spoils
spoils — verb
1. To damage something so badly that it is no longer enjoyable, attractive, or usef
To damage something so badly that it is no longer enjoyable, attractive, or useful.
The sudden storm spoiled the outdoor wedding ceremony that Wei had planned for months.
collocation: storm spoils event
Adding too much salt can spoil the flavour of an entire soup.
The loud music from the apartment next door spoiled my concentration during the history exam.
A single rude comment spoiled the friendly atmosphere at the dinner party.
用法筆記
Common when an otherwise good situation or thing is made worse by a single negative element.
常見錯誤
2. When food spoils, it becomes unfit to eat because of age, heat, or bacteria.
When food spoils, it becomes unfit to eat because of age, heat, or bacteria.
If you leave the milk out of the fridge on a hot day, it will spoil within a few hours.
conditional: if + present, will spoil
Nadia noticed the fruit had spoiled because of the strange smell coming from the bowl.
The meat spoiled after the power cut lasted three days and the freezer stopped working.
Yuki checked the date on the yoghurt to make sure it had not spoiled before eating it.
- stay fresh
remain in good condition for eating
用法筆記
When used transitively ('The heat spoiled the meat'), it means something caused the food to go bad. The intransitive form describes the natural process of decay.
常見錯誤
3. To treat someone very well and give them everything they want, often more than i
To treat someone very well and give them everything they want, often more than is necessary.
Every Sunday, Diego spoiled his grandmother with homemade pastries and fresh flowers.
pattern: spoil someone with [gifts/attention]
The luxury hotel spoiled its guests with complimentary spa treatments and fine dining.
Sofia felt awkward when her boyfriend's parents spoiled her with expensive gifts during her visit.
The tour guide spoiled the group by arranging private access to the museum after closing hours.
用法筆記
Unlike the negative OVERINDULGE CHILD sense (4), this sense can be positive or neutral — it describes generous treatment, not necessarily a bad habit. Context determines the tone.
常見錯誤
4. To give a child everything they ask for, which often results in them becoming de
To give a child everything they ask for, which often results in them becoming demanding or ungrateful.
Amina refused to spoil her son by buying him every toy he pointed at in the shop.
pattern: spoil a child by + gerund
Child experts say that parents who spoil their children often struggle to set clear boundaries later on.
The neighbour's kids are so spoiled that they throw tantrums whenever they do not get what they want.
Ananya decided not to spoil her daughter, so she made her earn her pocket money by doing chores.
- overindulge
more formal, focuses on giving too much
- coddle
suggests excessive protection, not just giving things
- discipline
to teach rules and good behaviour
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 3 (PAMPER), which can be positive. This sense always carries a negative judgement about the child's character or behaviour.
常見錯誤
5. To mark a voting paper incorrectly or in an unofficial way so that it cannot be
To mark a voting paper incorrectly or in an unofficial way so that it cannot be counted.
Fatima accidentally spoiled her ballot by ticking two boxes instead of one.
verb: spoil a ballot / spoil your vote
More than three percent of the votes were spoiled because voters did not follow the instructions.
passive: votes were spoiled
Election officials set aside all the spoiled ballots for a separate count.
- invalidate
more formal, used in official contexts
- cast a valid vote
to vote in a way that will be counted correctly
用法筆記
A spoiled ballot is different from a blank ballot — a blank ballot is left empty on purpose, while a spoiled one was filled in wrongly.
6. To take valuable things from a place by force, especially during a war or armed
To take valuable things from a place by force, especially during a war or armed conflict.
The ancient temple was spoiled by invaders who stole its gold statues and sacred objects.
passive: temple was spoiled by invaders
Historical records describe how the army spoiled every village along the river during the campaign.
The museum's artefacts were spoiled by looters during the chaos of the revolution.
用法筆記
An older, more literary sense. In modern English, 'plunder' or 'loot' is more common for the same meaning.
