monkey's paw

名词 n.

英文释义

名词 n.
  1. A situation in which a wish or desire has been fulfilled, but at significant cost or with ironic, usually unfavourable consequences. attributive,idiomatic,usually
    — It’s given me everything I thought I wanted – riches, lucre, affluence, having lots of money, and being very wealthy – but with monkey’s-paw precision it’s turned all my dreams against me.
  2. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see monkey, paw.

词形变化

monkey's paws plural monkey paw alternative monkey-paw alternative

词源

From the 1902 short story "The Monkey's Paw" by W. W. Jacobs, in which a mummified monkey's paw is enchanted to grant a family three wishes, but with terrible consequences for them. Popularised by a segment based on Jacobs' story in the 1991 episode "Treehouse of Horror II" of the American animated sitcom The Simpsons.
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