killer
gb/kˈɪlɚ/ us/kˈɪlɚ/
B1
Angličtina
~ 5900
Významy
0 významů
Podstatné jméno
B1
entity
1
person who intentionally kills someone
A person who kills another person on purpose, usually as a crime.
Vzorec užití:
to call [someone] a killer
Častá chyba:
Learners sometimes think "killer" is always negative and cannot be used metaphorically. Note that in other senses it can be positive or neutral (e.g., "a killer song"). Also, some learners use "killer" when the legal term "murderer" would be more precise in formal writing.
Synonyma
murderer (Legal and formal term for someone who intentionally kills another person; slightly more formal and specific than "killer".)
|
assassin (A killer who murders someone important, often for money or political reasons.)
Antonyma
victim (The person who is harmed or killed, rather than the one who causes the death.)
|
protector (Someone who keeps others safe instead of harming them.)
Kolokace
serial killer
|contract killer
|hired killer
|cold-blooded killer
|ruthless killer
|catch the killer
Témata
crime
|law
|violence
|safety
|core_vocabulary
Příklady
- The police finally arrested the killer after a month-long investigation.
- The victim’s family wanted the killer to receive a long prison sentence.
- Detectives believe the killer knew the victim personally.
- The movie follows a hired killer who starts to feel guilty about his work.
- Witnesses helped create a sketch of the suspected killer.
Učební příklady
- The police caught the killer last night.
- The killer used a gun.
- Everyone in the town was afraid of the killer.
- The killer went to prison for many years.
- The TV show is about a killer and a detective.
unknown
B2
entity
2
thing that causes many deaths
Something, like a disease or habit, that kills many people.
Vzorec užití:
[something] is a major killer of [people]
Častá chyba:
Learners may confuse this sense with the personal-criminal sense and say things like "cancer is a murderer". For non-human or non-personal causes of death, use "killer" or phrases like "major cause of death" instead.
Synonyma
deadly cause (Emphasizes that the cause leads to death; less idiomatic than "killer".)
|
fatal threat (Highlights danger and possibility of death, used more in formal or dramatic contexts.)
Antonyma
lifesaver (Something that prevents death or helps people stay alive, the opposite of a cause of death.)
|
protection (Something that guards against harm or death.)
Kolokace
major killer
|leading killer
|number-one killer
|silent killer
|big killer
|top killer
Témata
health
|science
|society
Příklady
- Heart disease is still the number-one killer in many countries.
- Smoking remains a major killer of middle-aged men worldwide.
- Road accidents are a leading killer of young adults.
- For children under five, preventable infections are a big killer.
- Experts warn that heatwaves could become a silent killer in large cities.
Učební příklady
- Cancer is a major killer in the world.
- Smoking is a big killer of people.
- Car crashes are a leading killer of young drivers.
- For older people, the flu can be a real killer.
- In some poor areas, dirty water is a common killer.
Podstatné jméno
informal
B2
entity
3
very hard or exhausting thing
A task, event, or situation that is very hard, very tiring, or very unpleasant.
Vzorec užití:
[something] is a real killer
Častá chyba:
Learners sometimes use only "very difficult" and do not realize this figurative noun use of "killer" is common in informal speech. Also, do not use it in very formal writing or exams; it is casual.
Synonyma
ordeal (Suggests a very difficult and painful experience; more formal and serious in tone.)
|
nightmare (Informal; stresses how extremely unpleasant or stressful something is.)
Antonyma
breeze (Informal; means something is very easy to do.)
|
walkover (Something that is won or done very easily, especially in sports or competition.)
Kolokace
real killer
|that exam was a killer
|this heat is a killer
|killer of my back
|schedule is a killer
Témata
daily_life
|work
|education
|emotions
|core_vocabulary
Příklady
- That final exam was a real killer; almost half the class failed.
- The hike was a killer, but the view at the top was worth it.
- Working night shifts can be a killer on your body clock.
- This heat is a killer if you don’t drink enough water.
- The last ten minutes of the workout were absolute killers.
Učební příklady
- The test yesterday was a real killer.
- My new job is a killer; I work 12 hours a day.
- This climb is a killer for my legs.
- This heat is a killer for old people.
- The last part of the race was a killer.
adjective
informal
B2
property
4
extremely hard or exhausting
Very hard, very tiring, or very unpleasant.
Vzorec užití:
a killer [task/event/workout/exam]
Častá chyba:
Learners sometimes confuse this with the positive slang sense ("a killer song"). Here, the word is negative or at least challenging. Context (workout, exam, headache, schedule) usually shows the meaning.
Synonyma
brutal (Informal; suggests something is extremely hard or harsh to go through.)
|
grueling (Stresses physical or mental exhaustion from something very demanding; slightly more formal.)
Antonyma
easy (General opposite, meaning not difficult.)
|
light (Describes work or activity that is not hard or heavy.)
Kolokace
killer workout
|killer exam
|killer schedule
|killer deadline
|killer headache
|killer shift
Témata
daily_life
|work
|health
|core_vocabulary
Příklady
- She has a killer schedule this week, with meetings every day until 9 p.m.
- That was a killer workout; my legs are shaking.
- I woke up with a killer headache and had to stay in bed.
- The team pulled an all-nighter to meet a killer deadline.
- It’s a killer climb, but the view from the top is amazing.
Učební příklady
- I did a killer workout at the gym.
- He has a killer exam tomorrow.
- She works a killer night shift every weekend.
- I have a killer headache today.
