also gad-fly, 1620s, "fly which bites cattle," probably from gad (n.) "goad, metal rod," here in the sense of "stinger;" but the sense is entangled with gad (v.) "rove about" (on the notion, perhaps, of the insect's power of flight or of the restlessness of animals plagued by them), and another early meaning of gadfly was "someone who likes to go about, often stopping here and there" (1610s). Sense of "one who irritates another" is from 1640s (equivalent of Latin oestrus; see estrus). "In strictness, only the females are gadflies, the males being smaller and quite inoffensive, living on juices of plants" [Century Dictionary]. Earlier bot-fly, from bot "skin parasite" (late 15c.).
双语例句
1. It still remains to be seen whether Buchanan will be just a gadfly or a real threat to the president.
布坎南只是故意搅局还是对总统构成真正的威胁，这还有待观察。
来自辞典例句
2. Gemma thought Gadfly was Arthur, but she could not make sure.
琼玛虽感到牛虻是亚瑟, 却不能确定.
来自互联网
3. One guy said he'd like to be a gadfly, like Socrates.
一个男生说,他想做牛虻, 像苏格拉底一样.
来自互联网
4. Maybe Arthur had been a truly gadfly, flying happily in the sky.
或许,亚瑟真的变成了一直牛虻, 自由快乐地在天空中飞翔.
来自互联网
5. After 13 years, an ugly man called Gadfly returned to Italy.
