1. to frighten or intimidate someone into submission
威嚇、恐嚇（某人使其屈服）
He tried to cow his opponents with aggressive tactics.
他試圖用激進的策略來威嚇他的對手。
Don't let them cow you into silence.
別讓他們嚇得你不敢出聲。
Cow Meaning（定義、用法、例句與發音）
cow
verb
快速理解
What does "Cow" mean?What are 2-3 core uses of "Cow"?
作為動詞，cow 主要表示以威嚇或暴力使人屈服。
- 1
威嚇、脅迫
EN: to frighten someone into submission
翻譯: 威嚇、脅迫某人使其順從
- 2
使害怕、嚇倒
EN: to intimidate or overawe someone
翻譯: 恐嚇或震懾某人
小提醒：注意 cow 作動詞時與名詞「牛」的意思完全無關，而是帶有負面的脅迫含義。
發音（How to Pronounce "Cow" in English）
How to pronounce "Cow" in English?"Cow" US vs UK pronunciation
點擊下方的 US / UK 按鈕可播放發音。
Real-life Examples of "Cow" from YouTube Videos
Christien Meindertsma: How pig parts make the world turn
TED
“So this is sold as cow. but what happens?”
(1 out of 18)
Definitions（定義）
What are the definitions of "Cow"?How does "Cow" change by context?
2. to subdue or bring under control by threats or force
（透過威脅或武力）制服、壓制
The government's harsh measures were meant to cow the rebellion.
政府的嚴厲措施意在壓制叛亂。
The tyrant cowed the population for decades.
這位暴君壓制了人民數十年。
3. to cause someone to feel fear and lose confidence
使（某人）感到害怕並失去信心
The sudden loud noise cowed the young puppy.
突如其來的巨響嚇壞了那隻幼犬。
Her stern expression cowed the children into behaving.
她嚴厲的表情嚇得孩子們乖乖守規矩。
Grammar & Patterns（句型）
What are common sentence patterns for "Cow"?How to make natural sentences with "Cow"?
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| cow + someone + into + V-ing | 威嚇或脅迫某人做某事 | He tried to cow his opponents into withdrawing their proposal. (他試圖威嚇對手撤回提案。) |
| be cowed by + someone/something | 被…嚇倒或威懾 | The team was not cowed by the reputation of the champion. (這支隊伍沒有被冠軍的名聲嚇倒。) |
| cow + someone | 使某人因恐懼而屈服 | The dictator's brutal tactics were meant to cow the population. (獨裁者的殘暴手段意在威嚇民眾使其屈服。) |
用法說明
How is "Cow" different from similar structures?What usage mistakes are common with "Cow"?
cow into doing vs cow to do
- cow into doing 強調透過恐嚇或威脅，迫使某人做出某種具體行為或動作。
- cow to do 則較為少見，可能出現在較為文學性或描述性的語境中，意指威嚇到某人去做某事，但焦點更在於「去做」這個意圖或決定。
- 在標準用法中，cow someone into submission/silence/obedience 等固定搭配更為常見，表示威嚇使某人屈服、沉默或順從。
對比例句： EN: The bully tried to cow him into giving up his lunch money. 翻譯: 那個惡霸試圖威嚇他，逼他交出午餐錢。
EN:The harsh criticism did not cow her to abandon her principles.
翻譯:嚴厲的批評並未嚇倒她，使她放棄自己的原則。
總結建議
在表達「威嚇、恐嚇某人做某事」時，使用 cow someone into doing something 是最標準且自然的用法。
易混淆對比
What is the difference between "Cow" and similar words?How to choose "Cow" vs alternatives?
cow vs intimidate
「cow」強調透過威嚇使人順從，帶有使人膽怯、畏縮的意味；「intimidate」則泛指任何形式的恐嚇或威脅，意圖使人因恐懼而屈服。
cow vs bully
「cow」側重於以氣勢或權威使人感到畏懼而屈服；「bully」則強調以強凌弱，透過欺負、騷擾或脅迫的方式對待他人。
cow vs daunt
「cow」指透過施加壓力或展示權威，使人變得順從；「daunt」則指使人因任務艱鉅或情況可怕而暫時氣餒或失去信心。
口語用法
How is "Cow" used in spoken English?What is the spoken vs formal difference for "Cow"?
