splutter
splutter — 動詞
- splutterpresent simple I / you / we / they
- spluttershe / she / it
- splutteredpast simple
- spluttering-ing form
1. to talk fast and in broken bits, often spitting slightly, because strong feeling
語無倫次說
因震驚或憤怒而急促、含糊地說話
to talk fast and in broken bits, often spitting slightly, because strong feelings like shock or anger stop you forming clear words.
Minho spluttered an apology when the teacher caught him copying answers.
老師抓到 Minho 抄答案時，他結結巴巴地道了歉。
splutter + an apology (object the rushed words)
Red with rage, the old farmer spluttered that nobody would steal his land.
那位老農夫氣得滿臉通紅，語無倫次地說沒人能搶走他的土地。
splutter + that-clause for furious broken speech
"How dare you!" Folake spluttered, too angry to finish her sentence.
「你竟敢！」Folake 氣到話都說不完，只能含糊地嚷著。
The witness began to splutter and stammer when the lawyer raised her voice.
律師一提高音量，證人就開始語無倫次、結結巴巴。
Diego spluttered with surprise as the coach read out his name first.
教練先念出 Diego 的名字時，他驚訝得語無倫次。
- articulate
to speak clearly and smoothly
文法句型
splutter + direct speech
splutter + with anger
用法筆記
Subject is a person overwhelmed by emotion; the speech itself is the object or quoted. Distinguish from sense 2, where the noises are caused by a physical problem with breathing, not by feelings.
常見錯誤
2. to make short choking or coughing sounds from your mouth, usually because food,
嗆到出聲
因嗆到或無法順利呼吸而發出短促聲音
to make short choking or coughing sounds from your mouth, usually because food, water, or smoke has stopped you breathing easily.
Tamás spluttered and coughed after a fish bone caught in his throat.
魚刺卡在喉嚨後，Tamás 又嗆又咳。
collocation: splutter and cough
The diver came up spluttering, water still running from her nose.
那名潛水員浮上水面時不停嗆咳，鼻子還在滴水。
splutter after near-drowning
Reema spluttered on her tea when the joke caught her by surprise.
那個笑話讓 Reema 措手不及，喝茶時嗆了一下。
Thick smoke filled the kitchen, and the children spluttered near the door.
濃煙瀰漫整個廚房，孩子們在門邊嗆得直咳。
The baby spluttered for a moment, then settled back to feeding quietly.
那個寶寶嗆了一下，接著又安靜地繼續喝奶。
文法句型
splutter + on something
用法筆記
Frequently follows a swallowing or breathing problem and often pairs with 'cough'. Object, if any, comes after 'on' (the liquid or food). Unlike sense 1, no emotion or speech is involved.
常見錯誤
3. if a motor or machine splutters, it runs unevenly and makes a string of weak pop
運轉劈啪響
引擎或機器運轉不順、發出微弱劈啪聲
if a motor or machine splutters, it runs unevenly and makes a string of weak popping sounds, usually as it starts to fail.
The old tractor spluttered twice, then died halfway up the muddy hill.
那台老舊的曳引機劈啪響了兩聲，就在泥濘的半山腰熄火了。
splutter then stop
Bilal turned the key, but the cold engine only spluttered and would not start.
Bilal 轉動鑰匙，但冰冷的引擎只是劈啪作響，怎麼也發不動。
splutter on a failed start
The little motorboat spluttered across the lake on its last drops of fuel.
那艘小汽艇靠著最後幾滴油，劈啪作響地橫越湖面。
The lawnmower spluttered loudly before the blades finally began to spin.
割草機先是大聲劈啪作響，刀片才終於開始轉動。
Her motorbike spluttered to a stop just outside the village shop.
她的機車劈啪作響地停在村裡的商店外。
- purr
to run smoothly and quietly
文法句型
splutter + to a stop
用法筆記
Subject is a motor, engine, or fuel-powered machine. Often signals the machine is starting badly or running out of power; commonly 'splutter to a stop'. The figurative sense (a plan or career that splutters) grows from this image.
splutter — 名詞
- spluttersingular
- spluttersplural
1. a short burst of fast, broken talk that someone makes when shock or anger stops
急促亂語
因震驚或憤怒而急促、含糊的一陣話
a short burst of fast, broken talk that someone makes when shock or anger stops them speaking clearly.
With a splutter of protest, Christopher dropped the bill and stormed out.
Christopher 語無倫次地抗議了幾句，丟下帳單就氣沖沖走了。
a splutter of + protest
Her only reply was a splutter, half anger and half pure shock.
她唯一的回應就是一陣含糊的話，一半是氣憤、一半是震驚。
splutter as a single reply
A splutter of half-words escaped Mayumi before she found her real answer.
Mayumi 先是冒出一串支離破碎的字，才終於想出真正的答案。
The accused man gave a splutter of denial that nobody in court believed.
那名被告含糊地辯解了幾句，法庭上卻沒人相信。
文法句型
a splutter of + noun
用法筆記
Usually singular and often followed by 'of' plus the feeling or speech act (protest, denial, rage). Distinguish from sense 2, which is a physical choking noise rather than attempted speech.
2. a short coughing or choking noise that comes from your mouth when you cannot bre
嗆咳聲
無法順暢呼吸時口中發出的短促咳嗆聲
a short coughing or choking noise that comes from your mouth when you cannot breathe smoothly.
Yael surfaced from the pool with a loud splutter and a gasp for air.
Yael 從泳池冒出水面，大聲嗆咳並用力吸氣。
with a splutter (choking noise)
A sudden splutter from the baby made both parents jump from their chairs.
寶寶突然一陣嗆咳，嚇得父母倆都從椅子上跳了起來。
a splutter from a choking child
The swimmer's splutter told the lifeguard that water had gone down wrong.
那名泳客的嗆咳聲，讓救生員知道他被水嗆到了。
Élise gave a quick splutter as the spicy smoke reached the back of her throat.
辛辣的煙竄到喉嚨深處，Élise 嗆咳了一下。
文法句型
with a splutter
用法筆記
Refers to the physical noise of choking, not to speech. Often paired with 'gasp' or 'cough'. Contrast with sense 1, where the noises are an attempt to talk.
3. a string of weak popping sounds made by a motor or machine that is running badly
引擎劈啪聲
機器運轉不順時發出的一連串微弱劈啪聲
a string of weak popping sounds made by a motor or machine that is running badly or starting to fail.
The splutter of the old engine warned Ramón that the fuel was nearly gone.
老引擎的劈啪聲警告 Ramón，油快要用完了。
the splutter of + engine
We heard a splutter from the boat motor, then complete silence on the water.
我們聽見船的馬達劈啪響了一下，接著水面上一片寂靜。
a splutter then silence
The lawnmower started with a rough splutter before settling into a steady hum.
割草機啟動時粗啞地劈啪響了幾下，才轉為平穩的運轉聲。
Jude noticed a worrying splutter from the car each time the road climbed.
每當路面爬坡，Jude 就察覺車子發出令人不安的劈啪聲。
- hum
the smooth steady sound of a healthy motor
文法句型
the splutter of + machine
用法筆記
Subject of the 'of' phrase is a motor, engine, or machine. Signals rough running or fuel trouble. Distinguish from sense 2 (a human choking noise) by the source being a machine.