger, dislike, or a lack of friendliness — used especially about a person's expression, tone of voice, or general attitude.
The old man gave the children a sour look when they ran across his garden.
collocation: sour + look/expression
Her expression turned sour the moment she heard the news about the cancelled flight.
Eitan's sour remarks about the homemade dinner made everyone at the table uncomfortable.
Quinn wore a sour expression for the rest of the afternoon after losing the match.
文法句型
sour + noun (look/expression/remark)
turn + sour
go + sour
用法筆記
Common in phrases like 'turn sour' (of a situation/relationship becoming bad) and 'sour grapes' (pretending to dislike something you cannot have). The adjective describes temporary reactions, not permanent personality traits.
常見錯誤
souring — noun
1. a cocktail that blends a distilled spirit, such as whiskey, with citrus juice an
a cocktail that blends a distilled spirit, such as whiskey, with citrus juice and a sweetener, served over ice and often garnished with a slice of fruit.
Benjamin ordered a whiskey sour at the bar while waiting for his dinner companion.
collocation: whiskey sour — most common type of sour cocktail
The bartender made a perfect sour by shaking bourbon with lemon juice and sugar syrup.
Tunde asked the waiter to bring him a whiskey sour before the main course arrived.
The bar on the corner serves the best pisco sour in this part of town.
文法句型
a + sour
whiskey/bourbon + sour
用法筆記
The word 'sour' alone (without 'whiskey' or another spirit) is understood in bar contexts. Common variations include the whiskey sour, amaretto sour, and pisco sour.