sheep

/ʃi:p/

Thân thiện

The shepherd counts his sheep in the green meadow.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A domesticated ruminant mammal: A woolly, typically horned, animal kept for its wool, meat, and milk, closely related to the goat.
   • A docile and vulnerable person: A person who is timid, defenseless, and tends to follow others without making independent decisions.

Examples

• Noun (Animal):
• Noun (Person):

Advanced Usage

• To separate the sheep from the goats: To distinguish good people or things from bad ones.
• A wolf in sheep's clothing: A person who appears friendly or harmless but is actually dangerous or hostile.

Variants and Related Words

• Sheepish (adj): Showing embarrassment from shame or a lack of confidence.
• Sheepdog (n): A dog bred or trained to herd and guard sheep.
• Sheepfold (n): A pen or enclosure for sheep.

Synonyms

• Follower: A person who follows the ideas or beliefs of another.
• Conformist: A person who conforms to accepted behavior or established practices.

Related Phrases

• Like sheep: In a docile, unthinking manner, following the group.
• To make sheep's eyes at someone: To look at someone in a loving, longing, or foolishly sentimental way.

Related Idioms

• As well be hanged for a sheep as a lamb: If the punishment for a serious offense is the same as for a minor one, one might as well commit the serious offense. (Often shortened to "might as well be hanged for a sheep as a lamb").

Học thuật

Noun

1. a docile and vulnerable person who would rather follow than make an independent decision
   • his students followed him like sheep
2. a timid defenseless simpleton who is readily preyed upon
3. woolly usually horned ruminant mammal related to the goat