skulk
/skʌlk/ (bre, ipa) · /skʌlk/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈskəlk/ (ame, mw)
skulk — 動詞
- skulkpresent simple I / you / we / they
- skulkshe / she / it
- skulkedpast simple
- skulking-ing form
1. to move about quietly and secretly, staying out of sight, especially because you
潛伏；潛行
偷偷躲藏或移動，通常帶有不良意圖
to move about quietly and secretly, staying out of sight, especially because you are doing something dishonest or wrong — for example, a thief skulking in a doorway or a journalist skulking behind a bush to get a secret photograph.
A tall stranger was skulking around the back entrance of the hospital after visiting hours.
一名高個子陌生人在探訪時間過後，在醫院後門入口附近鬼祟徘徊。
skulk + around [location]
Theo skulked off to his bedroom when his mother asked about the broken vase.
Theo 被母親問起打破的花瓶時，就偷偷溜回自己的房間。
skulk + off to [place]
Yuki spotted a stray cat skulking among the flower pots on the balcony.
Yuki 注意到一隻流浪貓在陽台的花盆之間鬼祟移動。
Two figures were skulking in the alley behind the jewellery store late at night.
凌晨時分，兩個黑影在珠寶店後方的小巷中鬼祟潛伏。
Rather than give a direct answer, the mayor skulked behind vague promises and empty phrases.
市長沒有正面回答問題，而是躲在含糊的承諾和空洞的說詞背後。
文法句型
skulk + around/behind/in/off + [location]
用法筆記
Frequently followed by a location phrase introduced by around, behind, in, off to, or among. The subject is typically a person or animal acting with a guilty or sinister purpose. Distinguish from verb sense 1: lurk implies staying still in hiding, while skulk suggests moving secretly from place to place.
常見錯誤
skulk — 名詞
1. a person who behaves in a sneaky, secretive way, hiding from others because they
鬼祟之人
偷偷摸摸行動的人
a person who behaves in a sneaky, secretive way, hiding from others because they are guilty, afraid, or up to no good.
The old caretaker called him a worthless skulk who only crept around after dark.
老管理員罵他是個沒用的鬼祟之徒，只敢在天黑後四處鬼混。
Ingrid felt like a skulk, tiptoeing through the empty school corridors hoping not to be seen.
Ingrid 覺得自己像個鬼鬼祟祟的人，在空無一人的學校走廊裡踮著腳尖走，深怕被人看見。
- skulker
the more common modern form; means the same thing
用法筆記
This noun sense is very rare in modern English. It is almost always used in literary or contemptuous contexts. Most contemporary speakers use 'skulker' instead.
2. a word used for a group of foxes — one of the traditional collective nouns in En
狐狸群
狐狸的群體名詞
a word used for a group of foxes — one of the traditional collective nouns in English, like 'a pride of lions' or 'a murder of crows'.
A skulk of foxes was spotted near the chicken coop just before sunrise.
天剛亮時，有人在雞舍附近目擊一群狐狸。
collective noun: a skulk of foxes
The farmer counted seven foxes in the skulk that crossed his field last night.
農夫數了數，昨晚穿越他田地的狐狸群共有七隻狐狸。
用法筆記
Traditional hunting term. Mainly encountered in nature writing, quiz books about collective nouns, or historical texts. Not used in everyday conversation.