7. To be extremely eager to fight, argue, or compete with someone.
To be extremely eager to fight, argue, or compete with someone.
After weeks of quiet negotiations, the team leader was clearly spoiling for a debate.
fixed phrase: be spoiling for + noun
Kwame walked into the room with an angry look, and everyone could see he was spoiling for a fight.
The older boy had been spoiling for an argument ever since their disagreement last week.
- eager for
more neutral, can be used in many contexts
- looking for
informal, common in everyday speech
用法筆記
Only used in the continuous form 'be spoiling for'. It always takes a noun phrase like 'a fight', 'a quarrel', or 'an argument'.
常見錯誤
spoils — noun
1. Earth, stones, or other material that is dug out from a hole, tunnel, or mine du
Earth, stones, or other material that is dug out from a hole, tunnel, or mine during construction or excavation.
The construction crew piled the spoils from the tunnel at the edge of the building site.
collocation: spoils from [location]
Trucks removed the spoils from the mining operation and dumped them in a nearby valley.
The garden was built on top of the spoils left behind by the excavation of the basement.
- excavated material
more formal and technical
- debris
general term for broken or waste material
- rubble
broken stones and bricks, often from demolished buildings
用法筆記
Almost always used in plural form. In singular, 'spoil' can refer to the material in a general sense, but 'spoils' is far more common.
2. The money, benefits, or advantages that someone gets from a successful situation
The money, benefits, or advantages that someone gets from a successful situation or position.
The winning team enjoyed the spoils of victory, including a large trophy and a cash prize.
fixed phrase: the spoils of victory
After years of hard work, the inventors finally began to collect the spoils of their success.
The politician was accused of enjoying the spoils of office at the expense of ordinary taxpayers.
Elena shared the spoils of her family's restaurant business equally with her two brothers.
- losses
money or advantages that are lost
用法筆記
Often appears in the fixed pattern 'the spoils of + noun' (e.g. spoils of victory, spoils of success, spoils of office).
常見錯誤
3. Valuable items taken by force, especially from a defeated enemy in a war or from
Valuable items taken by force, especially from a defeated enemy in a war or from a place that has been attacked.
The soldiers divided the spoils of war among themselves after the battle ended.
fixed phrase: the spoils of war
Museums around the world still argue about who rightfully owns the spoils taken during colonial wars.
The ancient king displayed the spoils from his conquests in the great hall of his palace.
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 2 (PROFITS GAINED): this sense specifically involves theft or seizure by force, while sense 2 refers to legitimate benefits from effort or position.
4. The damage or harm caused to something, or the process of causing that damage.
The damage or harm caused to something, or the process of causing that damage.
The environmental report warned about the spoils caused by decades of unchecked industrial pollution.
uncountable noun: the spoils caused by [agent]
Historians documented the spoils inflicted on the ancient city by years of war and neglect.
The spoils of the flood took months of hard work to repair.
- damage
more common in everyday language
- harm
general term for negative effects
- destruction
stronger — suggests something is completely ruined
- preservation
keeping something in its original good condition
用法筆記
Quite rare in modern English. The verb form 'spoil' (sense 1, RUIN) is far more common for expressing the idea of damage.
spoils — idiom
1. The benefits, profits, or advantages that come to someone as a result of their p
The benefits, profits, or advantages that come to someone as a result of their position, success, or a particular situation.
To the victor belong the spoils — that has always been the unwritten rule in this competitive industry.
proverb: to the victor belong the spoils
After the company merger, the executives divided the spoils among themselves while the workers got nothing.
The volunteers did most of the work, but the managers took all the spoils and the credit.
- the rewards
more neutral, can be deserved or not
- the perks
informal, suggests extra advantages beyond salary
- the costs
what someone has to give up or suffer
用法筆記
Almost always appears with the definite article 'the'. Often carries a slightly cynical tone — suggesting that someone enjoys benefits they may not deserve.