| 释义 |
▪ I. S.O.S., n.|ˌɛsəʊˈɛs|
Also SOS.
[The letters s, o and s, chosen because easily transmitted in Morse code.]
1. a. The international radio code-signal of extreme distress, used esp. by ships at sea.
1910J. A. Fleming Princ. Electr. Wave Telegr. & Teleph. (ed. 2) 882 This signal, S,O,S, has superseded the Marconi Company's original high sea cry for help, which was C,Q,D. 1910E. Lawton Boy Aviators in Nicaragua 263 S.O.S. is now the wireless distress call. 1924Mod. Wireless III. 310/3 The famous signal ‘SOS’ was adopted officially by the International Radio Telegraph Convention in July, 1908. 1930‘Sapper’ Finger of Fate 245 The S.O.S. had been picked up by three other boats... The last S.O.S. had broken off abruptly in the middle of the message. 1942[see dash n.1 7 f].
b. transf. An urgent message or appeal for help.
1918Punch 13 Mar. 176 S.O.S. at Suburban Pictures. (In cases of emergency affecting any of the audience messages are sometimes thrown on the screen by the courtesy of the management.) 1931E. F. Benson Mapp & Lucia iii. 80 There was nothing but helpful sunny cordiality in response to this S.O.S. 1965D. Francis Odds Against xix. 235 You'd sent him to me as a sort of S.O.S.
2. As an abbrev. of various jocular phrases:
a. ‘same old story, stuff’, etc.
b. ‘shit on a shingle’: chipped beef on toast. U.S. Mil. slang.
1918Sat. Even. Post 27 Apr. 62 ‘What have you got this morning, Thompson? SOS?’ ‘Yes sir,’ returned the striker. ‘Same old slum.’ 1926Maines & Grant Wise-Crack Dict. 14/2 S.O.S., same old story. 1959I. & P. Opie Lore & Lang. Schoolch. ix. 162 The possessors of young and healthy appetites are lyrical about their food. School dinners are ‘muck’, ‘pig swill’..‘S.O.S.’ (Same Old Slush). 1963Amer. Speech XXXVII. 271 Haskell students do employ the standard American slang initials S.O.S., but..Girls use them to mean ‘same old stuff’... Boys..refer more specifically to creamed beef on toast..and this abbreviation stands for either ‘same old shit’ or ‘shit on a shingle’. 1974News & Observer (Raleigh, N. Carolina) 8 July 23/2 The troops still sometimes get S.O.S. for breakfast, whether they want it or not.
3. attrib. and Comb., as S.O.S. call, S.O.S. message, S.O.S. signal; S.O.S. redouble Bridge (see quot. 19262); also ellipt.
1915Daily Mail 10 May 4/5 The Marconi operators showed magnificent coolness in that hour of trial. They made the ‘S.O.S.’ call, and they had to make it quickly. 1938Encycl. Brit. Bk. of Year 122/1 S.O.S. and police messages broadcast from all transmitters during the year reached a total of 1,213. 1978J. Thomson Question of Identity vii. 70 I'd've heard if he was dead... They'd've put it on the radio; an S.O.S. message.
1926M. C. Work Auction Bridge Compl. x. 134 The No Trumper resorts to a recently invented signal of acute distress and makes the ‘S.O.S. Redouble’. Ibid. 498 S.O.S. (redouble), redouble made to indicate weakness rather than strength. 1939N. de V. Hart Bridge Players' Bedside Bk. 135 If the strong opening No Trumps..is being played, a redouble by a player who has opened with One No-Trump is not an SOS. 1967R. L. Frey Bridge Players' Encycl. 470/2 In rare circumstances a player may redouble his partner's bid as an SOS instead of his own bid. 1977C. H. Goren Bridge Compl. (ed. 3) 684 Redouble, a call that further increases the scoring value of tricks and penalties after an opposing double; sometimes also used as a request for partner to rescue (S.O.S. redouble).
1917‘Sapper’ No Man's Land 71 A row of grey-painted rockets with a red top, which in case of emergency send up the coloured flares that give the S.O.S. signals to those behind. 1927H. A. Vachell Dew of Sea 257 He received a letter from the gentleman, regarded (and rightly) by the McCullough as an S.O.S. signal. 1929C. H. Smith Bridge of Life iv. 83 When one gave an SOS signal all the rest came to his assistance.
▪ II. S.O.S., v.
Also SOS.
[f. prec.]
1. intr.
a. To make an S.O.S. signal or signals.
b. Bridge. To execute an S.O.S. redouble.
1918Kipling Land & Sea Tales (1923) 114 Then..this Baxter-man got busy with his wireless and SOS'ed like winkie. 1926M. C. Work Auction Bridge Compl. x. 135 In the event of a business pass, the No Trumper can S.O.S. if in need of help. 1975G. Howell In Vogue 75/1 We have been passing through the awkward age, when instead of conversing we ‘S.O.S.ed’ in monosyllabic slang.
2. trans. To send an urgent message requesting (someone) to do something.
a1936Kipling Something of Myself (1937) viii. 221 One of the Captains S.O.S.-ed me to give him ‘something to tell these somethinged tourists about it’. |