prig

英 [pr?g] 美[pr?ɡ]

暢通詞匯GRE

復數:?prigs;形容詞:?priggish;

prig 自命清高的人

詞源不詳。其原早的詞義為補鍋匠，修補匠，小毛賊，不受歡迎的人，后引申詞義一本正經的人，自命清高的人。

prig (n.): "precisian in speech or manners," 1753, originally in reference to theological scruples (1704), of unknown origin; earlier appearances of the same word meaning "dandy, fop" (1670s), "thief" (c. 1600; in form prigger recorded from 1560s) could be related, as could thieves' cant prig "a tinker" (1560s).
A p[rig] is wise beyond his years in all the things that do not matter. A p. cracks nuts with a steam hammer: that is, calls in the first principles of morality to decide whether he may, or must, do something of as little importance as drinking a glass of beer. On the whole, one may, perhaps, say that all his different characteristics come from the combination, in varying proportions, of three things--the desire to do his duty, the belief that he knows better than other people, & blindness to the difference in value between different things. ["anonymous essay," quoted in Fowler, 1926]
Related: Priggery.

1. He had been railed against by them as a prig and a poseur.: 他們責罵他是一個沾沾自喜、裝腔作勢的人.

2. The transition from libertine to prig was so complete.: 一個酒徒色鬼竟然搖身一變就成了道學先生.

4. Charles thinks he's better than the rest of us, the self - righteous prig!: 查爾斯認為他比我們大家都強, 真是個自以為是的家伙!