tiger
/'taigə/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A large wild cat: A tiger is a large carnivorous mammal (Panthera tigris) native to Asia, known for its distinctive orange coat with black stripes and its power.
- A fierce, energetic, or aggressive person: Used metaphorically to describe a person who is very determined, competitive, or ferocious in their actions.
Examples of Usage
- Noun (Animal):
- The Siberian tiger is the largest of all big cats.
- We saw a tiger hunting in the jungle.
- Noun (Person):
- On the sales team, she's a real tiger.
- He's a tiger on the tennis court, never giving up.
Advanced Usage
- "Paper tiger": A person, country, or thing that appears threatening but is actually weak or ineffectual.
- Their army was considered a paper tiger, strong in appearance only.
- To have a tiger by the tail: To be in a situation that is more difficult or dangerous to control than one had anticipated.
- By challenging the established policy, he found he had a tiger by the tail.
Variants and Related Words
- Tigress (noun): A female tiger. Often used metaphorically for a fierce or determined woman.
- The documentary followed a tigress and her cubs.
- Tigerish (adjective): Resembling or characteristic of a tiger, especially in being fierce, aggressive, or energetic.
- He played with tigerish intensity.
Synonyms
- Animal: Big cat, predator.
- Person (metaphorical): Dynamo, powerhouse, firebrand.
Related Phrases
- A tiger cannot change its stripes: A variant of "a leopard cannot change its spots," meaning a person's character, especially if bad, does not really change.
- He promised to be kinder, but a tiger cannot change its stripes.
- To ride the tiger: To be in a precarious situation where disengaging is dangerous.
- The dictator was riding the tiger and couldn't afford to show weakness.
Noun
- large feline of forests in most of Asia having a tawny coat with black stripes; endangered
- a fierce or audacious person
- he's a tiger on the tennis court
- it aroused the tiger in me