soured
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Adjective 1. Having turned bad: Describes something, typically a food or liquid like milk, that has undergone spoilage, becoming acidic, unpleasant in taste or smell, and unfit for consumption. 2. Having become unpleasant, hostile, or embittered: Describes a relationship, situation, or attitude that has deteriorated, becoming negative, acrimonious, or disillusioned.
Usage
The adjective "soured" is used to describe a state resulting from a change. It directly modifies a noun to indicate that the noun has become spoiled or has turned negative. * It often follows linking verbs like be, become, seem, or taste. * It can be used in both literal (food/drink) and figurative (relationships/mood) contexts.
Examples
- Literal (Food/Drink):
- This milk is soured; we need to throw it out.
- The cream had soured in the heat.
- He took a sip of the soured wine and grimaced.
- Figurative (Relationships/Attitude):
- Their friendship soured after the financial dispute.
- She gave him a soured, disappointed look.
- Public opinion on the project has soured significantly.
Advanced Usage
- "to leave a soured taste": To create a lasting feeling of bitterness or disappointment.
- The unfair accusations left a soured taste in everyone's mouth.
- "on soured relations": Describing a state of deteriorated diplomatic or personal connections.
- The two leaders met in an attempt to improve soured relations between their countries.
Variants and Related Words
- Sour (verb/adjective): The base form. As a verb: to make or become sour. As an adjective: having an acid taste or (figuratively) a bad-tempered mood.
- The lemon juice will sour the milk. (verb)
- He was in a sour mood all day. (adjective)
- Souring (present participle/gerund): The process of becoming sour.
- The souring of the deal was a major setback.
Synonyms
- Turned: (literal) gone bad, spoiled.
- Curdled: (literal, for milk) separated into solids and liquid.
- Embittered: (figurative) made bitter or resentful.
- Deteriorated: (figurative) became worse.
Related Phrasal Verbs / Constructions
- Sour on (something/someone): To become disillusioned with or lose enthusiasm for something or someone.
- Investors have soured on the company's long-term prospects.