mutter

 Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++朗文当代英语 5++LDOCE 5++朗文 5++mut·ter /ˈmʌtə $ -ər/ ●●○ verb  1  [intransitive, transitive]SAY to speak in a low voice, especially because you are annoyed about something, or you do not want people to hear you 咕哝，嘀咕；悄声说mutter to yourself ‘I never want to come here again, ’ he muttered to himself. “我再也不想来这儿了。”他嘀咕道。 Elsie muttered something I couldn’t catch and walked off. 埃尔茜咕哝了一句什么，我也没有听懂，她就走掉了。 ‘He’s such an unpleasant man, ’ Alyssia muttered under her breath. “他真是个讨厌的人。”阿莉西娅轻声嘟囔着。mutter about What are you two muttering about? 你们两个在嘀咕些什么？► see thesaurus at say2  [intransitive]COMPLAIN to complain about something or express doubts about it, but without saying clearly and openly what you think 私下抱怨；小声质疑mutter about Some senators muttered darkly about the threat to national security. 一些参议员私下里谈论国家安全面临的威胁。 —mutter noun [singular] His voice subsided to a mutter. 他的声音弱下来，变成了嘀咕。 —muttering noun [countable, uncountable] The mutterings about his leadership continued to grow. 私下里对他领导能力的质疑不断增加。→ See Verb table

Examples from the Corpus

mutter• ""Why do I have to do all the work?'' she muttered.• "Sometimes she is such a pain, " Jake muttered.• There has been much muttering among the aggrieved franchisees about the possibility of legal action.• They muttered comments and corrections to each other.• Grant went out, muttering something about having to see a client.• I muttered something about helping and followed her out.• They both muttered something about homework and walked away.• Sometimes her lips moved and she muttered something in a low tone.• He muttered something inaudible and withdrew.• He was always muttering to himself about all the experiments he had to do that week.• He was always muttering to himself about all the experiments he had to do that week.mutter to yourself• He seemed to be muttering to himself.• Then El-Jorr wrenched open the door and, ignoring everybody, left as abruptly as he had arrived, muttering to himself.• Nakki muttered to herself about crooks and thieves.• Where possible he would seize scraps of parchment and draw lines, muttering to himself and scratching his head.• His stepfather was lying on his back, muttering to himself, his eyes oddly fixed, staring up at the ceiling.• Damn Julius! she muttered to herself in a great surge of resentment.• While she was muttering to herself, she was emptying drawers and cupboards, and throwing her things into her suitcase.Origin mutter (1300-1400) Probably from the sound

mut·ter verbChineseSyllable  

especially speak Corpus in low a voice, to

mutter
mut‧ter /ˈmʌtə $ -ər/ verb1. [intransitive and transitive] to speak in a low voice, especially because you are annoyed about something, or you do not want people to hear you
    mutter to yourself
    ‘I never want to come here again,’ he muttered to himself.
    Elsie muttered something I couldn’t catch and walked off.
    ‘He’s such an unpleasant man,’ Alyssia muttered under her breath.
    mutter about
    What are you two muttering about?
2. [intransitive] to complain about something or express doubts about it, but without saying clearly and openly what you think
    mutter about
    Some senators muttered darkly about the threat to national security.
—mutter noun [singular]:
    His voice subsided to a mutter.
—muttering noun [uncountable and countable]:
    The mutterings about his leadership continued to grow.
     

THESAURUS

■ different ways of saying something
   ▪ whisper to say something very quietly, using your breath rather than your full voice: ‘Don’t wake the baby,’ Jenny whispered.
   ▪ mumble to say something quietly without pronouncing the words clearly: He mumbled his thanks.
   ▪ mutter to say something quietly, especially when you are annoyed but do not want someone to hear you complaining: ‘This is ridiculous,’ he muttered under his breath. | She muttered something about having to go home early.
   ▪ murmur to say something in a soft slow gentle voice: She stroked his hair and murmured, ‘Don’t worry. You’ll be all right.’
   ▪ growl to say something in a low angry voice: ‘As I was saying,’ Lewis growled, ‘it needs to be finished today.’
   ▪ snarl to say something in a nasty angry way: ‘Get out of my way!’ he snarled.
   ▪ exclaim to say something suddenly and loudly: ‘How beautiful!’ she exclaimed.
   ▪ blurt out to suddenly say something without thinking, especially something embarrassing or secret: It was partly nervousness that had made him blurt out the question.
   ▪ stammer/stutter to speak with a lot of pauses and repeated sounds, because you have a speech problem, or because you are nervous or excited: ‘I’ll, I’ll only be a m-moment,’ he stammered.