choker
/'tʃoukə/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A high, tight-fitting collar: A type of collar, often stiff and standing up, that fits closely around the neck.
- A close-fitting necklace: A necklace, typically worn by women, that fits snugly around the neck.
- A person who fails under pressure: An informal, often derogatory term for someone who performs poorly due to nervousness or tension, especially in a critical moment.
- A person who strangles: Someone who kills by squeezing the throat to prevent breathing.
Usage Examples
- As a high, tight collar:
- The Victorian dress featured a lace choker.
- He felt the starched choker was too restrictive.
- As a close-fitting necklace:
- She wore a simple velvet choker with her evening gown.
- The diamond choker was the highlight of the jewelry collection.
- As a person who fails under pressure:
- The team lost because their star player was a choker in the final minutes.
- Don't be a choker; stay calm during the presentation.
- As a person who strangles:
- The detective was on the trail of the serial choker. (This usage is less common in everyday language.)
Advanced Usage
- In sports psychology: The term "choker" is often used pejoratively in sports commentary to describe an athlete or team that loses a significant lead or fails in a crucial moment.
- The media labeled him a choker after he missed the decisive penalty kick.
- In fashion history: The choker necklace has cycled in and out of fashion, often associated with specific eras or subcultures.
- Pearl chokers were a signature look in the 1990s.
Variants and Related Words
- Choke (verb): To have severe difficulty in breathing because of a constricted or obstructed throat; to fail to perform effectively under pressure.
- He began to choke on a piece of food.
- She choked during her piano recital.
- Choking (adjective/noun): Causing difficulty in breathing; the act of strangling.
- The choking smoke filled the room.
Synonyms
- For a tight collar: Band, stand-up collar.
- For a necklace: Neckband, collar necklace.
- For a person who fails under pressure: Bottler (informal, chiefly British), fold (as in "he folded under pressure").
- For a person who strangles: Strangler, garroter.
Related Phrases
- To choke up: To become too emotional to speak or perform.
- She choked up while giving her acceptance speech.
- To choke back (tears/emotions): To suppress or hold back tears or strong feelings.
- He choked back his anger and responded calmly.
Related Idioms
- Choke the life out of something: To suppress or stifle something completely.
- Bureaucracy can choke the life out of innovation.
- Choke on one's words: To be unable to speak, often due to surprise, guilt, or embarrassment.
- When confronted with the evidence, he choked on his words.
Noun
- a high tight collar
- necklace that fits tightly around a woman's neck
- an unfortunate person who is unable to perform effectively because of nervous tension or agitation
- he could win if he wasn't a choker
- someone who kills by strangling