prodigal
prodigal — 形容詞
- prodigalpositive
- more prodigalcomparative
- most prodigalsuperlative
1. using up money, time, or energy too freely, so that much of it is thrown away fo
揮霍的
把金錢時間精力大量浪費掉的
using up money, time, or energy too freely, so that much of it is thrown away for little return
Vivek was prodigal with his lottery winnings and spent the lot within a year.
Vivek 對中獎的錢揮霍無度，一年內就把那筆錢花得精光。
prodigal with [resource]
The new mayor accused the old council of prodigal spending on empty office buildings.
新市長指責舊議會把錢揮霍在一棟棟空辦公大樓上。
prodigal + noun: prodigal spending
Critics called the film studio prodigal for burning millions on a project nobody wanted.
影評批評那家電影公司太浪費，把好幾百萬砸在沒人想看的案子上。
Isabela warned her brother that such prodigal habits would leave him with nothing by spring.
Isabela 警告弟弟，這樣揮霍的習慣到了春天會讓他一無所有。
- wasteful
plainer, everyday word for the same idea
- extravagant
stresses spending beyond what is sensible, less harsh than prodigal
- spendthrift
almost always about money, often used as a noun
文法句型
prodigal with [resource]
用法筆記
Often followed by 'with' naming the resource wasted (money, time, energy). Carries a clear note of disapproval, unlike the neutral 'generous'.
常見錯誤
2. existing or produced in very large amounts, so that the supply feels rich and al
豐饒的
數量極多、供應豐厚的
existing or produced in very large amounts, so that the supply feels rich and almost endless
The valley was prodigal in wild flowers, with whole hillsides turning gold each May.
那座山谷野花豐饒，每年五月整片山坡都染成金黃色。
prodigal in [resource that is abundant]
Nature had been prodigal here, scattering fruit trees along every path through the forest.
大自然在這裡格外慷慨，沿著森林每條小路都散布著果樹。
The old garden was prodigal with roses, their scent filling the whole street by June.
那座老花園玫瑰開得極盛，到了六月香氣瀰漫整條街。
Ezra praised the region's prodigal harvests, which fed three towns through the winter.
Ezra 盛讚這個地區豐沛的收成，整個冬天養活了三座城鎮。
文法句型
prodigal in/of [quality]
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: here there is no waste or disapproval, only the idea of rich, generous abundance. Mostly literary, often used of nature or the land.
prodigal — 名詞
- prodigalsingular
- prodigalsplural
1. a person who pours out money or goods far too freely, often in a foolish way tha
揮霍者
把錢財大量浪費掉的人
a person who pours out money or goods far too freely, often in a foolish way that leaves little behind
By thirty, Christopher had become a prodigal, gambling away the family farm in two seasons.
到了三十歲，Christopher 已成了個揮霍者，兩季就把家裡的農場賭光了。
a prodigal: a person who wastes money
Her grandfather, a famous prodigal, gave away gold coins to anyone who knocked on the door.
她的祖父是出了名的揮霍者，誰來敲門就送誰金幣。
The banker warned each young prodigal that spending the whole inheritance would soon end in ruin.
那位銀行員警告每個年輕揮霍者，把整筆遺產花光遲早會落得傾家蕩產。
Defne wrote a play about a prodigal who feasts every night while his fields rot.
Defne 寫了一齣戲，講一個揮霍者夜夜大宴賓客，田地卻任其荒廢。
- spendthrift
the most common everyday word for a money-waster
- squanderer
stresses the careless using-up of resources
- miser
a person who hates spending any money at all
用法筆記
Always carries disapproval — the person is seen as foolish, not merely generous. Distinguish from sense 2, which is about someone who returns rather than someone who wastes.
2. a person who comes back to a place, team, or group after being away for a long t
歸來者；浪子
久別後重返某處的人
a person who comes back to a place, team, or group after being away for a long time, usually welcomed with open arms
When Yael walked back into the office after five years, colleagues greeted the prodigal warmly.
Yael 在五年後重新走進辦公室時，同事們熱情地迎接這位歸來者。
the prodigal: one who returns after a long absence
Fans cheered the returning prodigal as the striker pulled on the club's shirt once more.
當這名前鋒再度穿上球隊球衣，球迷們為歸來的浪子歡呼。
The village threw a feast for the prodigal who had sailed away as a boy decades earlier.
村子為這位幾十年前還是男孩時就出海的歸來者擺了一場盛宴。
Adaeze returned to the choir she had quit, and the conductor embraced the prodigal at the door.
Adaeze 回到了她退出的合唱團，指揮在門口擁抱這位歸來者。
- returnee
neutral term for someone who has come back, without the welcome
用法筆記
Echoes the biblical 'prodigal son', so it strongly implies a warm welcome on return. Distinguish from sense 1: this person is defined by coming back, not by wasting money.