snicker 是一个动词/名词,意思是"窃笑、暗笑",指偷偷地、压低声音地笑,通常带有嘲弄或不怀好意的意味。
/ˈsnɪkər/
She tried to keep a straight face, but couldn't help snickering at his silly hat.
她努力保持严肃的表情,但还是忍不住对他那顶滑稽的帽子窃笑起来。
A few snickers rippled through the audience when the speaker mispronounced the guest's name, though most people were polite enough to stifle their amusement.
当演讲者念错嘉宾的名字时,观众中传来几声窃笑,不过大多数人还是礼貌地忍住了。
snicker 最早出现于17世纪末的英语中,属于拟声词(onomatopoeia),模仿人压低声音偷笑时发出的声响。它与荷兰语中的 snikken(抽泣)有一定的语源关联。在英式英语中,更常用的同义词是 snigger,两者含义几乎完全相同,都带有一种隐蔽的、略带恶意的笑意。