If you think you’re cool and know all the latest trends, then here’s a question for you: What does the word “brat” mean? If you said something like, “a child who behaves badly or is annoying or rude,” you might not be as hip as you think. This four-letter word now has a new definition that has become quite popular. Its popularity caught the eye of Collins Dictionary, which crowned it as “Word of the Year 2024.” According to this new meaning of brat, it is used as an adjective to describe someone who has a confident, independent, and hedonistic attitude.
You may be wondering why brat was selected to receive this honor, especially if the alternate meaning is unfamiliar to you. As Collins noted, its decision was inspired by a hugely successful album of that name by singer Charli XCX. The musical artist has made brat a popular topic of discussion since the album was released in June 2024. The term “brat” reflects a cultural shift toward self-expression and resistance to traditional norms. This redefined meaning captured the spirit of the age among the younger generation, particularly Generation Z. Striking a chord with many people around the world, the word even made its way into the US Presidential Election campaign.
Brat wasn’t the only word that Collins considered for its Word of the Year. Other candidates included “era,” which describes a distinctive period in one’s life or career, “anti-tourism,” which means opposition to large-scale tourism, and “yapping,” which is defined as talking for a long time, especially about things that don’t matter much.
Photo: AP I 照片：美聯社
如果你覺得自己很酷且了解所有最新的潮流，那麼這裡有個問題要問你：“brat”這個單字是什麼意思？如果你說了類似「一個行為不良或是煩人或粗魯的小孩」等回答，你可能就不像你想的那麼潮。這四個字母的單詞現在有了一個變得相當流行的新定義。它的熱門程度吸引了柯林斯詞典的注意，該字典將其選為「2024年度代表字」。根據新的意思，brat 被當成形容詞，用來描述擁有自信、獨立和享樂主義態度的人。
你可能想知道為什麼“brat”獲選取得此殊榮，尤其是如果你對這個字的另一個意思不太熟悉的話。如柯林斯指出，這個決定是受到歌手 Charli XCX 熱銷的同名專輯所啟發。自從該專輯於2024年6月發行以來，這位音樂藝術家已經讓“brat”成為熱門的討論話題。“brat”這個詞反映了走向自我表達和抗拒傳統規範的文化轉變。這個重新定義的意思捕捉到了更年輕世代的精神，尤其是 Z 世代。這個單詞引起了全球許多人的共鳴，甚至出現在美國總統選舉的競選活動中。
“brat”並不是柯林斯唯一考慮的年度代表字。其他候選單詞包括 “era”，用來描述一個人生命或職涯中的特殊時期、“anti-tourism”，意思是反對大規模旅遊，還有“yapping”，它被定義為講話講很久，尤其是講一些不太重要的事情。
To be continued tomorrow（明日待續）
Word in Use
1. trend n. 潮流，趨勢
Wearing oversized hoodies has been a big trend among college students.
穿著超大連帽衫已成為大學生間的一大潮流。
2. annoying a. 煩人的，討厭的
It’s annoying when you’re in a hurry and all the traffic lights turn red.
當你趕時間卻遇到紅燈連連時是很煩人的。
3. definition n. 定義
The teacher asked the students to write the definition of “happiness” in their own words.
老師請學生用自己的話寫下「快樂」的定義。
4. crown vt. 為……加冕
crown. . . as 將……選為……
The league crowned the young athlete as the MVP of the season.
聯盟將這位年輕運動員選為本賽季的最有價值球員。
5. attitude n. 態度
A respectful attitude toward others is an important social skill.
對他人抱持尊重的態度是一項重要的社交技巧。
Practical Phrases
1. catch the eye of. . . 吸引……的注意
The new movie trailer quickly caught the eye of film buffs.
這部新的電影預告片迅速吸引了影迷的注意。
2 .strike a chord with sb 引起某人的共鳴
chord n.（音樂的）和弦
The song’s lyrics struck a chord with people going through tough times.
這首歌的歌詞引起了那些正經歷困難時刻的人的共鳴。
3. make one’s way into. . . 進入……
The rumor slowly made its way into the office, causing everyone to gossip.
這個謠言慢慢地傳進了辦公室，讓每個人都議論紛紛。
聽文章朗讀及講解: https://ivy.pse.is/455bfu
本文出自常春藤解析英語雜誌: www.ivy.com.tw
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