snake

/sneɪk/ (bre, ipa) · [snˈek] /sneɪk/ (ame, ipa) · [snˈek] /ˈsnāk/ (ame, mw)

snake — 名詞

  • snakesingular
  • snakesplural

1. a long, thin reptile covered in scales that moves by sliding along the ground an

1.名詞A2
釋義

一種身體細長、無四肢的爬行動物

a long, thin reptile covered in scales that moves by sliding along the ground and has no legs; some types can inject poison through a bite.

例句

Sora saw a green snake resting on a rock near the hiking trail.

Sora 在健行步道附近的岩石上看到一條綠蛇正在休息。

position: resting on + location

The farmer warned the children to stay away from the tall grass where a snake might hide.

農夫警告孩子們要遠離可能藏蛇的高草叢。

habitat: tall grass where snake hides

同義詞
  • serpent

    more formal or literary term for a snake; common in myths, stories, and religious texts (B2)

  • viper

    refers specifically to a family of venomous snakes; also used figuratively for a treacherous person (C1)

文法句型

a/the + snake

snake + verb (bites, moves, hides)

用法筆記

Countable noun. Often appears in compound nouns such as 'snakebite', 'snakeskin', and 'snake charmer'. In casual conversation, learners may hear 'snake' described by colour, size, or whether it is venomous.

常見錯誤

Snake is a dangerous animal.
Snakes are dangerous animals.
💡'snake' is a countable noun and needs an article or plural form in general statements.
I saw a snake crawled under the rock.
I saw a snake crawl under the rock.
💡after verbs of perception (saw, heard), use the base form of the verb, not the past tense.

2. someone who behaves in a friendly way towards you but secretly works against you

2.名詞B2
釋義

陰險小人

表面友善但暗中背叛他人的人

someone who behaves in a friendly way towards you but secretly works against you or betrays your trust for their own gain.

例句

That man smiled at me all week but then spread lies about me — he is a complete snake.

那個男人一整週都對我微笑,卻到處散播我的謠言——他完全是個陰險小人。

informal: be a complete snake

Rohan warned Joaquín never to trust him, saying he was a snake who would betray anyone for money.

Rohan 警告 Joaquín 絕對不要相信他,說他是個為了錢可以出賣任何人的陰險之徒。

metaphor: a snake who would betray

同義詞
  • traitor

    someone who betrays a country, group, or person; more formal and carries a stronger sense of disloyalty (B2)

  • backstabber

    someone who pretends to be your friend but harms you secretly; very informal and vivid (C1)

反義詞
  • ally

    someone who supports and stands by you (B2)

文法句型

be + a snake

call someone a snake

用法筆記

Stronger than simply 'untrustworthy' — this sense implies active, deliberate betrayal. Often used after the person's dishonest actions have been discovered. Common in workplace and social contexts.

常見錯誤

He is a snake to his friends.
He is a snake who betrays his friends.
💡the figurative sense works better with examples of the betrayal than with a preposition.

3. a long, thin, flexible metal tool that plumbers push into pipes to remove blocka

3.名詞C1
釋義

通管蛇

疏通水管用的長彈性金屬工具

a long, thin, flexible metal tool that plumbers push into pipes to remove blockages or clogs.

例句

The plumber pulled a long snake from his truck to unclog the kitchen drain.

水電工從卡車上拿出一條長長的通管蛇,準備疏通廚房的水管。

tool used to unclog drains

When water would not go down the bathroom sink, Sade used a snake to break up the blockage.

當浴室洗手台的水排不下去時,Sade 用通管蛇打破了堵塞物。

同義詞
  • drain snake

    the same tool, emphasising its use for drains rather than pipes in general (C1)

  • plumber's auger

    a more technical term for the same device; less commonly used in everyday speech (C2)

文法句型

a + snake

use a snake

feed a snake into + pipe

用法筆記

Almost always used in the context of plumbing. Also called a 'drain snake' or 'plumber's snake'. Learners at lower levels can simply say 'plumber's tool' or 'drain cleaner' instead.

snake — 動詞