trophy
/ˈtrəʊ.fi/ (bre, ipa) · [trˈofi] /ˈtroʊ.fi/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈtrəʊfi/ (bre, ipa) · [trˈofi] /ˈtrəʊfi/ (ame, ipa) · [trˈofi] /ˈtrō-fē/ (ame, mw)
trophy — adjective
- trophypositive
- trophiercomparative
- trophiestsuperlative
1. describing a person or thing that someone acquires or displays mainly to show th
describing a person or thing that someone acquires or displays mainly to show their wealth, success, or high social position rather than for practical or personal reasons.
Luca drove up in a sports car, a classic trophy purchase that impressed his neighbours.
attributive: trophy + noun for status possessions
Yael felt uncomfortable being introduced as a trophy girlfriend at the company party.
common phrase: trophy wife / trophy girlfriend / trophy husband
The couple bought a huge mansion, treating it like a trophy home to show off their wealth.
Some celebrities marry much younger partners, whom the media often call trophy spouses.
Vinícius refused to be seen as a trophy boyfriend and wanted his own career to matter.
- prestige
focuses on the honour or status something brings, but used more broadly (a prestige project, not a prestige wife)
- ornamental
emphasises being decorative rather than useful, but lacks the social-status meaning
文法句型
trophy + noun
用法筆記
Only used before a noun (attributive position). Never used in comparative or superlative forms, and cannot stand alone as a predicate adjective.
常見錯誤
trophy — noun
- trophysingular
- trophiesplural
1. a decorative object — often a cup, bowl, or small figure on a base — that is pre
a decorative object — often a cup, bowl, or small figure on a base — that is presented as a prize to the person or team that wins a competition, race, or contest.
Jenna held the gold trophy above her head as her teammates cheered.
typical action: hold / lift / raise a trophy
Rohan's name was engraved on the silver trophy he won at the swimming finals.
collocation: win a trophy
The small wooden trophy sat on the librarian's shelf, a prize from the annual book quiz.
Feng carefully polished the bronze trophy until it shone under the hall lights.
The championship trophy travels from school to school each year to the winning team.
- consolation prize
given to those who do not win, to soften the disappointment
用法筆記
Competition trophies are often designed to be passed on: the winner keeps it for a year and then returns it so it can be awarded to the next winner.
常見錯誤
2. an object taken or kept as a personal reminder of a success, especially somethin
an object taken or kept as a personal reminder of a success, especially something obtained from hunting (such as an animal's head, skin, or horns) or from war (such as a captured weapon, flag, or piece of equipment).
Baraka kept the lion's claw as a trophy from his first big hunt on the savannah.
common context: hunting trophy; animal parts kept as mementos
The old officer displayed a captured enemy flag as a war trophy in his study.
common context: war trophy / captured object
Linh's grandfather showed her a metal helmet he had taken as a trophy during the conflict.
Some hunters mount deer heads on their walls and treat them as personal trophies.
The museum returned the ceremonial sword after learning it had been taken as a war trophy.