skunk
- 01 B1 Intermediate
n.a small black-and-white animal from North America that produces a very strong, bad smell when it is scared.
n.a North American mammal of the family Mephitidae, characterized by its black-and-white fur and the ability to eject a foul-smelling musk from its anal glands.
Simple“The dog ran away quickly after it was sprayed by a skunk in the garden.”
In context“Biologists noted that the skunk's distinctive white stripes serve as an aposematic signal to warn potential predators of its chemical defense mechanism.”
Synonymspolecat - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a person who is mean, dishonest, or very unpleasant.
n.a contemptible or despicable person; often used as a mild to moderate insult.
Simple“I can't believe he lied to us; he is such a skunk.”
In context“After he cheated his business partners out of their life savings, the local community treated him like a total skunk.”
- 03 C1 Advanced
n.a type of very strong marijuana that has a powerful smell.
n.a high-potency strain of cannabis, typically a hybrid of Cannabis sativa and Cannabis indica, noted for its pungent aroma.
Simple“The police found a small amount of skunk in the suspect's car.”
In context“Public health officials have expressed concern over the increasing availability of skunk due to its significantly higher THC concentrations compared to traditional varieties.”
- 04 C2 Proficiency
n.a game or match where one side fails to score any points at all.
n.a shutout or overwhelming defeat in a game, particularly in North American sports or board games like cribbage.
Simple“The final score was 15-0, which meant the losing team suffered a skunk.”
In context“In their final match of the season, the home team managed a skunk, preventing the visitors from scoring a single point throughout the game.”
- 05 C2 Proficiency
v.to beat an opponent so badly that they do not score any points.
v.to defeat an opponent decisively, specifically by preventing them from scoring.
Simple“We totally skunked them in the second half of the tournament.”
In context“The underdog team surprised everyone when they skunked the reigning champions in the opening round of the playoffs.”
Synonymsshut outtrounce
“The distant howls of rabid fish men and worm-riddled zombies dare you to preserve bullets, while the score and every instinct scream at you to let loose like a startled skunk.”
From an unattested Southern New England Algonquian word, cognate with Abenaki segôgw, segonku (“he who squirts (musk) / urinates”), from Proto-Algonquian šeka·kwa, from šek- (“to urinate”). Doublet of Chicago.
Blend of skinhead + punk, influenced by the animal (Etymology 1).
From skunkweed (“certain highly aromatic marijuana”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.