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A firebrand is a person who tries to stir people up — to make them angry about a law, a government, or the way things are — so that they will push for change. Newspapers use it for political : someone who makes fierce speeches, hot articles, or organises protests, and who seems to enjoy lighting that anger.
A firebrand一個firebrand，指的 is a person who tries to stir people up是一個想要煽動大家的人——to make them angry about a law, a government, or the way things are讓大家對某個法律、政府、或現況感到憤怒——so that they will push for change好讓大家去推動改變。Newspapers use it報紙會用這個字 for political agitators指政治煽動者：someone who makes fierce speeches, writes hot articles, or organises protests會發表激烈演說、寫辛辣文章、或組織抗議活動的人，and who seems to enjoy lighting that anger而且似乎樂在點燃那股怒火。
It can sound or warning, depending on who is talking.
It can sound admiring or warning這個字聽起來可以是讚賞，也可以是警告，depending on who is talking要看是誰在說話。
Though actually, the older meaning is a piece of burning wood you carry to start another fire; calling a person a firebrand is a picture: they carry the spark and try to set other people’s feelings alight. We are writing about the person, not the stick.
Though actually不過其實，the older meaning較舊的意思 is a piece of burning wood you carry to start another fire是指你帶著去引燃另一場火的一根燃燒的木頭；calling a person a firebrand把一個人叫做firebrand is a picture是個比喻：they carry the spark他們帶著火花，and try to set other people's feelings alight試圖點燃別人的情緒。We are writing about the person, not the stick我們這裡講的是人，不是那根木頭。
A firebrand is not a quiet adviser, and not someone who sets buildings on fire.
A firebrand is not a quiet adviserFirebrand不是安靜的顧問，and not someone who sets buildings on fire也不是縱火燒房子的人。
原始詞典資料2 筆記錄
以下是外部詞典記錄的用法，原文照列，我們還沒有寫成教學內容。上面的說明才是我們自己寫的；有些用法可能上面已經講過了。
firebrandnoun/ˈfaɪə.bɹænd/
- 1
A torch or other burning stick with a flame at one end.
- The crowd cheered as a firebrand was tossed onto the huge pile of wood to start the traditional homecoming bonfire.
- […] he filled all their throats with it, so that those poor wretches were by it made to cough like foxes, crying, Ha, Pantagruel, how how thou addest greater heat to the firebrand that is in us.
- 2
An argumentative troublemaker or revolutionary; one who agitates against the status quo.
- The member of the college's Communist League was a firebrand who would launch a sit-in or protest march at a moment's notice.
- At the same time, Mr. Irons said, it is important to separate “this very valiant and completely kosher and clean repository of public material, which we perfectly endorse, and this kind of firebrand ‘We want to show the publishers they’re wrong’ kind of attitude.”
資料來源：英文維基詞典 English Wiktionary（CC BY-SA 4.0）。 原文照列，未經改寫。