| 释义 |
umpteen, a. and n. colloq.|ˈʌm(p)tiːn, ʌm(p)ˈtiːn|
Also umteen.
[f. umpty + teen n.2 after thirteen, etc.]
A. adj. An indefinite number, used in the sense ‘many, several’, etc.
B. n. Such a number in the abstract.
1918Blackw. Mag. Mar. 290/1 Men from five continents and umpteen colonies. 1919Athenæum 1 Aug. 695/1 As ‘umpty’ means ‘dash’, it is fairly evident that..‘umpteen’ (or ‘umteen’), which means ‘any number of times’, comes from this source. 1922Public Opinion 11 Jan. 48/2, I entered into it and prepared to drop umteen floors. 1923[see umpty n.] 1930J. B. Priestley Angel Pavement ii. 82 I've got umpteen things for him to sign. 1973K. Giles File on Death ii. 39, I leave business to the Estate managers, six of 'em with umpteen clerks and typists. 1976A. Price War Game i. viii. 141 A potential offender against section umpteen of the Road Traffic Act.
Hence umpteenth (stress variable) a. Phr. the umpteenth time, used of something repeated unbearably or irritatingly often.
1918E. A. Mackintosh War, the Liberator 99 That's the umpteenth Bosche that I've killed today. 1921Blackw. Mag. Apr. 475/1 It was our umteenth breakdown. 1952M. Laski Village v. 89 ‘I always did say I'd go back if..she needed me,’ she said for the umpteenth time. 1980P. Harcourt Tomorrow's Treason 19 For the umpteenth time I'm telling you. I haven't done anything. |