sour
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++sour1 /saʊə $ saʊr/ ●●● S3 adjective 1 CTSOURhaving a sharp acid taste, like the taste of a lemon or a fruit that is not ready to be eaten 酸的，酸味的 OPP sweet → bitter Rachel sampled the wine. It was sour. 雷切尔尝了尝葡萄酒，是酸的。 sour cherries 酸樱桃 → sweet-and-sour► see thesaurus at taste2 DFCTmilk or other food that is sour is not fresh and has a bad taste 〔牛奶等〕馊的，有馊味的，酸臭的turn/go sour (=become sour) 变酸 RegisterIn everyday English, people usually say milk goes bad or, in British English, goes off, rather than goes sour. 在日常英语中,表示牛奶变酸, 人们一般不说 go sour, 而是说 go bad, 在英国英语中则说 go off 。3 BAD-TEMPEREDUNFRIENDLYunfriendly or looking bad-tempered 不友善的，脾气坏的sour look/face/smile etc Eliza was tall and thin, with a rather sour face. 伊丽莎又高又瘦，脸上阴沉沉的。 a sour-faced old man 绷着脸的老人4 informalUNPLEASANTDON'T LIKE if a relationship or plan turns or goes sour, it becomes less enjoyable, pleasant, or satisfactory 〔关系、计划等变得〕坏的，令人不快的 As time went by, their marriage turned sour. 随着时间的流逝，他们的夫妻关系变差了。 The meeting ended on a sour note, with neither side able to reach agreement. 双方未能取得一致意见，会议不欢而散。5. sour grapes JEALOUSused to say that someone is pretending that they dislike something because they want it but cannot have it – used to show disapproval 酸葡萄〔指某人其实想要某物，但因得不到而装作不喜欢的心态，含贬义〕 —sourly adverb —sourness noun [uncountable]
Examples from the Corpus
sour• The vision of bedsit freedom would soon turn sour.• The milk smells a little sour.• These cherries are really sour.• In 1993, a wage garnishment was filed against him stemming from a diamond sale gone sour.• What is sour comes from pretending to be what we are not.• She always had the same sour expression.• The minute the sour flavor exploded in his mouth, slivers of intense pain filled his head.• Kvass is a mild beer that is sometimes used in Russian cooking for its sour flavor.• I smelt the sour odour of sweaty robes and noticed a brazier of gleaming charcoal had been rolled in.• Too often relationships go sour or become impoverished through lack of attention.• Soon he would smell the first sour tang of winter on the sea breezes.• The wine was so sour that I couldn't drink it.• In these temperatures, milk goes sour very quickly.• The strawberries are a little sour - you may need to put sugar on them.turn/go sour• We dated two years and then things went sour.• I see the play as an extension of that idea: a study of what happens when idealism goes sour.• In 1993, a wage garnishment was filed against him stemming from a diamond sale gone sour.• In this case, the relationship turned sour.• The deal went sour and Coles lost A $ 18 million.• Many of the deals struck in this frenzied atmosphere are sure to go sour eventually, sending more companies to the brink.• Liberation has turned sour producing anomie and alienation, severely undermining any sense of collective responsibility or response.• A settling of accounts, a drug deal that went sour, rival protection racketeers?• But things have turned sour since those days of promise.sour look/face/smile etc• She looked back over her shoulder at him and pulled a sour face.• I told you my brother prefers smiles to sour looks, and so he too likes my choice.• A Tory campaign machine on full throttle generally encountered sour looks and sullen stares.sour note• From workers there's bitterness that it's all ended on such a sour note.• The craftsmen there hope their careers won't end on a sour note.• This needled Stirling and the meeting ended on a sour note.• Yet it would be wrong to end on a sour note.• The only slightly sour note entered the proceedings with the president's plan to send a special envoy to Northern Ireland.• But it was here that the first sour note in the melodious anthem was heard.• If the player tampers with those, he is blamed for hitting a sour note, not praised for a daring interpretation.• The only sour note was the electrified fence that marked the forbidden border zone.sour2 verb [intransitive, transitive] 1 SPOILif a relationship or someone’s attitude sours, or if something sours it, it becomes unfriendly or unfavourable （使）〔关系或态度〕变坏，变得不友善 An unhappy childhood has soured her view of life. 不幸的童年扭曲了她的人生观。► see thesaurus at spoil2. DFDECAYif milk sours, or if something sours it, it begins to have an unpleasant sharp taste （使）〔牛奶〕变酸，变馊→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
sour• Since each of these parties leant on the other for reassurance, relations between them will be soured as a result.• That was still before people went to chokey for dodgy dealings, but he soured his own patch.• Ill-treated hobgoblins can cause strife and discord, though, souring milk, tangling clothes and muddying floors for spite.• Many investors have soured on closedend funds because they were burned buying closed-end IPOs.• Worth noting about McMahon, though, is that some teams reportedly soured on his attitude at the Senior Bowl.• The incident soured relations between the two countries.• The global trend towards higher taxation on fuel consumption is souring relations with leading oil-producing states.• The incident was serious enough to sour the atmosphere for weeks.• The affair did not seem to have soured their friendship.• The familiar dark soured then stung with chlorine.Origin sour1 Old English sursharp a like acid the Corpus having taste, taste
sour
sour1 /saʊə $ saʊr/ 
adjective
OPP sweet ⇨ bitter:
Rachel sampled the wine. It was sour.
