tarnished
/ˈtɑː.nɪʃt/ (bre, ipa) · [tˈɑrnɪʃt] /ˈtɑːr.nɪʃt/ (ame, ipa) · [tˈɑrnɪʃt] /ˈtär-nish How to pronounce tarnish (audio)/ (ame, mw)
tarnished — 形容詞
- tarnishedpositive
- more tarnishedcomparative
- most tarnishedsuperlative
1. having lost its bright finish or clear colour, especially because air, dirt, or
失去光澤
金屬表面變暗而不再發亮
having lost its bright finish or clear colour, especially because air, dirt, or time has affected the metal surface.
By morning, the tarnished silver tray looked grey under the kitchen light.
到了早上，那個失去光澤的銀盤在廚房燈下看起來灰灰的。
tarnished + metal object
Kenji found a tarnished coin at the bottom of the old drawer.
Kenji 在舊抽屜底部找到了一枚失去光澤的硬幣。
The museum kept the tarnished brass bell beside a newly cleaned one.
博物館把那只失去光澤的黃銅鐘放在一只剛清理好的鐘旁邊。
Even after washing, the spoon still seemed tarnished around the handle.
即使洗過之後，那支湯匙的把手周圍看起來還是失去光澤。
- dull
broader and more everyday; not limited to metal
- discoloured
focuses on changed colour rather than lost shine
- oxidised
more technical and used for chemical change
- polished
made smooth and bright by rubbing or cleaning
- shiny
bright because it reflects light well
- untarnished
not darkened or dulled on the surface
文法句型
tarnished + metal noun
look tarnished
用法筆記
Used mainly for silver, brass, copper, and similar metals. Distinguish from sense 2: this sense describes a physical change in the surface, not a damaged public image.
常見錯誤
2. made less admired or trusted because bad behaviour, failure, or shameful news ha
蒙污的
名聲或形象受損而失去光彩
made less admired or trusted because bad behaviour, failure, or shameful news has become known.
After the cheating scandal, the team's once proud image felt tarnished.
作弊醜聞後，這支球隊原本自豪的形象顯得蒙污了。
figurative: image or reputation
Years of broken promises left the company's name tarnished in town.
多年跳票的承諾讓這家公司在鎮上的名聲變得蒙污。
The actor returned to work with a tarnished public reputation.
那位演員帶著蒙污的公眾聲譽回到工作崗位。
One cruel comment can leave a teacher's record badly tarnished.
一句刻薄的評論就可能讓老師的紀錄變得嚴重蒙污。
- respected
still widely admired or trusted
- honoured
publicly praised or treated with respect
- untarnished
still free from damage to reputation
文法句型
a tarnished reputation
be tarnished by scandal
用法筆記
Usually describes a name, image, record, or reputation after public criticism or disgrace. Distinguish from sense 1: here the damage is figurative and social, not a physical surface change.
常見錯誤
tarnished — 動詞
- tarnishedpresent simple I / you / we / they
- tarnisheds3rd person singular
- tarnisheding-ing form
- tarnishededpast simple
1. to make metal lose its bright surface, or to lose that shine over time.
使失色；變暗
使金屬失去亮澤，或自己變暗
to make metal lose its bright surface, or to lose that shine over time.
Sea air tarnished the brass lock on the garden gate within months.
海風吹了幾個月，就讓花園門上的黃銅鎖失色了。
tarnish + metal object
Coffee fumes slowly tarnished the silver pot above the cafe stove.
咖啡蒸氣慢慢讓咖啡館爐子上方的銀壺變暗。
By winter, the cheap chain had tarnished to a dull brown.
到了冬天，那條便宜的鍊子已經變暗成暗褐色了。
Humidity tarnished the trumpet before Ari could pack it away.
在 Ari 收起來之前，濕氣就讓那支小號失色了。
文法句型
tarnish + metal object
metal tarnishes
用法筆記
The subject is often air, moisture, dirt, or another physical cause, and the object is usually silver, brass, copper, or another metal surface. Distinguish from sense 2, which damages reputation rather than appearance.
常見錯誤
2. to weaken the good quality, image, or reputation of someone or something.
玷污；損害
損害名聲、形象或原本的好印象
to weaken the good quality, image, or reputation of someone or something.
The bribery case tarnished the charity's reputation for honest work.
這起賄賂案玷污了那間慈善機構誠實做事的名聲。
tarnish + reputation
Years of delay tarnished the city's record on building new housing.
多年的延誤損害了這座城市在興建新住宅上的紀錄。
The rude exchange tarnished what had been a warm friendship.
那場粗魯的爭執玷污了原本溫暖的友誼。
False reports tarnished the scientist's name before the facts came out.
在真相曝光之前，不實報導就已經玷污了那位科學家的名聲。
文法句型
tarnish + reputation
tarnish + image or name
用法筆記
Usually takes an abstract object such as a reputation, image, name, record, or legacy. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense is figurative and can apply to trust, status, or quality as well as to public honour.