挥霍无度的人,浪费者
挥霍的,浪费的
这个复合词的形成过程充满讽刺意味。它最初可能是一个看似矛盾的短语“spend thrift”(花费节俭),意在指责一个人将其本应节俭守护的财富肆意挥霍掉。随着时间的推移,这两个词融合成一个固定的名词和形容词,专指那些浪费财富、不知节省的人。其词义逻辑直接由构成它的两个语素决定:花费(spend)加上节俭(thrift),生动地描绘了一个将“节俭”本身都“花费”掉的败家子形象。
spendthrift = spend<花费> + thrift<节俭>
“The old millionaire was known as a spendthrift in his youth, but became very frugal in his later years.”
这位老百万富翁年轻时以挥霍无度闻名,但晚年却变得非常节俭。
“His spendthrift habits quickly drained the family's savings.”
他挥霍的习惯很快就耗尽了家里的积蓄。
“She criticized the government's spendthrift policies, arguing they would lead to economic ruin.”
她批评政府挥霍无度的政策,认为这将导致经济崩溃。