sour cherries ⇨ sweet-and-sour
2. milk or other food that is sour is not fresh and has a bad taste
turn/go sour (=become sour)
REGISTER
In everyday English, people usually say milk goes bad or, in British English, goes off, rather than goes sour.
3. unfriendly or looking bad-tempered
sour look/face/smile etc
Eliza was tall and thin, with a rather sour face.
a sour-faced old man
4. informal if a relationship or plan turns or goes sour, it becomes less enjoyable, pleasant, or satisfactory:
As time went by, their marriage turned sour.
The meeting ended on a sour note, with neither side able to reach agreement.
5. sour grapes used to say that someone is pretending that they dislike something because they want it but cannot have it – used to show disapproval
—sourly adverb
—sourness noun [uncountable]
▪ bitter having a strong sharp taste that is not sweet, like black coffee without sugar - used especially about chocolate, medicine etc: The dessert is made with a slightly bitter chocolate. | Hops give beer its distinctive bitter taste. | The medicine tasted bitter. | As the lettuce gets older, the leaves become more bitter.
▪sharp having a taste that makes your tongue sting slightly: Rhubarb has quite a sharp taste. | The cheese has a pleasing colour and a pleasantly sharp flavour.
▪sour having a usually unpleasant sharp acid taste, like the taste of a lemon, or a fruit that is not ready to be eaten – used especially about fruit, or about liquids that have gone bad: Some people say that the purpose of the lemon’s sour taste is to stop the fruit being eaten by animals. | Rachel sampled the wine. It was sour.
▪acidic very sour – used especially about liquids or things made with fruits such as oranges, lemons, or grapes: Some fruit juices taste a bit acidic.
▪tangy having a taste that is pleasantly strong or sharp, and that often tastes a little sweet as well: The ribs are cooked in a tangy barbecue sauce.
▪tart having a taste that lacks sweetness – used especially about fruit such as apples, which you need to add sugar to: The pudding had rather a tart flavour. | The trees were covered with tart wild plums.
sour2 verb [intransitive and transitive]
1. if a relationship or someone’s attitude sours, or if something sours it, it becomes unfriendly or unfavourable:
An unhappy childhood has soured her view of life.
2. if milk sours, or if something sours it, it begins to have an unpleasant sharp taste
▪ spoil to have a bad effect on something so that it is much less attractive, enjoyable etc: New housing developments are spoiling the countryside. | The bad weather completely spoiled our holiday.
▪ruin to spoil something completely and permanently: Using harsh soap to wash your face can ruin your skin. | The argument ruined the evening for me.
▪mar written to spoil something by making it less attractive or enjoyable: His handsome Arab features were marred by a long scar across his face. | Outbreaks of fighting marred the New Year celebrations.
▪detract from something to slightly spoil something that is generally very good, beautiful, or impressive: The huge number of tourists rather detracts from the city’s appeal. | There were a few minor irritations, but this did not detract from our enjoyment of the holiday.
▪undermine to spoil something that you have been trying to achieve: The bombings undermined several months of careful negotiations.
