vamp
/væmp/ (bre, ipa) · [vˈæmp] /væmp/ (ame, ipa) · [vˈæmp] /ˈvamp How to pronounce vamp (audio)/ (ame, mw)
vamp — 名詞
- vampsingular
- vampsplural
1. a female character, especially in older films and novels, who employs her good l
妖女；魚女
利用美貌操控他人的性感女子
a female character, especially in older films and novels, who employs her good looks and charm to manipulate or take advantage of people — typically men — for her own benefit.
In the old black-and-white movie, the actress played a vamp who tricked a wealthy businessman.
在那部黑白老電影中，那位女演員飾演一個利用美色欺騙富商的妖鬱女子。
collocation: play a vamp
Critics described the character as a classic vamp, using her charm to get whatever she wanted.
評論家稱這個角色是個典型的蛇蠍美人，利用魅力取得她想要的一切。
Sofia’s grandmother used to call glamorous actresses on the screen ‘vamps’.
Sofia 的祖母以前常稱呼螢幕上那些魚麗的女演員的「妖女」。
The novel’s main character was not a helpless maiden but a clever vamp who controlled every situation.
這本小說的主角不是一個無助的少女，而是個掌控全局的蛇蠍美人。
- seductress
more formal and literary, with stronger sexual emphasis
- femme fatale
borrowed from French; suggests danger and mystery more than exploitation
用法筆記
This sense is dated and carries a negative judgment about a woman’s character. Modern English prefers more neutral terms like ‘confident’ or ‘assertive’.
常見錯誤
2. a short musical phrase or chord sequence that is played over and over again, typ
重複句；過門
表演前重複演奏的短小音樂片段
a short musical phrase or chord sequence that is played over and over again, typically used as an introduction before a soloist or singer begins, or as background for improvisation.
The pianist played a gentle vamp while the singer walked onto the stage.
鋼琴手彈奏了一段輕柔的反覆樂句，同時歌手走上舞台。
collocation: play a vamp
When the drummer lost his place, the bass player kept a steady vamp going until everyone found the beat again.
鼓手打錯節拍時，貝斯手持續彈奏穩定的過門，直到所有人重新找到節奏。
keeps the beat going with a vamp
Niran asked the keyboardist to give him a two-bar vamp so he could tune his guitar.
Niran 請鍵盤手給他兩個小節的過門，好讓他調吉他的音。
During the rehearsal, the band repeated a simple vamp for three minutes while the sound engineer adjusted the microphones.
排練時，樂團重複了一段簡單的反覆樂句三分鐘，等待音響工程師調整麥克風。
用法筆記
Common in jazz, blues, and pop music. Musicians often say ‘vamp until ready’ as a cue to keep repeating the phrase until a soloist joins in.
3. the front top section of a shoe or boot that covers the area between the toes an
鞋面
鞋子前部覆蓋蹄趾到鞋帶處的皮革
the front top section of a shoe or boot that covers the area between the toes and the part where the laces begin.
The cobbler carefully replaced the worn vamp of the old leather boot with a fresh piece.
鞋匠小心翼翼地將那雙舊皮鞋磨損的鞋面換上一塊新皮。
shoemaking context: vamp of a boot
Yuki chose a pair of ballet flats because the soft vamp did not rub against her toes.
Yuki 選了一雙巴蕾平底鞋，因為柔軟的鞋面不會擦擦她的蹄趾。
A tear in the vamp of his running shoe let water in every time he stepped on a puddle.
他的跑鞋鞋面破了一道口子，每次踩到水坑都會渗水進去。
The shoemaker explained that a high vamp can make a shoe feel tighter across the top of the foot.
鞋匠解釋說，鞋面太高會讓鞋子在腳背部分感覺更緊。
用法筆記
A specialist term used by shoemakers, cobblers, and in the shoe retail industry. General readers may not know it.
4. a short, informal way to refer to a vampire — in legends and fiction, an undead
吸血鬼
vampire 的非正式縮寫
a short, informal way to refer to a vampire — in legends and fiction, an undead creature that leaves its grave at night to feed on the blood of the living.
The children dared each other to walk past the old house where the ‘vamp’ was supposed to live.
孩子們互相激勵，看誰敢走過那棟據說住着「吸血鬼」的舊房子。
informal shortening: ‘vamp’ for ‘vampire’
Kwame’s Halloween costume was a classic vamp with a black cape and fake fangs.
Kwame 的萬聖節服裝是經典的吸血鬼造型，搭配黑色披肩和假牙。
In the comic book, the hero fought a group of vamps that hid in the subway tunnels.
在那本漫畫中，英雄與一群堵在地鐵隧道裡的吸血鬼戰鬥。
Talia prefers the old legends where a vamp could be kept away with garlic and a wooden stake.
