| 释义 |
ˈlife-saver
[See life n. 16 b.]
1. Something that may save one's life.
1883Daily News 5 July 3/1 Minor life-savers, such as mattresses, deck furniture, belts, dresses, buoys, &c. 1944Living off Land v. 112 Failure to take a life-saver [sc. quinine or atebrine] on account of the bitter taste sounds childish yet there are such childish persons.
2. A person assigned to watch against accidents to bathers (at a beach resort, etc.). orig. U.S. (The customary term in Australia and N.Z.).
1887Courier-Jrnl. (Louisville, Kentucky) 10 Feb. 8/3 The Police and the Life-Savers still prying into the mystery of Smyser's Pond. 1903Boston Even. Transcript 20 Aug., According to a decision of the Election Commissioners a City Point life saver cannot vote. 1931V. Palmer Separate Lives 99 ‘It's the life-savers!’ he shouted. ‘They're practising! Come on.’ 1934T. Wood Cobbers 169 You bask in the sun and watch the life-savers, picked volunteers. 1958Observer 16 Nov. 27/2 He is a handsome cove, in the Australian surf life-saver tradition. 1963V. B. Cranley 27,000 Miles through Austral. xi. 78 A new life-boat donated to the local surf life-savers. Their performance of swimming and rescue work was really outstanding. 1967C. O. Skinner Madame Sarah ix. 176 Madame Sarah was presented with a Life Saver's certificate. 1968W. Warwick Surfriding in N.Z. 1 Since life⁓saving was practised in and around the sea, it was only natural that lifesavers were the first to try surfriding.
3. fig. Some quality, characteristic, or circumstance that helps a person to endure adversity.
1909N.Y. Herald in Daily Chron. 8 Mar. 5/2 Both have that great life-saver for men who have to endure periods of stress and storm—a sense of humour. 1934F. Scott Fitzgerald Let. 18 Dec. (1964) 258 Again thanks for the money. It was a life-saver. 1973C. Egleton Seven Days to Killing ix. 101 He spotted a Falk street plan of Paris. It cost him six francs but it proved to be a life-saver. |