Scotch
/skɔtʃ/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Adjective:
- Thrifty, frugal, avoiding waste: Used informally to describe someone or something that is economical or careful with resources.
- Of or relating to Scotland: Pertaining to its people, culture, or language. Note: This usage is often considered dated or informal outside of specific fixed phrases, with "Scottish" being the preferred modern term.
Noun:
- A type of whiskey: Whiskey distilled in Scotland, especially from malted barley.
- A slight surface cut or notch: A small incision, often used for keeping a tally.
- A wedge or block: A device used to prevent movement, especially of a wheel.
Verb:
- To make a small cut or score: To notch or scratch a surface lightly.
- To hinder or prevent: To put an end to or frustrate plans, efforts, or desires.
- To block or wedge: To prevent something, like a wheel, from moving by placing a block under it.
Examples of Usage
Adjective:
- He was scotch with his praise, giving compliments only when truly deserved. (He was sparing with his praise...)
- They enjoyed a scotch meal that was both simple and satisfying. (...a frugal meal...)
Noun (Whiskey):
- He ordered a glass of fine single malt scotch.
- Noun (Cut/Notch):
- The carpenter made a scotch in the wood to mark his measurement.
Noun (Wedge):
- Place a scotch under the wheel to keep the cart from rolling.
Verb (To cut):
- He scotched the metal plate to ensure it would break cleanly.
- Verb (To hinder):
- The bad weather scotched our plans for a picnic.
- Verb (To block):
- Remember to scotch the wheels before you start unloading the truck.
Advanced Usage
- "To scotch a rumor": To decisively stop a rumor from spreading.
- The company issued a statement to scotch the rumors of a takeover.
- Frozen Phrases: The adjective "Scotch" remains in certain fixed expressions.
- Scotch broth (a type of soup).
- Scotch whiskey (the spirit).
- Scotch plaid (a pattern).
Variants and Related Words
- Scottish (adj.): The more formal and generally preferred adjective relating to Scotland. (e.g., , ).
- Scots (adj.): Often used to refer to the Scottish dialect of English or its people. (e.g., , ).
- Scotch tape (n.): A brand name for transparent adhesive tape; a common compound that uses the word.
- Frugal (adj.): A close synonym for the "thrifty" meaning of the adjective .
Synonyms
- Verb (Hinder): Thwart, foil, frustrate, derail.
- Adjective (Thrifty): Economical, sparing, frugal, parsimonious.
- Noun (Whiskey): Whisky (specifically from Scotland).
Related Phrasal Verbs
(This word does not commonly form phrasal verbs. Its verbal meanings are used directly.)
Related Idioms
- "Scotch the snake, not kill it": To injure or disable something dangerous without completely destroying it. (A literary allusion from Shakespeare's ).
- The new regulations merely scotch the snake; they don't solve the root problem.
Adjective
- avoiding waste
- an economical meal
- an economical shopper
- a frugal farmer
- a frugal lunch
- a sparing father and a spending son
- sparing in their use of heat and light
- stinting in bestowing gifts
- thrifty because they remember the great Depression
- `scotch' is used only informally
- of or relating to or characteristic of Scotland or its people or culture or its English dialect or Gaelic language
- Scots Gaelic
- the Scots community in New York
- `Scottish' tends to be the more formal term as in `The Scottish Symphony' or `Scottish authors' or `Scottish mountains'
- `Scotch' is in disfavor with Scottish people and is used primarily outside Scotland except in such frozen phrases as `Scotch broth' or `Scotch whiskey' or `Scotch plaid'
Noun
- whiskey distilled in Scotland; especially whiskey made from malted barley in a pot still
- a slight surface cut (especially a notch that is made to keep a tally)
Verb
- make a small cut or score into
- hinder or prevent (the efforts, plans, or desires) of
- What ultimately frustrated every challenger was Ruth's amazing September surge
- foil your opponent