pounce

• vi. 突袭，猛扑
• vt. 扑过去抓住
• n. 猛扑，爪

来自古法语ponchon,标枪，矛，刺，词源同punch,puncture.比喻用法，引申词义鹰爪，猛扑，突袭等。

pounce

pounce: [15] Pounce was originally a noun, denoting the ‘claw of a bird of prey’. It is thought it may have come from puncheon ‘stamping or perforating tool’, which was also abbreviated to punch ‘stamping or perforating tool’ and is probably related to punch ‘hit’. The verb pounce emerged in the 17th century. It at first meant ‘seize with talons’, and was not generalized to ‘attack swoopingly’ until the 18th century.
=> punch

pounce (v.)

1680s, originally "to seize with the pounces," from Middle English pownse (n.) "hawk's claw" (see pounce (n.)). Meaning "to jump or fall upon suddenly" is from 1812. Figurative sense of "lay hold of eagerly" is from 1840. Related: Pounced; pouncing.

pounce (n.)

"claw of a bird of prey," late 15c., pownse, probably from Old French ponchon "lance, javelin; spine, quill" (Modern French poinçon; see punch (v.)). So called for being the "claws that punch" holes in things. In falconry, the heel claw is a talon, and others are pounces. Meaning "an act of jumping or falling upon" is from 1825. In Middle English also the name of a tool for punching holes or embossing metal (late 14c.).

1. Fraud squad officers had bugged the phone and were ready to pounce.

反诈骗小组的警员们已在电话上安装了窃听器，并随时准备突击。

来自柯林斯例句

2. The Democrats were ready to pounce on any Republican failings or mistakes.

民主党人随时准备揪出共和党人的过失或错误。

来自柯林斯例句

3. The lion crouched ready to pounce.

狮子蹲下身，准备猛扑。

来自《权威词典》

4. We saw the tiger about to pounce ( on the goat ).

我们看见老虎要 ( 向那只山羊 ) 扑过去.

来自辞典例句

5. Local politicians are quick to pounce on any trouble.

地方上的那些政客们动辄抓住问题不放.

来自辞典例句