cock-a-hoop: [16] Cock-a-hoop comes from a 16th- and 17th-century expression set the cock on the hoop ‘make merry’ – but exactly how the expression arose is not clear. One obvious interpretation is that it meant ‘put the tap on the barrel’ – that is, let the wine or beer flow freely – but it has also been suggested that hoop here means ‘measure of grain’ (a sense which originated in the 16th century), the notion being that to put a cockerel on a heap of grain implied prodigality.
雙語例句
1. His hands were too weak to cock his revolver.
他的手沒勁兒，扳不動左輪手槍的扳機(jī)。
來自柯林斯例句
2. This was just an administrative cock-up.
這純粹是管理上的混亂。
來自柯林斯例句
3. The cock's breast is tinged with chestnut.
這只公雞胸部羽毛呈淺栗色，帶有白色細(xì)條紋。
來自柯林斯例句
4. The jury did not believe the witness'cock and bull story.