喜樂美語

核心畫面

One way to hold it: words said low, aimed downward or sideways rather than at the person they are about. The speaker does want to say it — but not loudly enough to be answered. There is usually something sour behind it: , disagreement, a complaint that is not yet ready to be said to your face.

話壓得低低的，方向不是對著當事人，而是斜斜地丟向旁邊或自己的胸口。說的人是真的想說——但故意不說到讓對方能接話的音量…更多收起話壓得低低的，方向不是對著當事人，而是斜斜地丟向旁邊或自己的胸口。說的人是真的想說——但故意不說到讓對方能接話的音量。這裡面通常帶著一點酸味：不滿、不同意、有意見卻還沒準備好攤開來講。所以 mutter 幾乎不會是開心的：它是「有話，但只放出一半」的姿態。這一半沒放出來的部分，正是這個字的重點。

One branch

低聲說出口的不滿

從一次低聲的說話動作，延伸到一群人長期在檯面下的抱怨——同樣是「有意見，但不放到檯面上」。

mutter, speak quietly · verb · B2

To say something in a low, quiet voice, so that it is hard to hear the words — usually because you are annoyed about something, or because you do not want other people to hear you.

咕噥；嘀咕

原始詞典資料6 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。

Muttername

  • 1

    A surname.

mutternoun詞源 1/ˈmʌtə/

  • 1

    A repressed or obscure utterance; an instance of muttering.

    • The prisoners were docile, and accepted their lot with barely a mutter.

mutterverb詞源 1/ˈmʌtə/

  • 1

    To utter words, especially complaints or angry expressions, indistinctly or with a low voice and lips partly closed; to say under one's breath.

    • You could hear the students mutter as they were served sodden spaghetti, yet again, in the cafeteria.
    • The beggar muttered words of thanks, as passersby dropped coins in his cup.
  • 2

    To speak softly and incoherently, or with imperfect articulations.

    • The asylum inmate muttered some doggerel about chains and pains to himself, over and over.
    • Meantime your filthy foreigner will stare, / And mutter to himself.
  • 3

    To make a sound with a low, rumbling noise.

    • April could hear the delivery van's engine muttering in the driveway.
    • Thick lightnings flash, the muttering thunder rolls.

mutternoun詞源 2/ˈmʌtə/

  • 1

    Peas.

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。