monkey's paw

短语

发音

US

词形变化

monkey's paws 复数 monkey's paws

别名

monkey-paw monkey paw

释义与例句

n.
  1. 1.

    A situation in which a wish or desire has been fulfilled, but at significant cost or with ironic, usually unfavourable consequences.

    定语 习语
  2. 2.

    Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see monkey, paw.

词源

From the 1902 short story "The Monkey's Paw" by W. W. Jacobs, in which a mummified monkey's paw is enchanted to grant a family three wishes, but with terrible consequences for them. Popularised by a segment based on Jacobs' story in the 1991 episode "Treehouse of Horror II" of the American animated sitcom The Simpsons.

来源：wiktionary