Acerbic *** & Acidulous

acerbic







Y

[uh-sur-bik]



D



–adjective 

1. sour or astringent (收縮的,澀味的) in taste: Lemon juice is acerbic. 

2. harsh 

or 

severe, as of temper or expression: acerbic criticism.  





C



acid, acerbic, acidulous, acrid (adjs.)   

 

All have literal sensory referents: 



acid usually refers to taste, as in I have an acid taste in my mouth, but is often used figuratively, especially to describe what someone says, as in She made several acid remarks; 



acerbic also means "acid" but is almost always used figuratively, again, mostly about what someone says, as in His acerbic comments about the book did not please the aspiring novelist; 



acidulous means "sour, biting" and is usually figurative, as in Her acidulous observations spoiled the evening; 



acrid usually deals with smells, as in Acrid fumes rose from the furnace, but it too can be used figuratively of sharp and unpleasant comments, as in The reviewer’s acrid observations on the quality of the work outraged the artist. 



And of course all four can also be applied to glances that speak volumes (which is a cliché). 





　

Ray's plans are quickly scuttled by his acerbic and controlling father (Benjamin Hendrickson), a salesman leaving on an extended business trip, who strong-arms Ray into caring for his depressed mother (Alberta Watson) while she recovers from torn ligaments in her leg. 



ligament

【解】韌帶



scuttle

- verb

To run or move with short hurried movements; scurry. 





acrimonious

acrid

caustic 

piquant 

agreeably sharp or pungent in taste or flavor

a piquant [aspic].【詩】毒蛇, 調味肉汁

July finds her most piquant sample of enforced estrangement inside a gallery

thermometer

litmus 

alkaline 

lye 

and the [lye] or [bleach] is always to the left of whatever sink Trevor uses. 

Inflict