snuff out
snuff out — 片語動詞
- snuff outbase form
- snuffs out3rd person singular
- snuffing out-ing form
- snuffed outpast simple
1. to stop a flame or light from burning, especially by pressing it or covering it
熄滅；吹熄
壓住或蓋住使火焰停止燃燒
to stop a flame or light from burning, especially by pressing it or covering it so that it gets no air
Aoi leaned over the cake and snuffed out each candle with one breath.
Aoi 彎腰靠近蛋糕，一口氣吹熄了每一根蠟燭。
snuff out + candle (physical action)
A sudden gust of wind snuffed out the campfire while Kian was still cooking.
一陣強風吹熄了營火，當時 Kian 還在煮東西。
Rafael snuffed out his cigarette in the ashtray before entering the building.
Rafael 走進大樓前，在菸灰缸裡把香菸熄滅。
The old woman snuffed out the oil lamp and the room went completely dark.
老婦人熄滅了油燈，房間頓時一片漆黑。
Nala snuffed out the match between her fingers with a quick pinch.
Nala 用手指快速一捏，熄滅了火柴。
- extinguish
more formal; used for fires and flames in any register
- put out
more general; can be used for any flame but also for fires, cigarettes, etc.
- douse
usually means putting out with water or liquid
文法句型
snuff + noun/pronoun + out
snuff out + noun
用法筆記
The object can come between 'snuff' and 'out' or after 'out' (e.g. 'snuff the candle out' / 'snuff out the candle').
常見錯誤
2. to cause something abstract — such as a hope, dream, life, or opportunity — to e
扼殺；終結
使希望、夢想等突然完全終止
to cause something abstract — such as a hope, dream, life, or opportunity — to end abruptly and completely
The fire snuffed out the dreams of the young artist, destroying years of work.
那場大火扼殺了這位年輕藝術家的夢想，摧毀了他多年的心血。
snuff out + dreams (abstract object)
A single bad investment snuffed out the family's hopes of buying a house.
一次失敗的投資便終結了這家人買房子的希望。
The war snuffed out the lives of thousands of innocent people in the region.
戰爭奪走了該地區數千條無辜百姓的性命。
Yuki's promising music career was snuffed out by a sudden illness.
Yuki 前途看好的音樂事業因為一場急病而被斷送了。
The scandal snuffed out any chance he had of becoming mayor.
那場醜聞斷送了他當市長的任何機會。
- extinguish
more formal; works for hopes and lives too, but less vivid
- destroy
broader; does not imply suddenness
- crush
stronger emotional force; often with 'hopes' or 'spirit'
文法句型
snuff out + abstract noun (hope, dream, life, career)
用法筆記
Frequently used in passive constructions ('be snuffed out'). The subject is typically a negative event (disaster, war, scandal, illness), not a person acting deliberately.
常見錯誤
3. to murder someone, especially in a violent, secretive, or sudden way
殺害；幹掉
用暴力或祕密方式殺人
to murder someone, especially in a violent, secretive, or sudden way
The gang snuffed out the witness before he could testify in court.
那個幫派在證人出庭作證之前就把他幹掉了。
informal register: criminal context
The dictator's agents snuffed out political opponents without any trial.
獨裁者的手下未經審判就殺害了政治對手。
The detective believed the missing journalist had been snuffed out by the cartel.
警探認為那名失蹤記者已被販毒集團殺害。
In the novel, the spy is snuffed out before she can deliver the documents.
在小說裡，那名間諜在交出文件之前就被殺害了。
文法句型
snuff out + person
snuff + person + out
用法筆記
This sense is informal and carries a strong connotation of violence or criminality. It is NOT used for accidental deaths, natural causes, or animals (e.g. 'the cat snuffed out the mouse' ❌).
常見錯誤
4. to completely stop or destroy something undesirable, especially a rebellion, pro
鎮壓；撲滅
用強力手段完全壓制叛亂、異議等
to completely stop or destroy something undesirable, especially a rebellion, protest, opposition, or unwanted movement, usually by force or strict action
The government snuffed out the rebellion within three days.
政府在三天之內就鎮壓了叛亂。
snuff out + rebellion (political/military context)
Police snuffed out the protest before it could reach the city centre.
警方在抗議活動抵達市中心之前就將其撲滅了。
The new policy snuffed out any serious opposition to the plan.
新政策撲滅了所有對該計畫的重大反對意見。
Inês believed the company had snuffed out internal criticism by firing the whistle-blowers.
Inês 認為公司開除吹哨者，是為了撲滅內部批評。
The regime snuffed out all independent media in the country.
該政權撲滅了國內所有的獨立媒體。
文法句型
snuff out + abstract noun (rebellion, opposition, dissent, protest)
用法筆記
Subject is usually an authority figure or institution (government, police, company, regime) acting with force or power. Distinguish from sense 2 ('END SUDDENLY'): sense 2 is about hopes and dreams ending due to misfortune, while sense 4 is about actively stopping opposition or undesirable activity.