這個拼法底下其實是2個不同的字,意思沒有關係, 只是長得一樣。下面分開列出來。跳到 嘲笑;嗤之以鼻 · 狼吞虎嚥吃光

1

scoff

verb, noun

核心畫面

Picture a laugh that is pushed out at someone rather than shared with them. The chin lifts a little, the breath comes out through the nose, and the message is: your idea is beneath me. Nothing here is warm. The laugh is being used the way a hand is used to push a door shut, and the person on the other side of it knows exactly what it means.

scoff 可以想成「把笑聲當成推開對方的動作」。下巴微微抬起來,鼻子裡哼一聲,意思是:你這個想法不值得我認真看。裡更多收起scoff 可以想成「把笑聲當成推開對方的動作」。下巴微微抬起來,鼻子裡哼一聲,意思是:你這個想法不值得我認真看。裡面沒有任何溫度。這個笑不是跟對方一起笑,而是朝著對方笑。被笑的人馬上就知道自己被看扁了。動詞是這個動作,名詞就是這一聲笑本身。

From the word’s history

From Middle English scof, skof, probably of North Germanic origin; compare Old Norse skaup and Old Frisian skof 'insult, shame'.

來自中古英語 scof、skof,可能是北歐語系傳來的;可以比較古諾斯語 skaup 和古弗里西語 skof(羞辱、恥辱)。這條線索說明這個字從一開始就不是單純的「笑」,而是帶著讓人難堪的成分,跟今天的語氣完全接得上。

Wiktionary entry for “scoff” (etymology 1), supplied in this batch's evidence packet (source_ref kaikki:3f6f69a190036ae4:662455070:9464)

A second word, same spelling

2

scoff

verb

核心畫面

A different word that happens to be spelled the same. Picture a plate that was full a moment ago and is now empty, and one person still chewing. The whole picture is speed: the food went in fast and there is none left. Nobody is being laughed at here.

這是另一個字,只是拼法剛好一樣。可以想成一個盤子前一刻還滿的,現在空了,旁邊的人還在嚼。整個畫面的重點是速度:東西很更多收起這是另一個字,只是拼法剛好一樣。可以想成一個盤子前一刻還滿的,現在空了,旁邊的人還在嚼。整個畫面的重點是速度:東西很快進了嘴裡,而且常常一點不剩。這裡沒有人被嘲笑。文法上也分得很清楚:後面直接接食物,不加 at。

From the word’s history

A variant, attested since the mid nineteenth century, of scaff, of uncertain origin; compare scarf 'eat quickly'.

這是 scaff 的變體,十九世紀中葉起有紀錄,來源並不確定;可以比較同樣表示「快速吃掉」的 scarf。也就是說,它跟「嘲笑」那個 scoff 只是碰巧同形,並不是同一個字延伸出來的意思。

Wiktionary entry for “scoff” (etymology 2), supplied in this batch's evidence packet (source_ref kaikki:3f6f69a190036ae4:662485117:6684)