英语高级词汇：petulant

摘要：中文有个成语叫"恃宠而骄"，意思是仗着自己被宠信，而骄横不可一世。这样的人总是专横跋扈，容易上火。

中文有个成语叫"恃宠而骄"，意思是仗着自己被宠信，而骄横不可一世。这样的人总是专横跋扈，容易上火。

英文里也有个关于宠物的类似说法：in a pet，形容生气恼怒的样子。

1854年，美国英语开始有了 teacher's pet 的说法，指老师最喜爱的学生，但属贬义词。

今天要说的 petulant/'petʃələnt/ 的词义大概就是受了 pet 的影响。

She was moody and petulant.

她喜怒无常，任性乖戾。

I have no wish to put myself in the same Category：irrational, petulant.

- Cat's Eye by Margaret Atwood

cross /krɒs/：生气的 (中学)

sour /saʊə/：闷闷不乐的 (中学)

irritable /'ɪrɪtəbl/：易怒的 (6级)

sulky /'sʌlkɪ/：生闷气的 (GRE)

sullen /'sʌlən/ = sulky (GRE)

perverse /pər'vɜːrs/：任性的 (GRE)

fretful /'fretfl/：烦躁的 (GRE)

waspish /'wɒspɪʃ/：暴躁的 (GRE)

querulous /'kwerələs/：满腹牢骚的 (GRE)

peevish /'pi:vɪʃ/：爱发牢骚的 (GRE)

snappish /'snæpɪʃ/：没好气的 (GRE)

pettish /'petɪʃ/：闹情绪的 (GRE)

fractious /'frækʃəs/：易怒的 (GRE)

testy /'testɪ/：暴躁的 (GRE)

crusty /'krʌstɪ/：易怒的 (俚语)

grumpy /'grʌmpɪ/：暴躁的 (俚语)

ratty /'rætɪ/：暴躁的 (俚语)

huffy /'hʌfɪ/：发怒的 (俚语)

cranky /'krænkɪ/：脾气怪的 (俚语)

影视：

△out of sheer petulance: 仅仅因为不爽 - 截屏自The Green Mile (《绿里奇迹》1999年)

△《绿里奇迹》海报

名著：

She threw at me a very naughty look, so naughty that I would not kiss her good-night at first. I covered her up, and shut her door, in great displeasure; but, repenting, halfway, I returned softly, and lo! there was Miss standing at the table with a bit of blank paper before her and a pencil in her hand, which she guiltily slipped out of sight, on my entrance.

"You'll get nobody to take that, Catherine," I said," If you write it, and at present I shall put out your candle."

I set the extinguisher on the flame, receiving as I did so a slap on my hand, and a petulant "Cross thing!" I then quitted her again, and she drew the bolt in one of her most worst, most peevish humor.

- Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë

她十分顽皮地瞪了我一眼，淘气的模样，让我一开始都不想亲她，跟她道晚安。我很不高兴地给她盖好被子，关上门，但半路就后悔了，又蹑手蹑脚地走回去。瞧啊，小姐正站在桌边，面前放了一张白纸，手里拿着铅笔，一见我进门，就心虚地把纸笔藏了起来。

"你就是写了，凯瑟琳，也没人给你送去。"我说，"现在我要把你的蜡烛灭了。"

我将熄灯器往火苗上一罩，手上就挨了一巴掌，听到小姐气嘟嘟地骂了句"讨厌的家伙！" 然后我又走了，她气急败坏地把门闩上。

- 艾米丽·勃朗特《呼啸山庄》