Модель уживання:
to call [someone] a killer
The police finally arrested the killer after a month-long investigation.
A rendőrség egy hónapig tartó nyomozás után végre letartóztatta a gyilkost.
The victim’s family wanted the killer to receive a long prison sentence.
Az áldozat családja azt akarta, hogy a gyilkos hosszú börtönbüntetést kapjon.
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.
Навчальні приклади
The police caught the killer last night.
A rendőrség tegnap este elfogta a gyilkost.
The killer used a gun.
A gyilkos lőfegyvert használt.
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.
Поширена помилка:
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.
Значення
person who intentionally kills someone
Словосполучення
serial killer
|contract killer
|hired killer
|cold-blooded killer
|ruthless killer
|catch the killer
Синоніми
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.)
Антоніми
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.)
Теми
crime
|law
|violence
|safety
|core_vocabulary
Визначення
A person who kills another person on purpose, usually as a crime.
A person who intentionally causes the death of another person, especially in a criminal context.
Модель уживання:
[something] is a major killer of [people]
Heart disease is still the number-one killer in many countries.
A szívbetegség sok országban még mindig az első számú halálok.
Smoking remains a major killer of middle-aged men worldwide.
A dohányzás világszerte továbbra is az egyik fő halálok a középkorú férfiak körében.
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.
Навчальні приклади
Cancer is a major killer in the world.
A rák világszerte az egyik fő halálok.
Smoking is a big killer of people.
A dohányzás sok ember halálát okozza.
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.
Поширена помилка:
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.
Значення
thing that causes many deaths
Словосполучення
major killer
|leading killer
|number-one killer
|silent killer
|big killer
|top killer
Синоніми
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.)
Антоніми
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.)
Теми
health
|science
|society
Визначення
Something, like a disease or habit, that kills many people.
A disease, condition, activity, or factor that causes many people to die.
Модель уживання:
[something] is a real killer
That final exam was a real killer; almost half the class failed.
Az a záróvizsga igazi kínszenvedés volt; az osztály majdnem fele megbukott.
The hike was a killer, but the view at the top was worth it.
A túra kínszenvedés volt, de a csúcson a látvány miatt megérte.
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.
Навчальні приклади
The test yesterday was a real killer.
A tegnapi dolgozat igazi kínszenvedés volt.
My new job is a killer; I work 12 hours a day.
Az új munkám kínszenvedés; napi 12 órát dolgozom.
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.
Поширена помилка:
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.
Значення
very hard or exhausting thing
Словосполучення
real killer
|that exam was a killer
|this heat is a killer
|killer of my back
|schedule is a killer
Синоніми
ordeal (Suggests a very difficult and painful experience; more formal and serious in tone.)
|
nightmare (Informal; stresses how extremely unpleasant or stressful something is.)
Антоніми
breeze (Informal; means something is very easy to do.)
|
walkover (Something that is won or done very easily, especially in sports or competition.)
Теми
daily_life
|work
|education
|emotions
|core_vocabulary
Визначення
A task, event, or situation that is very hard, very tiring, or very unpleasant.
Something that is extremely difficult, tiring, or unpleasant to experience or do.
Модель уживання:
a killer [task/event/workout/exam]
She has a killer schedule this week, with meetings every day until 9 p.m.
Ezen a héten gyilkos a beosztása: mindennap este 9-ig megbeszélései vannak.
That was a killer workout; my legs are shaking.
Gyilkos edzés volt; remeg a lábam.
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.
Навчальні приклади
I did a killer workout at the gym.
Végigcsináltam egy gyilkos edzést az edzőteremben.
He has a killer exam tomorrow.
Holnap gyilkos vizsgája lesz.
She works a killer night shift every weekend.
I have a killer headache today.
This is a killer job for one person.
Поширена помилка:
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.
Значення
extremely hard or exhausting
Словосполучення
killer workout
|killer exam
|killer schedule
|killer deadline
|killer headache
|killer shift
Синоніми
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.)
Антоніми
easy (General opposite, meaning not difficult.)
|
light (Describes work or activity that is not hard or heavy.)
Теми
daily_life
|work
|health
|core_vocabulary
Визначення
Very hard, very tiring, or very unpleasant.
Extremely difficult, tiring, or unpleasant to do or experience.
Модель уживання:
a killer [idea/outfit/song/performance]
She walked in wearing a killer dress that turned every head in the room.
Egy dögös ruhában lépett be, amelyre a teremben mindenki felfigyelt.
That was a killer performance—the crowd went wild.
Ütős produkció volt – a közönség teljesen megőrült.
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.
Навчальні приклади
She is wearing a killer red dress.
Dögös piros ruhát visel.
That movie was killer; I loved it.
Az a film király volt; imádtam.
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.
Поширена помилка:
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.
Значення
extremely good or impressive
Словосполучення
killer outfit
|killer dress
|killer idea
|killer song
|killer show
|killer deal
Синоніми
awesome (Very common informal praise; slightly broader and less intense than "killer".)
|
fantastic (Strongly positive but more neutral and polite than the slangy "killer".)
Антоніми
terrible (Describes something very bad, the opposite of extremely good.)
|
lame (Slang; describes something weak, unimpressive, or boring.)
Теми
evaluation
|entertainment
|appearance
|core_vocabulary
|communication
|arts_entertainment
Визначення
Very, very good or very attractive; much better than normal.
Extremely good, impressive, attractive, or exciting.
Модель уживання:
a killer [instinct/blow/virus/storm]
She has a real killer instinct on the tennis court.
A teniszpályán igazi gyilkos ösztönnel játszik.
The boxer landed a killer blow in the final round.
Az ökölvívó az utolsó menetben gyilkos ütést vitt be.
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.
Навчальні приклади
The player has a killer instinct and always wants to win.
A játékosnak gyilkos ösztöne van, és mindig nyerni akar.
The fighter used one killer blow to end the match.
A harcos egyetlen gyilkos ütéssel vetett véget a mérkőzésnek.
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.
Поширена помилка:
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.
Значення
very powerful or deadly
Словосполучення
killer instinct
|killer blow
|killer virus
|killer storm
|killer robot
|killer bacteria
Синоніми
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.)
Антоніми
harmless (Describes something that cannot or is very unlikely to cause harm.)
|
weak (Lacking power or strength, the opposite of very strong or dangerous.)
Теми
danger
|health
|sports
|core_vocabulary
|law
Визначення
So strong or dangerous that it can kill or hurt people very much, or very strong in winning or beating others.
Very powerful, effective, or dangerous, and able to kill or cause serious harm.