sweats
sweats — noun
1. the salty fluid that the body releases through the skin when a person is hot, do
the salty fluid that the body releases through the skin when a person is hot, doing exercise, or feeling unwell or anxious
Adaeze wiped the cold sweats from her forehead before the interview began.
fixed phrase: cold sweats (anxiety-linked perspiration)
After the fever broke, Yumi changed her pillowcase because it was covered in sweats.
plural form used as a mass noun for sweat that has accumulated
The runner's sweats dripped onto the track as he crossed the finish line.
Dahlia broke out in cold sweats the moment she heard the crash downstairs.
- perspiration
more formal or medical term for the same bodily fluid
- moisture
broader term; can refer to any type of liquid on a surface, not just bodily sweat
文法句型
cold/night sweats + verb
in a sweat / in sweats
用法筆記
Although 'sweat' is usually uncountable, the plural form 'sweats' is common in fixed expressions such as 'cold sweats' and 'night sweats'. In less formal speech, 'sweats' can replace 'sweat' to refer to visible perspiration on the body.
常見錯誤
2. a set of loose comfortable clothes made of thick cotton cloth, usually consistin
a set of loose comfortable clothes made of thick cotton cloth, usually consisting of a long-sleeved top and trousers with elastic cuffs, worn for sports, exercise, or relaxing at home
Elena changed into her grey sweats as soon as she got home from the office.
collocation: change into + sweats
Daniel packed two pairs of sweats for the weekend camping trip in the mountains.
The basketball players wore matching red sweats during warm-ups before the game.
Ravindra wears old sweats on long flights because they are more comfortable than jeans.
The coach asked the team to put on their sweats for the group photo.
Nadia lives in sweats on weekends because she finds them cosy and easy to wear.
- sweatsuit
more explicit; refers to the full matching top and trousers set
- track suit
similar garment, often made of thinner material and used for running
- jogging suit
casual sports outfit, usually zippered jacket and trousers
文法句型
a pair of sweats
in sweats
wear sweats
change into sweats
用法筆記
Always plural. A single item is 'a pair of sweats' or 'some sweats'. The top part alone is a 'sweatshirt' and the trousers are 'sweatpants', but 'sweats' can refer to either the full suit or just the trousers depending on context.
常見錯誤
sweats — verb
- sweatspresent simple I / you / we / they
- sweatses3rd person singular
- sweatsing-ing form
- sweatsedpast simple
1. to produce salty liquid through the pores of the skin, especially when the body
to produce salty liquid through the pores of the skin, especially when the body is hot, doing physical work, or feeling strong emotions
Kian sweats a lot every time he runs more than five kilometres in the park.
sweat + quantity expression (a lot)
Astrid always sweats through her shirt during the hot yoga class on Tuesday evenings.
pattern: sweat through + clothing
The gardener sweats under the sun for hours while planting flowers along the driveway.
Roya sweats nervously whenever her manager asks her to present the quarterly report.
Patients with a high fever often sweat heavily during the night as their temperature drops.
- shiver
shaking from cold, opposite physical state
文法句型
sweat + [prepositional phrase]
sweat through + [clothing]
用法筆記
Subject is usually a person or animal. The transitive use ('He sweated his shirt') focuses on the effect the sweat has on clothing rather than the action itself.
常見錯誤
2. to put a great deal of physical or mental effort into doing something, often ove
to put a great deal of physical or mental effort into doing something, often over a long period
The young chef sweats over every sauce until the flavour is just right.
pattern: sweat over + [work product]
The basketball team sweats for six months to prepare for the national championship tournament.
pattern: sweat for + [duration]
Tomás sweats to save enough money for his daughter's university tuition fees.
The artist sweats over every brushstroke, spending an entire day on a single eye.
Lan sweats over her thesis every evening, checking each reference before she goes to bed.
文法句型
sweat + over + [task/work]
sweat + to-infinitive
sweat + for + [period/goal]
用法筆記
Focuses on sustained effort rather than momentary exertion. Frequently followed by 'over' (the task itself) or a 'to'-infinitive (the goal). In informal speech, 'sweat' in this sense can imply that the work is difficult or stressful.
常見錯誤
3. to develop beads of moisture on an exterior surface when warm air meets somethin
to develop beads of moisture on an exterior surface when warm air meets something cool
The cold bottle from the fridge sweats on the wooden table in the summer heat.
pattern: [container] + sweats + on + [surface]
The metal pipes in the basement sweat when the weather turns warm and rainy outside.
After a hot shower, the bathroom mirror sweats so much that you cannot see yourself.
The stone walls of the cellar sweat with moisture during the humid summer months.
- evaporate
liquid turning into vapour — the opposite process
文法句型
[object] + sweats
sweat with + [noun]
用法筆記
Most commonly used for containers of cold drinks, pipes, windows, and walls. The subject is always an object or surface, never a person or animal. Distinguish from sense 1 (bodily perspiration) — only sense 3 can describe inanimate objects.