thorny
/'θɔ:ni/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Having thorns or spines: Covered with or characterized by sharp, pointed projections that can protect a plant or cause injury.
- Full of difficulties or controversies: Describing a subject, problem, or situation that is complex, problematic, and hard to resolve.
Examples
- Literal (having thorns):
- The gardener wore thick gloves to handle the thorny rose bushes.
- We avoided walking through the thorny undergrowth.
- Figurative (difficult):
- The committee debated the thorny issue of tax reform for hours.
- Negotiating the contract presented several thorny problems.
Advanced Usage
- "A thorny path/road": A metaphorical way to describe a course of action filled with obstacles and difficulties.
- The road to peace in the region has been a long and thorny one.
- "To be thorny with [problems/issues]": To be densely populated with difficulties.
- The new legislation is thorny with ethical concerns.
Variants and Related Words
- Thorn (n): The sharp, pointed projection itself.
- She pricked her finger on a thorn.
- Thorniness (n): The quality or state of being thorny, either literally or figuratively.
- The thorniness of the debate prevented a quick agreement.
Synonyms
- Prickly: Having sharp points; easily irritated or difficult to handle.
- Spiny: Covered with spines.
- Knotty: Intricately difficult or complex.
- Problematic: Posing a problem; difficult to solve.
Related Phrases
- A thorn in one's side/flesh: A persistent source of annoyance or trouble.
- The unresolved software bug was a thorn in the developer's side for months.
- To sit on thorns: To be in a state of anxiety or discomfort (less common idiom).
- Waiting for the exam results, he felt like he was sitting on thorns.
Adjective
- having or covered with protective barbs or quills or spines or thorns or setae etc.
- a horse with a short bristly mane
- bristly shrubs
- burred fruits
- setaceous whiskers
- bristling with perplexities
- the thorny question of states' rights