threaten /ˈθrɛtən/ CET4 TEM4 ( threatening, threatened, threatens )

• 1. 

  V-T If a person threatens to do something bad to you, or if they threaten you, they say or imply that they will hurt you in some way, especially if you do not do what they want. 威胁

  例：

  He said army officers had threatened to destroy the town.

  他说军官们已威胁要摧毁这座小镇。

  例：

  He tied her up and threatened her with a six-inch knife.

  他把她绑起来，拿着一把6英寸长的刀威胁她。

• 2. 

  V-T If something or someone threatens a person or thing, they are likely to harm that person or thing. 威胁到

  例：

  The newcomers directly threaten the livelihood of the established workers.

  新来的人直接威胁到原有工人的生计。

• 3. 

  V-T If something bad threatens to happen, it seems likely to happen. (坏事) 可能发生

  例：

  It's threatening to rain.

  天可能要下雨。

  例：

  The fighting is threatening to turn into full-scale war.

  这次冲突可能要演变成全面战争。

• 4. 

  → see also threatening