streaks
streaks — noun
1. a narrow line or mark on a surface that stands out from the area around it becau
a narrow line or mark on a surface that stands out from the area around it because it has a different colour or texture
After cleaning the windows, Mei-Lin noticed grey streaks on the glass.
collocation: grey streaks / dark streaks
The marble floor had dark streaks running through the white stone.
The cat's fur had beautiful orange streaks mixed with the brown.
Rainwater left dirty brown streaks down the kitchen wall.
As the sun set, long orange streaks appeared across the evening sky.
用法筆記
Often used in the plural when describing patterns that cover a large area.
常見錯誤
2. a noticeable quality in a person's character, especially one that is different f
a noticeable quality in a person's character, especially one that is different from their usual nature or is seen as negative
Despite his kind manner, Oliver had a stubborn streak that surprised his friends.
pattern: a [adjective] streak
Her competitive streak came out whenever she played board games with the family.
The manager's mean streak made everyone in the office afraid to speak up.
Even the calmest person has a jealous streak now and then.
Amara's adventurous streak led her to travel to places most people avoid.
文法句型
streak of + noun
用法筆記
Subject is usually a person. The adjective before 'streak' names the quality: 'mean streak', 'stubborn streak', 'competitive streak', 'adventurous streak'.
常見錯誤
3. a period of time during which one good or bad thing follows another without a br
a period of time during which one good or bad thing follows another without a break, especially in games, sports, or business
After losing five matches in a row, the team hoped to end their losing streak.
collocation: losing streak / winning streak
The company's winning streak continued for the third year in a row.
Kofi went through a bad streak when his car broke down and he lost his wallet.
Her lucky streak at the poker table made the other players suspicious.
The bakery had a hot streak with three new items becoming best-sellers in one month.
文法句型
winning streak
losing streak
lucky streak
用法筆記
Commonly paired with 'winning' or 'losing' to specify the type. 'Hot streak' is informal and suggests impressive, ongoing success.
常見錯誤
4. an unbroken series of events, actions, or situations that continue one after ano
an unbroken series of events, actions, or situations that continue one after another without interruption
The company celebrated a twelve-month streak of record profits.
pattern: number + -month/-day streak
His streak of perfect attendance at school lasted for three whole years.
Lucia achieved a fifty-day streak of practising piano every single day.
The city broke its streak of sunny weather when a sudden storm arrived.
Diego ended his streak of arriving late after his manager spoke to him.
- break
the interruption that ends a streak
文法句型
streak of + noun
number + -day/-month/-year streak
用法筆記
Often modified by a time expression ('30-day streak', 'year-long streak'). Differs from sense 3 in that it refers to any repeated event, not just luck or sports.
常見錯誤
streaks — verb
1. to move at a very high speed across or through a space, usually in a straight li
to move at a very high speed across or through a space, usually in a straight line
A deer streaked across the road right in front of the car.
pattern: streak across [space]
Two fighter jets streaked through the sky during the air show.
The cat streaked up the stairs when it heard the can opener.
Arjun saw a shooting star streak across the dark night sky.
The swimmer streaked past the other competitors in the final lap.
文法句型
streak + adverb/preposition of direction
用法筆記
Always takes a prepositional phrase or adverb of direction (across, through, past, down, up). Cannot be used without indicating direction.
常見錯誤
2. to run through a public space with no clothes on, usually as a joke, a dare, or
to run through a public space with no clothes on, usually as a joke, a dare, or a form of protest
Two students were caught streaking across the university football field.
pattern: streak across [place]
A man streaked through the park during the outdoor music festival.
In the 1970s it became popular for people to streak at sports events.
The audience roared with laughter when a fan streaked across the stage.
Campus security chased the young man who streaked through the library.
文法句型
streak through/across [public place]
用法筆記
The noun form 'streaking' refers to the activity itself. This verb is informal and usually describes a brief, shocking act rather than a planned performance.
3. to show or develop noticeable lines of a colour or material that differs from th
to show or develop noticeable lines of a colour or material that differs from the rest of the surface, often appearing after some event or over time
Her face was streaked with tears after she heard the sad news.
pattern: be streaked with [substance]
The evening sky was streaked with shades of orange and deep red.
His dark hair was streaked with grey at the sides.
The white marble walls were streaked with water marks over the years.
The kitchen counter was streaked with grease after the cooking session.
- be lined with
straighter, more regular marks
- be marked with
broader; any kind of marking, not necessarily long and thin
文法句型
be streaked with [colour/substance]
streak with [colour/substance]
用法筆記
Frequently appears in the passive pattern 'be streaked with + noun'. In the active, the subject is the surface and the object is implied (the surface develops streaks from an external cause).
常見錯誤
4. to create long, thin marks of a different colour or substance on a surface by ap
to create long, thin marks of a different colour or substance on a surface by applying or smearing something across it
Heavy rain streaked the windows so badly that we could not see outside.
pattern: [substance] streaked [surface]
Tears had streaked her cheeks, leaving visible marks in the dust.
The painter streaked the wall with bold strokes of blue and green.
Mud and sweat streaked the runner's face after the marathon.
The children's dirty fingers streaked the clean kitchen walls.
文法句型
streak [object] with [substance]
[substance] streaked [object]
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 3: this is an active, transitive construction where the subject causes the streaks (rain streaked the window). Sense 3 describes the resulting state (the window was streaked with rain).