引述
在口語中，"cow" 常被用來引述或模仿他人帶有貶義的評論，語氣通常帶有諷刺或不認同。 EN: He just looked at my project and said, "Don't cow me into changing everything." 翻譯: 他只是看了一眼我的企劃，就說：「別想嚇唬我，讓我全部重做。」
EN:I could hear my mom's voice in my head: "Don't let them cow you."
翻譯:我腦海中彷彿響起媽媽的聲音：「別讓他們嚇倒你。」
語氣強調
在非正式對話中，使用 "cow" 可以加強語氣，表達對某人被威嚇或屈服的不滿與失望。 EN: I can't believe you cowed so easily in that meeting. 翻譯: 我真不敢相信你在那場會議中這麼輕易就被嚇住了。
EN:Don't be cowed by his loud voice; stand your ground.
翻譯:別被他的大嗓門嚇到，堅持你的立場。
停頓填充
在思考如何表達「威嚇」或「使人順從」的概念時，說話者可能會用 "cow" 作為一個簡潔有力的選詞，尤其在抱怨或給建議時。 EN: His whole strategy is just to... cow people into agreement. 翻譯: 他的整個策略就是…嚇唬別人，讓他們同意。
EN:If you feel they're trying to... cow you, just walk away.
翻譯:如果你感覺他們是想…威嚇你，直接走開就好。
正式寫作注意：在正式或學術寫作中，應避免使用 "cow" 作為動詞。建議改用更中性的詞彙，如 "intimidate"、"bully" 或 "coerce"，以保持語氣的客觀與嚴謹。
常見短語
What common collocations use "Cow"?What fixed phrases with "Cow" should I remember?
cow someone into something
cow [sb] into [sth]
威嚇或脅迫某人做某事
cow someone with something
cow [sb] with [sth]
用某物（如氣勢、力量）威嚇某人
be cowed
be cowed
被嚇住，感到畏懼
cow someone into silence
cow [sb] into silence
威嚇某人使其沉默
cow into submission
cow into submission
威嚇至屈服
too scared/cowed to do something
too scared/cowed to [verb]
因過於害怕而不敢做某事
常見錯誤
What are common mistakes with "Cow"?Which "Cow" sentences look correct but are wrong?
×He cowed me to do it.
✓He intimidated me into doing it.
“Cow” 作為動詞時，意思是「恐嚇、威嚇」，但通常不直接接「人 + to do」的結構。更自然的用法是「cow someone into doing something」或使用其他動詞如「intimidate」或「force」。
×I was cowed by the difficult exam.
✓I was intimidated by the difficult exam.
雖然「cow」有「威嚇」的意思，但用於描述被「事物」（如考試、任務）嚇到時，母語者更常使用「intimidated」、「daunted」或「frightened」。用「cow」時，施動者通常是有意圖的「人」或「團體」。
×He cows easily.
✓He is easily intimidated.
動詞「cow」通常用於被動語態（be cowed）或及物用法，較少用於主動語態描述主語的特質。描述一個人「容易被嚇倒」時，使用「is easily intimidated」或「is timid」更自然。
×The loud noise cowed the baby.
✓The loud noise frightened the baby.
「Cow」隱含著「通過威勢或威脅使人屈服、順從」的意味，通常用於有意識的對象（如人、動物）。對於單純的「驚嚇」（如巨大聲響嚇到嬰兒），應使用「frighten」、「scare」或「startle」。
×She tried to cow him but didn't success.
✓She tried to cow him but didn't succeed.
這是一個常見的動詞搭配錯誤。在「try to do something」之後，應用動詞原形「cow」。而表示「成功」的動詞是「succeed」，名詞才是「success」。
詞形變化
What are the word forms of "Cow"?What are tense/participle forms of "Cow"?
cows(3rd_singular)cowing(present_participle)cowed(past)cowed(past_participle)