mongoose

/'mɔɳgu:s/

Thân thiện

A mongoose watches a snake from behind a large rock.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A small, agile, carnivorous mammal native to Africa, Asia, and southern Europe, characterized by a long body, a pointed face, and a bushy tail. Mongooses are known for their ability to hunt and kill venomous snakes and rodents.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The mongoose darted across the road and disappeared into the bushes.
  • Farmers sometimes appreciate the mongoose because it controls rodent populations.
  • A famous story features a mongoose named Rikki-Tikki-Tavi who fought cobras.

Advanced Usage

• "to be a mongoose": used figuratively to describe someone who is quick, clever, and effective at dealing with threats or problems.
  • In the corporate world, she was a real mongoose, swiftly neutralizing competitors' strategies.

Variants and Related Words

• Mongooses (n): The standard plural form of mongoose.
  • We observed three mongooses hunting together.

Synonyms

• Viverrine: A member of the family Viverridae, which includes mongooses, civets, and genets. (More technical/scientific)
• Predator: An animal that naturally preys on others. (Broader term)

Related Phrases

• Mongoose family: Refers to the biological family Herpestidae, to which all mongoose species belong.
  • The meerkat is a member of the mongoose family.

Related Idioms

• (As) quick as a mongoose: Used to describe someone or something that moves or reacts with great speed and agility.
  • The boxer was as quick as a mongoose, dodging every punch.

Học thuật

Noun

1. agile grizzled Old World viverrine; preys on snakes and rodents