browbeat的词源

英文词源

browbeat (v.)

"to bully," originally "to bear down with stern or arrogant looks," 1580s, from brow + beat (v.).

[I]t appears from the earliest quotations ... that the brow in question was that of the beater, not of the beaten party; but it is not evident whether the meaning was 'to beat with one's (frowning) brows,' or 'to beat (?lower) one's brows at.' [OED]

Related: Browbeaten; browbeating.

中文词源

browbeat：吓唬、欺负

发音释义：['braʊbiːt] vt.吓唬；欺负

结构分析：browbeat = brow（眉毛）+beat（打击）→横眉立眼来吓唬人→吓唬、欺负

该词的英语词源请访问趣词词源英文版：browbeat 词源，browbeat 含义。

browbeat：对…吹胡子瞪眼睛，对…声色俱厉地进行威逼

这是个复合动词，由brow（眉毛）与beat（压倒，击败）结合而成，按字面解释是to beat or put down by knitting／wrinkling one's brows或to beat by frowning，相当于汉语中的“对…吹胡子瞪眼睛”。该词始用于16世纪，在当时复合动词比较少见。由于它形式简练，富于表现力，所以能够沿用至今。