catty
意地悪な
解説 Definition
陰湿で意地悪なことを言う様子。特に他人の陰口や悪意のある批判をする態度を表します。
Catty means unkind in a clever, sharp, or unpleasant way, especially in comments about someone else. It is often used for remarks that are meant to hurt, mock, or criticize indirectly. The word is common in informal speech and usually describes social behavior rather than serious cruelty.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
cat を知っていると覚えやすい語。ここでは「猫のようにかわいい」ではなく、爪を立てるようにチクッと嫌味を言う感じを思い浮かべると定着しやすいです。mean が広く「意地悪」、harsh が「きつい」なら、catty は特に陰口・皮肉・ねちっとした悪口に寄る語。catty remark, catty comment の形で「言葉で刺す」場面と一緒に覚えると忘れにくいです。
Use the image of a cat with sharp claws, but now the claws are words. `Catty` is not just `mean`; it often describes sharp, nasty comments, especially in a sneaky or personal way. Remember common pairs like `catty remark` or `catty comment`. If the words feel like little scratches, `catty` fits.
例文
She made a catty remark about her colleague's presentation.
彼女は同僚のプレゼンテーションについて意地悪なコメントをした。
His catty comments about others are starting to annoy everyone.
他人についての彼の意地悪なコメントが、皆をいら立たせ始めている。
The catty gossip in the office was getting out of hand.
オフィスでの意地悪なうわさ話が手に負えなくなっていた。
catty の類義語・関連語
紛らわしい語
catty の語源・成り立ち Etymology
cat に形容詞語尾 -y「〜っぽい」が付いた英語の語です。cat は古英語 catte、さらに後期ラテン語 cattus にさかのぼり、猫のしなやかさや気まぐれさを人にたとえて「意地悪な」の意味が育ちました。関連語は catlike, catnap です。
Catty was formed in English from cat and the adjective ending -y, meaning "like a cat." Cat goes back through Old English catte to Late Latin cattus. The sense developed from ideas people associated with cats, such as slyness or sharp behavior, and later came to mean spiteful in a social way. Related words include catlike.
外部辞書で調べる
この単語を英単語クイズで覚えよう