Talia 比較喜歡古老的傳說——大蒜和木桔就能駆退吸血鬼。
用法筆記
Used mainly in casual conversation, fan communities, and informal writing about horror or fantasy. In formal contexts, ‘vampire’ is always preferred.
常見錯誤
vamp — 動詞
- vamppresent simple I / you / we / they
- vamps3rd person singular
- vamping-ing form
- vampedpast simple
1. to behave in a deliberately attractive or flirtatious way toward someone in orde
誘惑；勾引
以性感姿態引誘以達到目的
to behave in a deliberately attractive or flirtatious way toward someone in order to influence or take advantage of them.
In the play, the villain tries to vamp the hero’s fiancée into giving away family secrets.
在劇中，反派試圖誘惑男主角的未婚妻，讓她洩露家族秘密。
vamp + object + into + -ing (pattern)
The silent-film star became famous for vamping the male leads with a single glance.
這位默片明星以一個眼神便勾引男主角的演出而聞名。
historical film context
Aoi rolled her eyes when she saw her friend vamping the tourist for a free dinner.
Aoi 翻了一個白眼，因為她看到朋友正在誘惑觀光客請她吃免費晚餐。
Léa joked that she could vamp the bouncer to get into the VIP lounge.
Léa 開玩笑說，她能誘惑守門人進入貴宾室。
文法句型
vamp + object
用法筆記
Old-fashioned and often humorous or theatrical in modern use. The straightforward synonym ‘seduce’ is more common today.
2. to play a short musical phrase over and over, typically while waiting for anothe
重複彈奏
重複演奏一段短樂句等待其他人加入
to play a short musical phrase over and over, typically while waiting for another musician to join in or for a section to begin.
The guitarist told the band to vamp on the chord progression until he gave them the signal.
吉他手告訴樂團在他給信號之前，先重複彈奏那個和弦進行。
vamp on + chord progression
While the saxophonist fixed his reed, the rhythm section vamped quietly to keep the energy going.
薩克斯風手修理簍片時，節奏組輕聲重複彈奏以維持表演的氣氛。
Jude learned to vamp over a simple blues pattern during his first jazz lesson.
Jude 在第一堂爵士樂課上學會了如何在簡單的藍調模式上彈奏重複樂句。
The conductor wrote ‘vamp until ready’ at the top of the score so the musicians would know what to do.
指揮在樂譜頂端寫上「重複彈奏直到準備好」，讓樂手知道該怎麼做。
文法句型
vamp on + noun
vamp until + clause
用法筆記
Standard instruction in musical scores and sheet music. ‘Vamp until ready’ is a fixed phrase in ensemble playing.
3. to speak on the spot with no plan, usually to keep an audience occupied while de
即興；拖時間
無準備說話以填補等待時間
to speak on the spot with no plan, usually to keep an audience occupied while dealing with a delay or waiting for someone.
The speaker vamped for five minutes while the organizers fixed the broken microphone.
講者即興講了五分鐘，好讓工作人員修理故障的麥克風。
vamp for + time period
When the teleprompter stopped working, the news anchor had to vamp until the system came back online.
讀稿機故障時，新聞主播只能臨時渾話，直到系統恢復正常。
vamp until + event
Hannah vamped through the Q&A session because she had not actually read the report.
Hannah 在問答環節中即興回應，因為她根本沒讀過那份報告。
The comedian skillfully vamped for an extra ten minutes when the headliner was stuck in traffic.
當壓軸表演者塞在路上時，那位喜劇演員巧妙地即興發揮了十分鐘。
- prepare
to plan and rehearse ahead of time
文法句型
vamp + for + time/duration
vamp until + clause
用法筆記
Often used in show business and public speaking. The speaker is aware they are filling time and the audience usually knows too.
4. to invent something, such as a story, excuse, or explanation, often quickly and
編造；杜撰
快速編出藉口或故事
to invent something, such as a story, excuse, or explanation, often quickly and without much concern for accuracy.
Walid vamped up an excuse about a flat tyre when he forgot about the dinner party.
Walid 忘了晚宴的事，於是編了一個輪胎漏氣的藉口。
vamp up + excuse (fabricate an excuse)
She had not done her homework, so she vamped a story about her dog eating the notebook.
她沒有做功課，於是編了一個狗狗吃掉筆記本的故事。
The journalist was fired for vamping up details in several of her news articles.
那位記者因為在新聞文章中捏造細節而被開除。
When Diya’s boss asked why the report was late, she vamped a quick reason on the spot.
Diya 的老闆問報告為什麼遲交時，她當場編了一個理由。
文法句型
vamp + something + up
vamp up + noun
用法筆記
Often appears as the phrasal verb ‘vamp up’. More common alternatives include ‘make up’, ‘fabricate’, or ‘concoct’.