▪sour to spoil a friendly relationship between people or countries: The affair has soured relations between the UK and Russia.
▪poison to spoil a close relationship completely, so that people can no longer trust each other: Their marriage was poisoned by a terrible dark secret.
▪mess something up informal to spoil something important or something that has been carefully planned: If there’s any delay, it will mess up our whole schedule.
| I |
adjective Language: Old English
Origin: sur
1. having a sharp acid taste, like the taste of a lemon or a fruit that is not ready to be eaten Origin: sur
OPP sweet ⇨ bitter:
2. milk or other food that is sour is not fresh and has a bad taste
turn/go sour (=become sour)
REGISTER
In everyday English, people usually say milk goes bad or, in British English, goes off, rather than goes sour.
3. unfriendly or looking bad-tempered
sour look/face/smile etc
4. informal if a relationship or plan turns or goes sour, it becomes less enjoyable, pleasant, or satisfactory:
5. sour grapes used to say that someone is pretending that they dislike something because they want it but cannot have it – used to show disapproval
—sourly adverb
—sourness noun [uncountable]
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| II |
verb [intransitive and transitive]1. if a relationship or someone’s attitude sours, or if something sours it, it becomes unfriendly or unfavourable:
2. if milk sours, or if something sours it, it begins to have an unpleasant sharp taste
| THESAURUS |
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bitter (of a taste or smell) strong and usually unpleasant; (of food or drink) having a bitter taste 指（味道或气味）强烈的、令人不适的，（食物或饮料）味苦的 pungent (of a smell or taste) strong and usually unpleasant; (of food or smoke) having a pungent smell or taste 指（气味或味道）强烈的、令人不适的，（食物）味苦的，（烟）呛人的、刺鼻的 ：◆ the pungent smell of burning rubber 烧橡胶的刺鼻气味 sour (of a taste) bitter like the taste of a lemon or of fruit that is not ripe; (of food or drink) having a sour taste 指（味道）酸的，（食物或饮料）有酸味的 ：◆ Too much pulp produces a sour wine. 过多的果肉会让酒变酸。 acrid (of a smell or taste) strong and unpleasant; (of smoke) having an acrid smell 指（气味或味道）刺激的、难闻的，（烟）呛人的、刺鼻的 ：◆ acrid smoke from burning tyres 燃烧轮胎产生的熏烟 sharp (of a taste or smell) strong and slightly bitter; (of food or drink) having a sharp taste 指（味道或气味）强烈而略苦的、刺鼻的，（食物或饮料）味苦的、辛辣的 ：◆ The cheese has a distinctively sharp taste. 这奶酪味道很冲。 acid (of a taste or smell) bitter, like the taste of a lemon or of fruit that is not ripe; (of food or drink) having an acid taste 指（味道）酸的，（气味）有刺激性的，（食物或饮料）有酸味的
which word? 词语辨析
A bitter taste is usually unpleasant, but some people enjoy the bitter flavour of coffee or chocolate. No other word can describe this flavour. Asharp orpungent flavour is more strong than unpleasant, especially when describing cheese.Sharp ,sour andacid all describe the taste of a lemon or a fruit that is not ripe. Anacrid smell is strong and unpleasant, especially the smell of smoke or burning, but not the smell of food.* bitter 指味道通常为苦的、令人不快的，有人却喜欢咖啡或巧克力的苦味。没有其他词可用来形容这种味道。sharp 或 pungent 主要强调味道强烈而非令人不快，在描述奶酪的味道时尤其如此。sharp、sour 和 acid 均形容柠檬或未熟水果的酸味。acrid 指气味强烈而令人不快，尤指烟味或燃烧产生的气味，但不用来形容食物的气味。
Patterns
