| 释义 |
Micawber|mɪˈkɔːbər|
The name of Wilkins Micawber, a character in Dickens's novel ‘David Copperfield’, applied gen. to a feckless optimist with a habit of ‘waiting for something to turn up’. Also attrib. and Comb., as Micawber-like a.; Miˈcawber v. intr., to behave like Micawber; Micawberish |mɪˈkɔːbərɪʃ| a., characteristic of a Micawber, irresponsible; Miˈcawberishly adv.; so Miˈcawberism; Miˈcawberite = Micawber.
1852Geo. Eliot Let. 2 June (1954) II. 31 No good news yet, but I have a Micawber-faith that something will turn up. 1880J. Hollingshead Plain Eng. 2 Undeceived by the Micawberism of one class, or the dazzling brilliancy of the other. 1882W. D. Hay Brighter Britain! I. vi. 143 A Micawber-like roll of his voice. 1920Glasgow Herald 19 June 6 He was in a state of what may be described as ‘Micawberish embarrassment’. 1927Observer 22 May 8 Nancy's father, a sort of Micawberish Costigan. 1939Times Lit. Suppl. 18 Mar. 162/3 We find a grand collection of literary people who have become household words, like..Micawber. 1948E. Gowers Plain Words 48 The present inclination of the official is in the opposite direction. He is a Johnsonian rather than a Micawberite. 1949I. Deutscher Stalin iii. 70 Lenin treated such Socialists contemptuously as the romantic Micawbers of revolution. 1950Mind LIX. 84 An opportunistic, capricious, or Micawberish policy. 1961Times 5 June 15/3 The British Government can hardly be blamed for being somewhat Micawber-like in their approach to this problem. 1963Punch 24 July 126/1 Every author must spend half his life Micawbering, waiting for something to turn up. 1969Times 2 May (Suppl.) p. viii/3 History has been on the side of the Micawbers. 1971Guardian 16 July 10/2 Mr Wilson's social contract..will..look remarkably like the 1964 or 1966 vintage, with a dash of Micawberism added. 1972Ibid. 11 Oct. 12/2 The Green Paper's hope that growth will provide comes dangerously near the Micawber tradition. 1972‘J. & E. Bonett’ No time to Kill x. 138 Idle men who take a job in the sunshine that leads nowhere{ddd}today's Micawbers, aimlessly awaiting what will never turn up. 1973Nation Rev. (Melbourne) 31 Aug. 1463/3 Despite portraying a Micawberlike optimism, Plorn died destitute. 1974Times 7 Jan. 5/5 The Micawberish disasters that threatened them so long as the father—that sad barrister without briefs—was still alive. 1974Times 4 Mar. 15/3 The Liberal Party..has always Micawberishly hoped that some rich sympathizer would turn up. |