flunky

IPA/ˈflʌŋ.ki/
IPA/ˈflʌŋ.ki/

flunky — 名詞

  • flunkysingular
  • flunkiesplural

1. an employee who is given the least important or least interesting jobs in a comp

1.名詞B2
釋義

打雜工

在公司做無聊雜事的人

an employee who is given the least important or least interesting jobs in a company or organization, especially tasks that involve physical effort or routine chores rather than real responsibility.

例句

The new office flunky spent the week organising files and refilling the printer.

那位新來的辦公室打雜工花了一整個星期整理檔案和幫印表機補紙。

collocation: office flunky

After a year as a legal flunky, Yuki finally got to write her own briefs.

當了一年法律事務所的打雜工之後，Yuki 終於可以自己撰寫法庭書狀了。

collocation: legal flunky

同義詞
  • dogsbody

    British English, slightly more informal than flunky

  • gofer

    American English, emphasises running around to fetch things

  • menial

    noun form, more old-fashioned and harsher in tone

反義詞
  • boss

    the person who gives orders rather than carrying them out

  • manager

    someone with decision-making authority

文法句型

flunky + prepositional phrase (of/in)

用法筆記

Common in workplace contexts where the hierarchy is clear. Often carries a tone of complaint or criticism about the boring nature of the work.

常見錯誤

❌I work as a flunky at a bank.
✅I work as a teller at a bank.
💡'flunky' is a disapproving word for someone else's role, not a neutral job title you would use for yourself.

2. a male servant employed in a large house or hotel, whose duties include opening

2.名詞B2
釋義

男僕

穿著制服在大宅服務的男性僕人

a male servant employed in a large house or hotel, whose duties include opening doors, serving food, and welcoming guests, and who typically wears a special uniform.

例句

The flunky at the grand hotel wore a long red coat decorated with gold buttons.

那間大飯店的男僕穿著綴有金色鈕釦的紅色長外套。

In Victorian novels, every wealthy household had a flunky who answered the front door.

在維多利亞時代的小說裡，每個富有的家庭都有一個負責應門的男僕。

register: old-fashioned

同義詞
  • footman

    the more common current term for a uniformed servant who opens doors and serves at table

  • manservant

    a general term for a male servant, less specific about uniform

  • liveryman

    very formal and rare, refers specifically to a servant wearing livery

反義詞
  • master

    the head of the household who employs servants

文法句型

flunky + prepositional phrase (of/for)

用法筆記

This sense is now very uncommon in everyday speech and mainly appears in historical fiction, period dramas, or descriptions of the past. The word footman is more common today for the same role.

3. a person who always agrees with someone more powerful — such as a boss, politici

3.名詞C1
釋義

應聲蟲

為討好權威而一味順從的人

a person who always agrees with someone more powerful — such as a boss, politician, or leader — because they want approval, protection, or personal advantage rather than because they truly share the same opinion.

例句

The CEO promotes only flunkies who nod eagerly at every idea he suggests.

這位執行長只提拔那些對他提出的每個想法都忙著點頭的應聲蟲。

collocation: promotes flunkies

Lara refused to be a political flunky even though it cost her the committee seat.

Lara 拒絕當政治應聲蟲，即使這讓她失去了委員會的席位。

collocation: political flunky

同義詞
  • yes-man

    the most direct alternative; blunter and even more informal

  • sycophant

    formal and literary; suggests obvious flattery

  • toady

    less common, emphasises the attempt to win favour through praise

反義詞
  • dissenter

    someone who openly disagrees

  • rebel

    someone who challenges authority

文法句型

flunky + of/for [person]

用法筆記

Strongly disapproving. This sense overlaps with lackey, but flunky focuses more on obedience driven by a desire for personal benefit rather than on doing physical tasks.

常見錯誤

❌He is a flunky who tells the truth to the boss.
✅He is a flunky who always echoes the boss's opinions.
💡A flunky agrees uncritically; telling the truth is the opposite of what a flunky does.