folly

 Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++朗文当代英语 5++LDOCE 5++朗文 5++

Related topics: Architecture, Buildings

fol·ly /ˈfɒli $ ˈfɑːli/ noun (plural follies)  1  [countable, uncountable] formalSTUPID/NOT SENSIBLE a very stupid thing to do, especially one that is likely to have serious results 〔尤指可能导致严重后果的〕蠢事，荒唐事 Somerville bitterly regretted his folly at becoming involved. 萨默维尔对于把自己牵涉进去的愚蠢行为后悔不迭。it would be folly to do something It would be sheer folly to reduce spending on health education. 减少健康教育上的支出是再愚蠢不过的。 the follies of aristocratic society 贵族社会的荒唐事2. [countable]AATBB an unusual building that was built in the past as a decoration, not to be used or lived in 〔旧时无实用价值的〕怪异的装饰性建筑

Examples from the Corpus

folly• Is it mad to spend £1 million on a folly?• So far from abandoning our folly, we started pushing it as far as it would go.• Why was it designated romantic folly?• In fact, the only social folly I committed was to pretend I understood about contraception.• He dyed doves various bright colours to fly around and adorn the folly and the town.• Now they expect responsible customers to pay for their folly.sheer folly• I happen to believe in miracles, but it would be sheer folly to depend on them.• Throwing them away is sheer folly.• Their lack of ease with each other is tangible and to pretend otherwise is sheer folly.• In part two: A slice of history.The birthday cake that was sheer folly.Origin folly (1200-1300) Old French folie, from fol; → FOOL1

fol·ly nounChineseSyllable  

Corpus a thing very especially to do, stupid

folly
fol‧ly /ˈfɒli $ ˈfɑːli/ noun (plural follies)1. [uncountable and countable] formal a very stupid thing to do, especially one that is likely to have serious results:
    Somerville bitterly regretted his folly at becoming involved.
    it would be folly to do something
    It would be sheer folly to reduce spending on health education.
    the follies of aristocratic society
2. [countable] an unusual building that was built in the past as a decoration, not to be used or lived in

follyBrE /ˈfɒli/ 🔊NAmE /ˈfɑːli/ 🔊 noun (

plural

follies) [uncountable, countable] a lack of good judgement; the fact of doing sth stupid; an activity or idea that shows a lack of judgement 愚蠢；愚笨；愚蠢的想法（或事情、行为） SYN stupidity ◆an act of sheer folly纯粹愚蠢的行动◆Giving up a secure job seems to be the height of folly. 放弃一份稳定的工作似乎愚蠢至极。🔊🔊◆~ (to do sth) It would be folly to turn the offer down. 拒绝这个建议是愚蠢之举。🔊🔊◆the follies of youth青年时期的愚蠢行为 [countable] a building that has no practical purpose but was built in the past for decoration, often in the garden of a large country house （常见于旧时乡间豪宅花园中的）装饰性建筑