| 释义 |
pleb slang.|plɛb|
[Abbreviation of plebeian.]
A. n. A plebeian, one of the common people or lower classes: spec. (a) see quot. 1902; (b) = plebe 2 (U.S.). See also plebs.
1865Mrs. Newby Common Sense (1866) II. ii. 23 The well-dressed boy, who was so unlike a pleb. 1878P. Robinson In Indian Gard. ii. 82 The muggur [broad-snouted crocodile] is a gross pleb, and his features stamp him low-born. 1883W. Blaikie in Harper's Mag. Nov. 908/1 At West Point, no matter how stooped the entering pleb, he is soon taught to carry himself..erect. 1902Farmer & Henley Slang, Pleb... (Westminster School).—A tradesman's son. 1911H. G. Wells New Machiavelli i. iv. 104 They're Plebs and they know it. They haven't the Guts to get hold of things. 1922Dialect Notes V. 189 At Annapolis, the natives are crabs, the freshmen plebs, the sophomores youngsters. 1928A. Huxley Point Counter Point ix. 138 ‘A bit of a pleb, wasn't he?’ put in the military friend. 1939Joyce Finnegans Wake (1964) i. 175 The pleb was born a Quicklow and sank alowing till he stank out of sight. 1960Guardian 29 Sept. 9/7 It all ends happily, with the squire and the pleb firm friends. 1973Nation Rev. (Melbourne) 31 Aug. 1441/6 The YLA executive sat at a head table while the plebs and proles were strewn together en masse. 1977J. Wainwright Nest of Rats i. xii. 92 You were..an aristocrat... And you turned pleb. Like grandfather.
B. attrib. or as adj. = plebeian a. b. colloq.
1972Daily Tel. 12 Feb. 11/2 Basically the situations, pursuit of boy friends, anxiety about the landlord, are identical, only here the background is pleb rather than deb. 1972J. Symons Players & Game xxvi. 196 ‘What was his name? Barber?’ ‘No, some other pleb occupation. Taylor?’ 1974New Statesman 17 May 698 Orwell darkened the picture: Bowling is frankly pleb, Comstock descends from a line of sexless scrimpers.
Hence ˈplebbie, ˈplebby a.
1962‘J. le Carré’ Murder of Quality i. 9 Mrs. Rode's quite decent..in a plebby sort of way: doyleys and china birds. 1977J. McClure in Winter's Crimes 9 80 Portland Bill..all coach parties and orange peel... It does tend to be a bit plebbie. |