messenger
/'mesindʤə/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: A person who carries or delivers a message from one person or place to another.
Usage
A messenger is someone whose job or role is to transport communications. This can be a formal occupation (e.g., a courier) or an informal role (e.g., a friend asked to relay information). The word emphasizes the function of carrying the message itself.
Examples
- The messenger arrived at the castle with urgent news from the front lines.
- In ancient times, a messenger on horseback was the fastest way to send information.
- Please act as my messenger and tell the team the meeting is postponed.
- The company uses a bicycle messenger service for same-day deliveries in the city.
Advanced Usage
- Figurative Use: "Messenger" can refer to something that carries information or a signal in a non-literal sense.
- Example: Hormones act as chemical messengers in the body.
- "Don't shoot the messenger": This is a common idiom meaning one should not blame the person who delivers bad news, as they are not responsible for it.
- Example: "I'm just reporting what the boss said—don't shoot the messenger!"
Variants and Related Words
- Messenger RNA (mRNA) (noun): In biology, a type of RNA that carries genetic information from DNA to direct protein synthesis.
- Message (noun): The communication itself that is carried.
- Courier (noun): A synonym often used for a professional messenger or delivery person, especially for packages or important documents.
Synonyms
- Courier
- Emissary
- Envoy
- Runner
- Bearer (as in "bearer of news")
Related Phrasal Verbs/Compounds
(The word "messenger" itself does not form standard phrasal verbs. Its function is typically as a standalone noun.)
Related Idioms
- Don't shoot the messenger: As explained in Advanced Usage.
- The messenger of the gods: A reference to mythological figures like Hermes (Greek) or Mercury (Roman), who served as divine messengers.
Noun
- a person who carries a message