mollycoddle

/ˈmɒlikɒdl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈmɑːlikɑːdl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈmä-lē-ˌkä-dᵊl/ (ame, mw)

mollycoddle — 動詞

  • mollycoddlepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • mollycoddleshe / she / it
  • mollycoddledpast simple
  • mollycoddling-ing form

1. to look after someone in such an over-careful way that they do not learn to deal

1.動詞及物C2
釋義

寵壞

過度保護，讓人不會自己處理問題

to look after someone in such an over-careful way that they do not learn to deal with ordinary problems by themselves

例句

Diego's parents mollycoddled him so much that he never took the bus alone.

Diego 的父母把他寵壞到連公車都從沒自己搭過。

mollycoddle + someone so much that-clause

The coach refused to mollycoddle the new players after the first defeat.

教練拒絕在第一次落敗後還這樣寵著新球員。

refuse to mollycoddle + object

同義詞
  • coddle

    closest match; also stresses over-gentle treatment

  • pamper

    focuses more on comfort and luxury than on protection from difficulty

  • spoil

    emphasizes the bad result in the person's character or behaviour

反義詞
  • toughen

    suggests making someone stronger by exposing them to difficulty

  • challenge

    focuses on giving someone demanding tasks instead of shielding them

文法句型

mollycoddle + someone

mollycoddle + someone so much that ...

用法筆記

Usually disapproving. The person being mollycoddled is often a child, student, player, or employee who is being protected from normal difficulty rather than helped to grow stronger.

常見錯誤

❌Good teachers mollycoddle nervous students before exams.
✅Good teachers reassure nervous students before exams.
💡'mollycoddle' is negative and suggests too much protection, not helpful support.
❌The hotel mollycoddled its guests with soft pillows.
✅The hotel pampered its guests with soft pillows.
💡'mollycoddle' is usually about overprotecting a person, not giving luxury treatment.

mollycoddle — 名詞