a(n) bitter/pungent/sour/acrid/sharp/acid taste/flavour a(n) bitter/pungent/acrid/sharp/acid smell/odour a(n) bitter/sour/sharp/acid fruit pungent/sharp cheese pungent/acrid smoke
Eating out 去餐馆吃饭
eat (lunch/dinner)/dine/meet at/in a restaurant在一家餐馆吃（午／晚）饭／进餐／碰面 go (out)/take sb (out) for lunch/dinner/a meal去／带某人去（外面）吃午饭／吃晚饭／用餐 have a meal with sb与某人一起吃饭 make/have a reservation (in/under the name of Yamada)（以山田的名字）预订座位 reserve/ ( especially
BrE book a table for six预订一张坐六人的桌子 ask for/request a table for two/a table by the window要一张两人桌／靠窗的桌子
In the restaurant 在餐馆
wait to be seated等待就座 show sb to their table把某人引到桌旁 sit in the corner/by the window/at the bar/at the counter坐在角落／窗边／吧台边／柜台边 hand sb/give sb the menu/wine list把菜单／酒水单递给某人 open/read/study/peruse the menu打开／看／仔细看菜单 the restaurant has a three-course set menu/a children's menu/an extensive wine list这餐馆有一个三道菜的套餐／儿童菜单／丰富的酒水单 taste/sample/try the wine品尝葡萄酒 the waiter takes your order服务生帮你点餐 order/choose/have the soup of the day/one of the specials/the house( speciality/BrE ( specialtyespecially
NAmE 点当日例汤／一道特色菜／餐馆特色菜 serve/finish the first course/the starter/the main course/dessert/coffee端上／吃完第一道菜／开胃菜／主菜／甜点；端上／喝完咖啡 complain about the food/the service/your meal抱怨食物／服务／饭菜不好 enjoy your meal享用饭菜
Paying 结账
pay/ask for ( the bill/especially
BrE ( the checkNAmE 付账；要求结账 pay for/treat sb to dinner/lunch/the meal付晚饭／午饭／饭钱；请某人吃晚饭／午饭／饭 service is (not) included 不含服务费 give sb/leave (sb) a tip给某人小费
bitter (of a taste or smell) strong and usually unpleasant; (of food or drink) having a bitter taste 指（味道或气味）强烈的、令人不适的，（食物或饮料）味苦的 pungent (of a smell or taste) strong and usually unpleasant; (of food or smoke) having a pungent smell or taste 指（气味或味道）强烈的、令人不适的，（食物）味苦的，（烟）呛人的、刺鼻的 ：◆ the pungent smell of burning rubber 烧橡胶的刺鼻气味 sour (of a taste) bitter like the taste of a lemon or of fruit that is not ripe; (of food or drink) having a sour taste 指（味道）酸的，（食物或饮料）有酸味的 ：◆ Too much pulp produces a sour wine. 过多的果肉会让酒变酸。 acrid (of a smell or taste) strong and unpleasant; (of smoke) having an acrid smell 指（气味或味道）刺激的、难闻的，（烟）呛人的、刺鼻的 ：◆ acrid smoke from burning tyres 燃烧轮胎产生的熏烟 sharp (of a taste or smell) strong and slightly bitter; (of food or drink) having a sharp taste 指（味道或气味）强烈而略苦的、刺鼻的，（食物或饮料）味苦的、辛辣的 ：◆ The cheese has a distinctively sharp taste. 这奶酪味道很冲。 acid (of a taste or smell) bitter, like the taste of a lemon or of fruit that is not ripe; (of food or drink) having an acid taste 指（味道）酸的，（气味）有刺激性的，（食物或饮料）有酸味的
which word? 词语辨析
A bitter taste is usually unpleasant, but some people enjoy the bitter flavour of coffee or chocolate. No other word can describe this flavour. Asharp orpungent flavour is more strong than unpleasant, especially when describing cheese.Sharp ,sour andacid all describe the taste of a lemon or a fruit that is not ripe. Anacrid smell is strong and unpleasant, especially the smell of smoke or burning, but not the smell of food.* bitter 指味道通常为苦的、令人不快的，有人却喜欢咖啡或巧克力的苦味。没有其他词可用来形容这种味道。sharp 或 pungent 主要强调味道强烈而非令人不快，在描述奶酪的味道时尤其如此。sharp、sour 和 acid 均形容柠檬或未熟水果的酸味。acrid 指气味强烈而令人不快，尤指烟味或燃烧产生的气味，但不用来形容食物的气味。
Patterns
a(n) bitter/pungent/sour/acrid/sharp/acid taste/flavour a(n) bitter/pungent/acrid/sharp/acid smell/odour a(n) bitter/sour/sharp/acid fruit pungent/sharp cheese pungent/acrid smoke
