sting

• Nom désignant une douleur vive et soudaine, physique (comme une piqûre d'insecte) ou morale (comme une souffrance), ou une escroquerie ou une arnaque visant à tromper.

A noun referring to a sharp, sudden pain, either physical (such as from an insect's stinger) or mental (such as distress), or a deceptive scheme intended to cheat someone.

1. Insect woundA2formal

   A painful injury caused by an insect's stinger piercing the skin.

   piqûre d'insecte

   • A bee sting can be very painful.
   • She applied cream to the wasp sting on her arm.
   • The sting from the ant left a small red bump.

   Synonymesbiteprickwound

2. Sharp painB1formal

   A sudden, sharp, and often localized pain, similar to being stung.

   Douleur aiguë

   • He felt a sharp sting when he touched the hot pan.
   • The sting of the cold wind made her shiver.
   • A sting of pain shot through his knee as he stood up.

   Synonymesjabnippangpricksmartstitchtwinge

3. Emotional painB2formal

   A feeling of mental distress, hurt, or regret.

   piqure au cœur

   • The sting of rejection stayed with him for weeks.
   • She felt the sting of his harsh words.
   • There was a sting of guilt in her heart after the argument.

   Synonymesachebitehurtpainpangsmarttwingewound

   Antonymescomfortconsolationjoyreliefsolace

4. Fraud or swindleC1informalamerican

   A cleverly planned scheme to cheat someone, often in gambling or by selling worthless items.

   Arnaque, escroquerie

   • The police set up a sting to catch the con artists.
   • He lost all his money in a gambling sting.
   • The investment turned out to be a sting, leaving many people bankrupt.

   Synonymesconflimflamfraudhustleracketscamswindle

• Infliger une douleur vive et soudaine, généralement avec un dard ou par une remarque acerbe ; provoquer une sensation de brûlure ou une blessure morale.

To pierce or wound with a sharp-pointed organ or part, typically injecting venom, or to cause a sudden, sharp physical or emotional pain.

verbe irrégulier

1. Pierce with venomB1informalscientific

   To wound or pierce the skin with a sharp-pointed organ of an insect or plant, often accompanied by the injection of an irritating substance.

   Piquer (en injectant du venin)

   • Be careful near those bushes, as a wasp might you if disturbed.
   • The child cried out when a large jellyfish his leg in the shallow water.
   • Nettles can your skin quite badly if you walk through them in shorts.
   • I was three times while trying to remove the hive from the porch.
   • The venom from certain scorpions can even if it isn't fatal.

   Synonymesbitepierceprickpuncturestab

2. Sharp physical sensationB2informalmedical

   To feel or cause a sharp, smarting, or burning physical sensation, often in the eyes or on the skin.

   piquer

   • The cold wind my face as I stepped out into the blizzard.
   • The sweat from my forehead began to my eyes during the marathon.
   • This antiseptic might a little when I apply it to the open cut.
   • Smoke from the campfire was everyone's eyes, making them water.
   • His hands were from the harsh chemicals used in the laboratory.

   Synonymesbiteburnhurtirritatenippainprickpricklesmarttingle

3. Cause emotional distressC1informal

   To cause someone to feel sudden mental pain, resentment, or deep emotional hurt through a remark or action.

   Blesser moralement

   • Her sarcastic comment about his failure really him for several days.
   • He felt by the betrayal of his closest friend after years of loyalty.
   • The harsh criticism from the director deeply the young actor's pride.
   • It still to think about how she was rejected for the scholarship.
   • His words with a bitterness that no one expected during the toast.

   Synonymescuthurtoffendpiercewound

   Antonymescomfortconsolereassuresoothe

4. Cheat or overchargeC2slangbusiness

   To trick someone into paying too much money for something or to cheat them in a dishonest transaction.

   escroquer, arnaquer

   • I think that mechanic me for over five hundred dollars for a simple oil change.
   • Don't let those street vendors you into buying fake designer watches.
   • The tourists were for a massive bill at the restaurant near the landmark.
   • He felt he'd been when he discovered the car needed thousands in repairs.
   • Investors were for millions in the latest cryptocurrency scam.

   Synonymesbilkcheatcondefraudfleecegougeoverchargerip offrookscrewsoakswindle

   Antonymesdealfair