brandish
基本释义
[verb] wave or flourish (something, especially a weapon) as a threat or in anger or excitement
[动词] 威胁、愤怒或激动地挥动或挥舞某物（尤指武器）
深入解读
Brandish 是一个与小站（微信公众号：田间小站）之前推送过的熟词 brand 同源的单词。该词源自古法语 brant （刀锋、船头），14世纪中期经古法语 brandir （挥舞刀剑）的现在分词词干 brandiss- 进入英语后也是用来表示“挥舞”刀剑等武器，现在主要指威胁、危险、愤怒或激动地挥舞某物，尤其是挥舞武器进行挑衅，比如：
- 那个脾气暴躁的老妇人拿着一个不锈钢大平底锅向我挥来，于是我就跑出了厨房。
The grumpy old woman brandished a large stainless steel pan at me so I ran out of the kitchen.
其中， brandish 也可以用来形容挥舞奖杯、标志等非武器类的事物，常意味着朝着某人的脸挥舞使其无法忽视，参见下方影视用例。从这个概念出发， brandish 还可以进一步用来表示“炫耀”，即以挑衅或卖弄的方式展示，比如：
- 他写的都是些自我陶醉、故作清高的垃圾作品，妄图炫耀自己有多聪明。
He writes smug, sanctimonious rubbish, trying to brandish his intellect.
好书例句
“We won!” yelled Ron, bounding into sight and brandishing the silver Cup at Harry.
“我们赢了！”罗恩大声叫着跳过来，朝哈利挥舞着银杯。
出自英国作家J.K.罗琳创作的长篇小说《哈利·波特与混血王子》（Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince）。该小说是《哈利·波特》系列的第六部。
外刊例句
- It is usually a bad sign if talks start with one side brandishing a gun.
如果谈判以一方挥舞着枪支开始，这通常是一个不好的迹象。
——《经济学人》 - Political turmoil could lead a faction or a commander to brandish or — God forbid — launch a nuclear-armed missile.
政治动荡可能导致某个派系或指挥官挥舞或者——但愿不会——发射一枚核导弹。
——《纽约时报》
详细用法
动词 “brandish” 的用法：
- Brandish a weapon – 挥舞武器
- The robber brandished a knife and demanded money from the cashier.（劫匪挥舞着一把刀向出纳员要求钱。）
- Brandish a flag – 挥舞旗帜
- The protesters brandished flags and chanted slogans during the march.（抗议者在游行中挥舞旗帜并高呼口号。）
- Brandish a tool – 挥舞工具
- The construction worker brandished a hammer to break down the wall.（建筑工人挥舞着锤子拆墙。）
- Brandish authority – 炫耀权威
- The manager brandished his authority to intimidate the employees.（经理炫耀自己的权威以恐吓员工。）
- Brandish a document – 挥舞文件
- The lawyer brandished the evidence in court to support his argument.（律师在法庭上挥舞证据以支持他的论点。）
- Brandish a trophy – 挥舞奖杯
- The victorious athlete brandished his trophy in celebration.（胜利的运动员挥舞着他的奖杯庆祝。）
- Brandish a threat – 挥舞威胁
- The dictator brandished threats against anyone who opposed his regime.（独裁者对任何反对他政权的人挥舞威胁。）
- Brandish a symbol – 挥舞象征物
- The politician brandished the national flag as a symbol of unity.（政治家挥舞国旗作为团结的象征。）
常见短语
与 “brandish” 相关的短语：
- Brandish a weapon – 挥舞武器
- Brandish a flag – 挥舞旗帜
- Brandish a sword – 挥舞剑
- Brandish a gun – 挥舞枪支
- Brandish a knife – 挥舞刀子
- Brandish a whip – 挥舞鞭子
- Brandish a baton – 挥舞警棍
- Brandish a torch – 挥舞火把
- Brandish a stick – 挥舞棍棒
- Brandish a tool – 挥舞工具
- Brandish a document – 挥舞文件
- Brandish a flagpole – 挥舞旗杆
- Brandish a trophy – 挥舞奖杯
- Brandish a banner – 挥舞横幅
- Brandish a wand – 挥舞魔杖
- Brandish a microphone – 挥舞麦克风
- Brandish a fist – 挥舞拳头
- Brandish a placard – 挥舞标语牌
- Brandish a whip – 挥舞鞭子
- Brandish a brush – 挥舞刷子
- Brandish a flagpole – 挥舞旗杆
- Brandish a gavel – 挥舞槌锤
- Brandish a sign – 挥舞标志牌
- Brandish a scalpel – 挥舞解剖刀
- Brandish a machete – 挥舞砍刀
- Brandish a cane – 挥舞手杖
- Brandish a lasso – 挥舞套索
- Brandish a pen – 挥舞笔
- Brandish a paintbrush – 挥舞画笔
- Brandish a broom – 挥舞扫帚
同近义词
flaunt: display (something) ostentatiously, especially in order to provoke envy or admiration or to show defiance
wield: hold and use (a weapon or tool)
flourish: (of a person) wave (something) around to attract the attention of others
