thrashing

/ˈθræʃɪŋ/ (bre, ipa) · [θrˈæʃɪŋ] /ˈθræʃɪŋ/ (ame, ipa) · [θrˈæʃɪŋ] /ˈthra-shiŋ How to pronounce thrashing (audio)/ (ame, mw)

thrashing — 名詞

  • thrashingsingular
  • thrashingsplural

1. a situation in which a person or team is very easily defeated in a competition,

1.名詞B2
釋義

痛宰

在比賽或競爭中輕鬆擊敗對手

a situation in which a person or team is very easily defeated in a competition, game, or election, usually by a large margin

例句

Brazil gave Argentina a 6–0 thrashing in the World Cup semi-final.

巴西在世界盃準決賽中以六比零痛宰阿根廷。

give + [team] + a thrashing (competition)

Dewi's chess club gave the neighbouring school a thrashing at the city tournament.

Dewi 的西洋棋社在市級比賽中痛宰了鄰校隊伍。

同義詞
  • rout

    suggests a disorganized retreat by the losers; stronger than thrashing

  • drubbing

    older term, common in British sports journalism, often interchangeable

  • shellacking

    American informal term; implies a humiliating defeat

反義詞
  • close game

    a competition where both sides are evenly matched

  • nail-biter

    a game that is tense and uncertain until the very end

文法句型

give + [team/person] + a thrashing

take/suffer + a thrashing

a thrashing + at the hands of + someone

用法筆記

Common in sports journalism and casual conversation about competitions. The word is stronger than 'defeat' — it always implies the winner was overwhelmingly better than the loser.

常見錯誤

❌The team suffered a thrashing in a close 3–2 defeat.
✅The team suffered a thrashing in a 6
💡0 defeat.' — 'thrashing' implies a very large margin, not a close game.

2. the act of hitting someone repeatedly and hard as a punishment for wrongdoing, t

2.名詞B2
釋義

鞭打

用棍棒等反覆重打作為懲罰

the act of hitting someone repeatedly and hard as a punishment for wrongdoing, typically with a stick, belt, or similar object

例句

Rachid's grandfather recalled how teachers gave thrashings to students who cheated on exams.

Rachid 的祖父回憶起以前老師會鞭打考試作弊的學生。

give + someone + a thrashing (punishment)

The barn still held a leather strap Mr. Chen used for thrashings when farm animals misbehaved.

穀倉裡還掛著陳先生用來鞭打不聽話牲畜的皮帶。

a thrashing + for + [misbehaviour]

同義詞
  • beating

    more general term; does not necessarily imply repeated strikes or punishment context

  • flogging

    specifically refers to hitting with a whip or rod, usually as a formal punishment

  • caning

    hitting with a cane; common in school punishment contexts in some countries

反義詞
  • reward

    a positive consequence rather than a punishment

文法句型

give + someone + a thrashing

receive/get + a thrashing

a thrashing + from + someone

用法筆記

Often occurs in the phrase 'give someone a thrashing' or 'receive a thrashing'. The literal sense of physical beating has become less common in modern daily conversation, though it still appears in historical writing and figurative uses.

常見錯誤

❌My father gave me a thrashing for forgetting my keys' (casual context).
✅My father gave me a scolding for forgetting my keys
💡'thrashing' implies a much more severe, physically violent punishment, not a light reprimand.

3. a violent and uncontrolled side-to-side movement of the body or a body part, usu

3.名詞C1
釋義

劇烈晃動

無法控制的劇烈左右擺動

a violent and uncontrolled side-to-side movement of the body or a body part, usually caused by pain, fear, illness, or injury

例句

The patient's violent thrashing on the hospital bed alarmed the night-shift nurse.

病人在病床上劇烈晃動，嚇到了值夜班的護士。

possessive + thrashing (uncontrolled movement)

Eric could hear the dog's frightened thrashing inside the kennel during the thunderstorm.

Eric 聽到狗在狗屋裡因雷聲而驚恐地劇烈掙扎。

同義詞
  • flailing

    describes wild, uncoordinated waving of limbs, often in panic or distress

  • convulsing

    medical term for rhythmic, involuntary muscle contractions, more specific than thrashing

  • writhing

    twisting and turning in pain or discomfort, usually slower and more deliberate than thrashing

反義詞
  • stillness

    complete absence of movement

  • calm

    peaceful, controlled movement or rest

文法句型

possessive + thrashing

the thrashing + of + [body part/creature]

用法筆記

Describes involuntary, chaotic movement. Frequently used in medical contexts (patient thrashing in seizure or delirium), animal behaviour (fish on a hook, frightened pet), and water-rescue scenarios.

常見錯誤

❌The dancer's thrashing on stage was beautiful.
✅The dancer's movements on stage were beautiful.
💡'thrashing' implies uncontrolled, chaotic, and often distressed motion, not graceful or deliberate dancing.