unmentionable
/ʌnˈmenʃənəbl/ (bre, ipa) · /ʌnˈmenʃənəbl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌən-ˈmen(t)-sh(ə-)nə-bəl/ (ame, mw)
unmentionable — 形容詞
- unmentionablepositive
- more unmentionablecomparative
- most unmentionablesuperlative
1. too shocking, embarrassing, or offensive to be spoken about openly, especially b
禁忌的
因過於震驚或尷尬而不可公開談論的
too shocking, embarrassing, or offensive to be spoken about openly, especially because it would break the rules of polite behaviour or social convention
During the formal dinner, Stefan avoided any unmentionable topics like politics or religion.
在正式晚宴上，Stefan 刻意避開政治或宗教等禁忌話題。
attributive: unmentionable + [topic/subject/noun]
The family kept their financial troubles as an unmentionable secret for many years.
多年來，這個家庭將經濟困境視為一個不可告人的祕密。
collocation: unmentionable secret
In those days, divorce was considered an unmentionable subject in polite society.
在那個年代，離婚在上流社會被視為不宜談論的話題。
Amira found that her illness was treated as an unmentionable problem at work.
Amira 發現她的病在職場上被當成一個難以啟齒的問題。
Some historical events remain unmentionable in certain regions even today.
某些歷史事件至今在某些地區仍不得公開談論。
- taboo
broader; describes any subject forbidden by social or religious custom, not necessarily shocking
- unspeakable
stronger; suggests extreme horror rather than social embarrassment
- forbidden
broader; can refer to any prohibited thing, not just topics of conversation
- mentionable
rare; describes something acceptable to discuss openly
文法句型
unmentionable + noun
用法筆記
Commonly used attributively before nouns such as 'subject', 'topic', 'secret', 'issue', or 'problem'. Rarely used in comparative or superlative forms.
常見錯誤
unmentionable — 名詞
1. a subject, event, or personal matter that people avoid discussing openly because
禁忌話題
因尷尬或隱私而不被提及的話題
a subject, event, or personal matter that people avoid discussing openly because it is too shocking, embarrassing, or private
The scandal became the great unmentionable of the election season.
這樁醜聞成了選舉季中最大的禁忌話題。
determiner: the + [adj] + unmentionable
In their village, the old land dispute was an unmentionable that nobody dared raise.
在他們村裡，那樁土地糾紛是個沒人敢提起的禁忌話題。
Rohan treated his past as an unmentionable, never speaking of it to anyone.
Rohan 把自己的過去當作禁忌話題，從不對任何人提起。
Mental illness was once an unmentionable in many communities around the world.
心理疾病曾經是世上許多社區中的禁忌話題。
- taboo
a more general term for any forbidden or prohibited thing
- forbidden topic
a clearer, more modern alternative; less literary
文法句型
the + unmentionable
an + unmentionable
用法筆記
This sense functions as a singular countable noun. It is less common than the plural noun senses below. Often preceded by 'the' or 'an'.
2. a humorous or old-fashioned word for trousers or pants, used when the speaker pr
長褲
褲子的歷史委婉說法
a humorous or old-fashioned word for trousers or pants, used when the speaker prefers a less direct or more delicate term
The Victorian gentleman referred to his trousers as his unmentionables in front of ladies.
那位維多利亞時代的紳士在有女士在場時，稱自己的褲子為 unmentionables。
possessive: his + unmentionables (plural form)
Defne found an old letter where her great-grandmother called pants unmentionables.
Defne 找到一封舊信，信裡她的曾祖母把褲子稱為 unmentionables。
In nineteenth-century novels, characters often blush at the very word unmentionables.
在十九世紀的小說裡，角色們一聽到 unmentionables 這個詞就會臉紅。
Hui read an old play where a maid refused to say unmentionables aloud.
Hui 讀了一部舊劇本，劇中女僕拒絕說出 unmentionables 這個詞。
文法句型
plural: unmentionables
用法筆記
Always used in the plural form 'unmentionables'. This meaning is now very rare and mostly appears in historical fiction or discussions of Victorian-era language. The term arose in the 1830s as a polite alternative to 'trousers'.
常見錯誤
3. a light-hearted or slightly old-fashioned word for underwear, that is clothing w
內衣
內衣褲的幽默或古舊說法
a light-hearted or slightly old-fashioned word for underwear, that is clothing worn next to the skin beneath outer garments
Beatriz packed her unmentionables in a small bag for the weekend trip.
Beatriz 把內衣裝進一個小袋子裡，準備週末出遊。
possessive: her + unmentionables (plural, humorous register)
The laundry basket was full of socks, shirts, and other unmentionables.
洗衣籃裡塞滿了襪子、襯衫和其他內衣物。
The children burst out laughing when the shop advertisement mentioned unmentionables.
孩子們看到商店廣告提到內衣時，忍不住大笑起來。
Eli bought new unmentionables at the market before the long journey began.
Eli 在出發長途旅行前，在市場買了幾件新內衣。
- underwear
neutral, modern term; no humorous or dated tone
- undergarments
slightly more formal but still neutral
- undies
informal; similarly light-hearted but more common
文法句型
plural: unmentionables
用法筆記
Always appears in the plural form 'unmentionables'. Of the two clothing senses, this is by far the more common one in modern usage. Still carries a deliberately old-fashioned or playful tone.