- This is a killer job for one person.
adjective
slang
B2
property
5
extremely good or impressive
Very, very good or very attractive; much better than normal.
Vzorec užití:
a killer [idea/outfit/song/performance]
Častá chyba:
Learners may think "killer" is always negative. In this slang sense, it is very positive. Do not use this in formal writing; choose words like "excellent" or "outstanding" instead.
Synonyma
awesome (Very common informal praise; slightly broader and less intense than "killer".)
|
fantastic (Strongly positive but more neutral and polite than the slangy "killer".)
Antonyma
terrible (Describes something very bad, the opposite of extremely good.)
|
lame (Slang; describes something weak, unimpressive, or boring.)
Kolokace
killer outfit
|killer dress
|killer idea
|killer song
|killer show
|killer deal
Témata
evaluation
|entertainment
|appearance
|core_vocabulary
|communication
|arts_entertainment
Příklady
- She walked in wearing a killer dress that turned every head in the room.
- That was a killer performance—the crowd went wild.
- He came up with a killer idea for the marketing campaign.
- The band’s new single is absolutely killer.
- We got a killer deal on our holiday flight.
Učební příklady
- She is wearing a killer red dress.
- That movie was killer; I loved it.
- He has a killer idea for the game.
- The band played a killer song at the end.
- We got a killer price on this phone.
adjective
B2
property
6
very powerful or deadly
So strong or dangerous that it can kill or hurt people very much, or very strong in winning or beating others.
Vzorec užití:
a killer [instinct/blow/virus/storm]
Častá chyba:
Learners may mix this sense with the positive slang sense. In collocations like "killer virus" or "killer storm", "killer" is negative and about danger, not praise.
Synonyma
deadly (Stresses the ability to kill; slightly more formal and direct than "killer".)
|
lethal (More technical or formal word for something able to cause death.)
Antonyma
harmless (Describes something that cannot or is very unlikely to cause harm.)
|
weak (Lacking power or strength, the opposite of very strong or dangerous.)
Kolokace
killer instinct
|killer blow
|killer virus
|killer storm
|killer robot
|killer bacteria
Témata
danger
|health
|sports
|core_vocabulary
|law
Příklady
- She has a real killer instinct on the tennis court.
- The boxer landed a killer blow in the final round.
- Scientists are studying a new killer virus that spreads quickly.
- The town was hit by a killer storm that destroyed several houses.
- In the film, a killer robot goes out of control.
Učební příklady
- The player has a killer instinct and always wants to win.
- The fighter used one killer blow to end the match.
- A killer virus can move from country to country very fast.
- The village was hit by a killer storm last night.
- In the story, a killer machine attacks the city.
Gramatika
Slovníkový tvar
killer
IPA
GB/kˈɪlɚ/
US/kˈɪlɚ/
Slabiky a přízvuk
killer (1 slabika)
Stress on 1st syllable (killer)
Tvary slova
Noun
- Base: killer
- Plural: killers
Příbuzná slova
Výrazy
contract killer
1/kˈɑntɹˌækt kˈɪlɚ/
fixed phrase
person hired to kill for money
A person who kills people for money, usually as a secret job.
Příklady
- The mob hired a contract killer to get rid of their enemy.
- In the film, a contract killer decides to retire after one last job.
killer app
1/kˈɪlɚ ˈæp/
fixed phrase
informal
software that makes a platform popular
A very good and useful computer or phone program that makes many people want to use or buy the device or system it runs on.
Příklady
- Messaging was the killer app that made many people buy smartphones.
- Developers are still looking for the next killer app in virtual reality.
killer instinct
1/kˈɪlɚ ˈɪnstɪŋkt/
fixed phrase
strong desire to win or defeat
A strong natural feeling that makes someone very aggressive about winning or beating others, especially in sport or business.
Příklady
- Great athletes often have a killer instinct in close games.
- She lacks the killer instinct needed to succeed in high-pressure sales.
killer whale
1/kˈɪlɚ wˈeɪl/
fixed phrase
the marine animal orca
A large black-and-white sea animal, also called an orca, that eats fish and other sea animals.
Příklady
- We saw a pod of killer whales swimming near the boat.
- Killer whales are highly intelligent and hunt in groups.
lady-killer
1/lˈeɪdi kˈɪlɚ/
idiom
informal
man very attractive to many women
A man who is very attractive to many women and often has many romantic relationships.
Příklady
- Everyone says he’s a real lady-killer with that smile.
- The actor gained a reputation as a lady-killer after his romantic movie roles.
silent killer
1/sˈaɪlənt kˈɪlɚ/
fixed phrase
deadly disease with no clear early signs
A disease or health problem that can kill people but often has no clear signs until it is very serious.
Příklady
- High blood pressure is often called a silent killer.
- Doctors warn that diabetes can be a silent killer if it is not checked regularly.
stone-cold killer
1/stˈoʊn kˈoʊld kˈɪlɚ/
fixed phrase
informal
killer with no visible emotion
A killer who does not show any feelings, fear, or guilt when killing people.
Příklady
- The prosecutor described the defendant as a stone-cold killer.
- In the series, he starts as a stone-cold killer but slowly grows a conscience.
serial killer
1/sˈɪɹiəl kˈɪlɚ/
fixed phrase
Person who murders repeatedly over time
A person who kills many people over time, with breaks between the killings.
Příklady
- The police believe they are dealing with a serial killer.
- The police believe a serial killer is responsible for the recent murders.
- The movie is based on the crimes of a real-life serial killer.
- Many crime shows focus on the hunt for a serial killer.