tawdry
/ˈtɔːdri/ (bre, ipa) · [tˈɔdri] /ˈtɔːdri/ (ame, ipa) · [tˈɔdri] /ˈtȯ-drē How to pronounce tawdry (audio) ˈtä-/ (ame, mw)
tawdry — 形容詞
- tawdrypositive
- tawdriercomparative
- tawdriestsuperlative
1. having a showy, flashy look that is meant to seem expensive or elegant, but is a
俗麗的
外表花俏但品質低劣
having a showy, flashy look that is meant to seem expensive or elegant, but is actually made of cheap materials and poorly finished.
The window display was filled with tawdry gold-coloured jewellery that turned her skin green.
櫥窗裡擺滿了俗麗的金色飾品，那些飾品讓她的皮膚都變綠了。
collocation: tawdry jewellery / tawdry decorations
Vikram regretted the tawdry silk curtains when the colour faded in the sun.
Vikram 很後悔買了那條俗麗的絲質窗簾，因為顏色在陽光下很快就褪了。
The hotel lobby looked tawdry with its plastic flowers and fake marble pillars.
那間飯店大廳擺著塑膠花和假大理石柱，看起來很俗麗。
Ayana bought a tawdry necklace from a street vendor, but it snapped before she wore it once.
Ayana 在路邊攤買了一條俗麗的項鍊，但還沒戴一次就斷了。
- gaudy
focuses on bright, clashing colours rather than cheapness
- flashy
more informal; can be positive when describing showy style on purpose
- cheap-looking
more direct; lacks the 'pretending to be elegant' connotation
文法句型
tawdry + noun (attributive)
be + tawdry (predicative)
用法筆記
Often used before nouns describing decorative objects (jewellery, decorations, furniture, clothing). The sense focuses on the gap between intended elegance and actual cheapness.
常見錯誤
2. involving behaviour that is considered morally low or unpleasant, especially whe
低俗的
道德低劣且故意譁眾取寵
involving behaviour that is considered morally low or unpleasant, especially when it is meant to shock people or attract attention in a cheap way.
The newspaper published a tawdry story about the politician's private life just before the election.
那家報紙在選舉前夕刊登了一則關於那位政治人物私生活的低俗報導。
collocation: tawdry story / tawdry scandal
Nadia felt the reality show promoted tawdry behaviour only to win higher viewer numbers.
Nadia 認為那個實境秀為了衝高收視率，刻意推崇低俗的行為。
The article described the tawdry details of the inheritance dispute between the two sisters.
那篇文章描述了兩姊妹之間遺產糾紛的低俗細節。
Residents complained that the new nightclub brought a tawdry atmosphere to the quiet street.
居民抱怨新開的夜店為那條安靜的街道帶來了低俗的氣氛。
- decent
describes behaviour that meets normal moral standards
- respectable
describes behaviour that earns social approval
文法句型
tawdry + noun
tawdry + noun phrase (of scandal, affair, story)
用法筆記
Common in journalistic and literary contexts. Unlike the adjective sense 1 (CHEAP AND SHOWY), this sense describes actions and events rather than objects. Distinguish from 'sordid' — tawdry suggests a tacky, attention-seeking kind of immorality rather than hidden corruption.
常見錯誤
tawdry — 名詞
1. cheap, brightly-coloured decorations, jewellery, or clothing items that are inte
廉價俗艷之物
品質低劣的花俏飾品或衣飾
cheap, brightly-coloured decorations, jewellery, or clothing items that are intended to look elegant or expensive but are obviously of low quality, considered together as a group or type of thing.
The costume shop was full of tawdry — cheap feather boas and plastic tiaras that broke quickly.
那間道具店裡堆滿了廉價俗艷的東西——便宜的羽毛圍巾和很快就壞的塑膠冠冕。
uncountable: refers to a collection of cheap showy items as a mass
Eve cleared out the drawer full of tawdry and kept only her grandmother's real silver brooch.
Eve 把抽屜裡廉價俗艷的東西清掉，只留下祖母那枚真正的純銀胸針。
The market stalls displayed nothing but tawdry — shiny plastic bags and metal trinkets painted gold.
市場的攤位上陳列的盡是廉價俗艷的東西——閃亮的塑膠包和漆成金色的金屬小飾品。
Allison threw away all the tawdry from her wardrobe and donated the rest of her clothes to charity.
Allison 把衣櫃裡廉價俗艷的東西全部丟掉，其餘的衣服捐給了慈善機構。
文法句型
tawdry as an uncountable noun
用法筆記
Very rare in modern English, mostly found in literary or historical descriptions. Unlike the adjective, which is common enough for B2-C1 learners, the noun form is C2-level. It is always uncountable and refers to a category of items rather than one specific object.