trusty
/ˈtrʌsti/ (bre, ipa) · [trˈʌsti] /ˈtrʌsti/ (ame, ipa) · [trˈʌsti] /ˈtrə-stē How to pronounce trusty (audio)/ (ame, mw)
trusty — adjective
- trustypositive
- trustiercomparative
- trustiestsuperlative
1. used to describe an object you have owned for many years and can always depend o
used to describe an object you have owned for many years and can always depend on because it has never failed you
Henry still uses his trusty old typewriter for writing first drafts.
attributive position: trusty + old + noun
On every camping trip, Clara brings her trusty flashlight and a map of the area.
collocation: trusty + familiar object
Leo grabbed the trusty screwdriver from the toolbox and fixed the loose drawer.
When the Wi-Fi stopped working, Elena reached for her trusty paperback novel.
My uncle keeps a trusty Swiss army knife in the glove compartment of his car.
- reliable
more general meaning; works for people and objects without the 'ownership over time' connotation
- dependable
similar to reliable, emphasises consistency; neutral in register
- faithful
more personal and emotional; often used for companions or tools that have never failed the speaker
- unreliable
opposite in dependability — cannot be counted on to work when needed
- untested
opposite in the 'long experience' component — a new object that has not yet proved itself
文法句型
trusty + noun
用法筆記
Almost always placed before a noun (attributive position); 'a trusty X' is far more common than 'The X is trusty'. Often carries an affectionate tone toward an older object the speaker has depended on for years.
常見錯誤
trusty — noun
1. a prisoner who is given special freedoms and responsibilities because the prison
a prisoner who is given special freedoms and responsibilities because the prison staff believe they will not try to escape or break rules
Daniel worked as a trusty in the prison library, checking books in and out.
work as a trusty — role description
The warden chose Elena as a trusty because she had followed every rule for years.
Each morning the trusty unlocked the supply closet and handed out cleaning materials.
In some prisons, trusties move around the grounds without a guard watching them.
Adam was made a trusty after helping the guards during a lockdown in the facility.
- trustee
the standard modern term in US prison systems; 'trusty' is slightly dated
- privileged inmate
descriptive phrase rather than a single word; clearer for general readers
文法句型
work as a trusty
be made a trusty
plural: trusties
用法筆記
Almost exclusive to prison settings in modern American English. Outside of that context, using 'trusty' as a noun will confuse most readers. The plural form is 'trusties'.