tatters
/ˈtætəz/ (bre, ipa) · [tˈætɚz] /ˈtætərz/ (ame, ipa) · [tˈætɚz] /ˈta-tər How to pronounce tatter (audio)/ (ame, mw)
tatters — 名詞
1. a state in which cloth, clothes, paper, or similar material is left hanging in m
破爛成條
布料等被撕得一條條
a state in which cloth, clothes, paper, or similar material is left hanging in many torn strips after being badly ripped
After the puppy got into the laundry basket, the pillowcase was in tatters.
那隻小狗鑽進洗衣籃後，枕套就破爛成條了。
be in tatters: literal damage to cloth
By the end of the voyage, the sail hung in tatters above the deck.
航程結束時，船帆已在甲板上方破爛成條地垂著。
hang in tatters: material left in strips
The old theatre poster was in tatters after months of rain on the wall.
那張舊劇院海報在牆上淋了幾個月的雨後，已經破爛成條。
Yuki pulled the sweater from the dryer and found one sleeve in tatters.
Yuki 從烘衣機拿出毛衣，發現一隻袖子已經破爛成條。
- intact
describes material that has not been torn or broken
文法句型
be in tatters
hang in tatters
用法筆記
Almost always appears in the phrase 'in tatters'. This sense describes the damaged condition of the material, not the separate pieces themselves.
常見錯誤
2. a state in which a plan, relationship, reputation, or other non-physical thing h
全盤崩壞
計畫等被毀到難以收拾
a state in which a plan, relationship, reputation, or other non-physical thing has been damaged so badly that it can hardly continue or recover
After the leaked messages, the mayor's reputation was in tatters across the city.
那些外流訊息曝光後，市長的名聲在全城幾乎全盤崩壞。
reputation in tatters: figurative ruin
Their travel plans were in tatters when the airline canceled every afternoon flight.
航空公司取消所有下午班機後，他們的旅行計畫已全盤崩壞。
By noon, the merger deal lay in tatters after both banks walked away.
到了中午，兩家銀行都退出後，那筆合併案已全盤崩壞。
Sade felt her confidence in tatters after forgetting every line on stage.
Sade 在台上忘光所有台詞後，覺得自己的信心已經全盤崩壞。
- secure
suggests the plan or relationship is still stable
文法句型
be in tatters
lie in tatters
用法筆記
This sense is figurative: the subject is usually an abstract noun such as reputation, plan, marriage, or confidence. Distinguish from sense 1, where actual material is torn.
3. torn clothes or loose pieces of cloth, especially when they are all that remain
破布殘片
殘留下來的碎布或破衣
torn clothes or loose pieces of cloth, especially when they are all that remain of something once useful or fine
The museum displayed the explorer's coat as a few damp tatters.
博物館把那件探險家的外套當作幾片潮濕的破布殘片來展示。
tatters as the remaining scraps themselves
Children searched the attic and found wedding lace in dusty tatters.
孩子們翻找閣樓時，找到幾片滿是灰塵的婚紗蕾絲破布殘片。
After the fire, only charred tatters of the curtain remained.
火災過後，只剩下窗簾燒焦的破布殘片。
Felipe wrapped the broken doll in soft tatters of old cotton.
Felipe 用幾片柔軟的舊棉布殘片把那個壞掉的娃娃包起來。
文法句型
tatters of + noun
用法筆記
Less common than senses 1 and 2. This sense names the torn pieces themselves, often with 'of' plus the original material.
常見錯誤
tatters — 動詞
- tatterspresent simple I / you / we / they
- tatterses3rd person singular
- tattersing-ing form
- tattersedpast simple
1. to rip cloth or clothing so that it ends up hanging in rough, torn strips
撕成破條
把布料撕到一條條破開
to rip cloth or clothing so that it ends up hanging in rough, torn strips
The thorn fence tattered Nalia's skirt during the climb over it.
翻越那道滿是刺的籬笆時，Nalia 的裙子被撕成破條。
tatter + object: cloth damaged into strips
Years of salt wind tattered the fishing net beyond easy repair.
多年的鹹海風吹打，把那張漁網撕成破條，幾乎無法修補。
The puppy tattered the sofa cover while chasing the red ball.
那隻小狗追著紅球跑時，把沙發套撕成破條。
Sharp branches tattered Omar's raincoat on the walk through the ravine.
走過山溝時，尖枝把 Omar 的雨衣撕成破條。
- mend
means to repair the damaged material
文法句型
tatter + object
用法筆記
This sense takes a direct object and is uncommon in everyday speech. It appears mostly in descriptive or literary writing about cloth, flags, sails, and similar material.
常見錯誤
2. to grow torn and rough at the edges through long use, weather, or repeated damag
變得破爛
因磨損或風吹而逐漸裂破
to grow torn and rough at the edges through long use, weather, or repeated damage
The prayer flags tattered in the mountain wind above the temple.
那些經旗在寺廟上方的山風吹打下，漸漸變得破爛。
intransitive: material gradually becomes ragged
Cheap paper tattered quickly after a week in Mei's schoolbag.
那種便宜紙張在 Mei 的書包裡放了一週後，很快就變得破爛。
Without a cover, the atlas tattered at the corners during summer camp.
沒有書套保護，那本地圖冊在夏令營期間四角都變得破爛。
The stage curtain tattered near the bottom after years of touring.
那面舞台布幕巡演多年後，底邊附近已變得破爛。
- hold up
means to remain in good condition
文法句型
tatter in + weather/place
tatter at + edge
用法筆記
Unlike sense 1, this sense has no object: the material itself becomes torn over time. It is also uncommon and mostly used in descriptive writing.