➡ See also the entry for worrying另见worrying条frightening ♦︎ terrifying ♦︎ scary ♦︎ alarming ♦︎ daunting ♦︎ chilling ♦︎ eerie ♦︎ intimidating ♦︎ spooky ♦︎ creepy ♦︎ hair-raisingThese words all describe people, things, events, etc. that make you feel afraid.这些词均表示引起恐惧的、令人惊慌的、恐怖的。SYNONYM SCALE 词义标尺下图显示这些词所表达令人恐惧的程度
alarming
➔
frightening
➔
terrifying
daunting
scary
chilling
intimidating
eerie
hair-raising
spooky
creepy
PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS 句型和搭配◆frightening / terrifying / scary / alarming / daunting / intimidating for sb◆It's frightening / terrifying / scary / daunting to think...◆a frightening / a terrifying / a scary / an alarming / a daunting / a chilling experience / thought / prospect◆a frightening / a terrifying / a scary / an eerie / an intimidating / a spooky / a creepy place◆a scary / an intimidating / a creepy woman◆an eerie / an intimidating / a spooky / a creepy atmosphere◆an eerie / a spooky / a creepy feeling◆to find sth frightening / terrifying / scary / daunting / chilling / intimidating / creepy◆rather / pretty frightening / terrifying / scary / alarming / daunting / chilling / eerie / intimidating / spooky◆very frightening / scary / alarming / daunting / intimidating / spooky◆a bit frightening / scary / daunting / spooky / creepy■frighteningmaking you feel afraid引起恐惧的;使惊恐的◆It's frightening to think it could happen again.想到此事可能再次发生就让人不寒而栗。◆The noise was frightening.那声音很可怕。ⓘ Frightening is rather formal in American English. * frightening在美式英语中颇为正式。 see also frightened ⇨ afraid■terrifyingmaking you feel extremely afraid非常可怕的;骇人的◆The sudden silence was terrifying.突然的沉默十分吓人。 see also terrified ⇨ afraid■scary (informal) making you feel afraid引起恐惧的;使惊恐的◆a scary movie恐怖电影◆This is the scariest thing I've ever done in my life.这是我一生中做过的最恐怖的事。◆a scary-looking guy相貌吓人的家伙 see also scared ⇨ afraid■alarmingmaking you feel worried or afraid使人忧虑的;令人惊慌的;引起恐慌的◆an alarming increase in the number of cases of skin cancer皮肤癌病例数令人忧虑的增加◆The rainforest is disappearing at an alarming rate.雨林正以惊人的速度消失。ⓘ Alarming is rather formal in American English. * alarming在美式英语中颇为正式。OPPreassuring ⇨ reassure▸alarmingly
adverb
◆Prices have risen alarmingly.价格涨得吓人。NOTE辨析 Frightening, scary or alarming?If a situation is alarming, it is usually a warning that sth unpleasant will happen in the future, especially sth that means a loss of comfort or pleasant conditions. Frightening and scary can describe people as well as situations and refer to a fear about now or in the future; and this may be a fear about personal safety, not just loss of comfort. * alarming通常警示不快之事将要发生,尤指失去安逸或舒适的环境。frightening和scary描述人和境况均可,指对现在或未来的恐惧,可能有关人身安全,而不只是担心失去舒适。■daunting ˈdɔːntɪŋ making you feel nervous and not confident about doing sth使人胆怯的;使人气馁的;使失去信心的◆Starting a new school can be very daunting.创办一所新学校会让人望而生畏。◆She has the daunting task of cooking for 20 people every day.她每天得做20个人的饭,这是一项可怕的任务。 see also daunt ⇨ discourage2■chillingvery frightening, usually because it is connected with sth violent or cruel(通常因残暴)令人恐惧的,骇人的◆a chilling tale of murder and revenge令人毛骨悚然的谋杀和复仇的故事◆The film evokes chilling reminders of the war.这部电影使人回忆起战争的可怕场景。■eerie ˈɪəri; NAmEˈɪristrange and frightening瘆人的;阴森恐怖的◆an eerie green light瘆人的绿灯◆He had an eerie feeling that he was not alone.他有一种恐怖的感觉:他不是独自一人。▸eerily
adverb
◆It was eerily quiet.安静得恐怖。■intimidating (ratherformal) frightening in a way that makes you feel less confident in a particular situation吓人的;令人胆怯的◆He had a very intimidating manner.他的态度令人望而生畏。◆The atmosphere was less intimidating than I had imagined.气氛没有我想象的那么吓人。NOTE辨析 Daunting or intimidating?Daunting describes sth you do or are going to do. * daunting描述自己做或将要做的事◆a daunting experience吓人的经历◆a daunting thought / prospect / task / challenge可怕的想法/前景/任务;令人生畏的挑战Intimidating describes a person or place. * intimidating描述人或地方。■spookyˈspuːki (informal) strange and frightening瘆人的;阴森恐怖的◆a spooky old house阴森森的老房子◆I was just thinking about her when she phoned, which was a bit spooky.我正在想她,她就来电话了,怪恐怖的。■creepy (informal) strange, frightening and unpleasant怪异吓人的;阴森恐怖的◆It's kind of creepy down in the cellar!地窖里真有点让人不寒而栗!◆What a creepy coincidence.多么离奇的巧合。◆a creepy little man with a nervous tic一个患有神经性抽搐症的怪异的小个子男人NOTE辨析 Eerie, spooky or creepy?These words are all used especially to describe a feeling that sth strange or unnatural is happening or is near you. Spooky and creepy are both used to describe things that happen that cannot be explained scientifically. Creepy can describe people as well as places, events and situations, and suggests sth unpleasant as well as strange. Eerie is less informal than the other two.这些词尤用以描述怪异或反常之事正在逼近或就在近旁的感觉。spooky和creepy均指所发生之事无法用科学解释。creepy既可形容人,亦可形容地方、事件和境况,指事情怪异又可怕。eerie比另外两个词正式。■ˈhair-raisingvery frightening but often exciting too令人寒毛直竖的;惊险的◆a hair-raising adventure / journey惊险刺激的历险/旅程