flea
/flea/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: 1. A small, wingless, bloodsucking insect: A tiny, parasitic insect that feeds on the blood of mammals and birds. It is known for its powerful jumping ability. 2. An insignificant source of irritation: (Informal, often in similes) Used to refer to a very small or trivial thing, especially a nuisance.
Examples of Usage
- Noun (Literal):
- The dog scratched constantly because it had fleas.
- A single flea can jump over 150 times its own length.
- Noun (Figurative):
- He wouldn't hurt a flea. (Meaning: He is very gentle and harmless.)
- That problem is not worth worrying about; it's smaller than a flea.
Advanced Usage
- "a flea in one's ear": A sharp rebuke or stinging reprimand.
- He went away with a flea in his ear after the manager criticized his proposal.
- "flea market": An open-air market selling second-hand goods and antiques. (Note: This is a compound noun listed here as it is a common fixed phrase).
- We found this vintage lamp at a flea market.
Variants and Related Words
- Fleabag (n, informal): A shabby, dirty person or place, especially a run-down hotel.
- We stayed in a real fleabag motel on that road trip.
- Flea-bitten (adj):
- Infested with fleas.
- a flea-bitten old rug
- Shabby, worn-out, or dilapidated.
- He drove a flea-bitten pickup truck.
Synonyms
- Parasite: An organism that lives on or in a host organism and gets its food from or at the expense of its host. (This is a broader category that includes fleas).
- Nit: The egg of a louse or other parasitic insect; sometimes used informally for something very small. (Note: A nit is different from a flea).
Idioms and Phrases
- "not have/stand a flea's chance": To have no chance at all.
- Against the champion, the newcomer didn't have a flea's chance.
- "skin a flea for its hide and tallow": To be extremely miserly or stingy.
- That landlord would skin a flea for its hide and tallow; he never spends a penny.
Noun
- any wingless bloodsucking parasitic insect noted for ability to leap