minx
/mɪŋks/ (bre, ipa) · /mɪŋks/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈmiŋ(k)s/ (ame, mw)
minx — 名詞
- minxsingular
- minxesplural
1. an informal name for a bold, mischievous young female — often teasing or lightly
調皮女孩
愛撒嬌耍小手段、有點輕佻的年輕女子
an informal name for a bold, mischievous young female — often teasing or lightly flirty — who relies on charm and cheekiness to get her own way, like a teenager wrapping her uncle around her finger with a sweet smile.
Lotte twirled her hair and called the waiter back twice, the little minx.
Lotte 撥弄著頭髮，把服務生叫回來兩次，真是個調皮的小妮子。
appositive use: noun + 'the little minx' as commentary
Grandpa laughed and said Greta was a proper minx for hiding his glasses again.
爺爺笑著說 Greta 又把他的眼鏡藏起來，根本就是個小調皮鬼。
predicative use: 'be a minx' for playful misbehaviour
Yara winked at the boys across the cafe like a young minx looking for trouble.
Yara 朝咖啡廳對面的男孩們眨眼，活像個愛惹麻煩的調皮女孩。
The duchess in the old novel is a charming minx who tricks everyone at the ball.
那本舊小說裡的公爵夫人是個迷人的調皮女子，在舞會上把每個人都耍得團團轉。
Élise smiled at her grandmother and said, 'Don't call me a minx just because I asked for cake.'
Élise 對奶奶笑著說：「我只是想吃蛋糕，別說我是小妖精嘛。」
- flirt
more neutral and modern; focuses on flirty behaviour without the mischief
- coquette
more formal and old-fashioned; stresses calculated charm to attract attention
- tease
informal; emphasises stirring up interest without serious intent
- imp
playful and mischievous but not flirty; can apply to a child of any gender
- wallflower
a shy girl who stays in the background instead of being bold
- prude
someone strict about modest behaviour, the opposite of flirty
文法句型
a/the + minx
用法筆記
Mostly used in older or literary writing; in modern speech it carries a teasing, almost affectionate tone rather than a strong insult. Subject is always a girl or young woman — using it of an older woman or a man sounds wrong.