prodigal
Significado: Spending money or resources freely and recklessly; wastefully extravagant. Also used as a noun to describe a person who leaves home and spends lavishly before returning, alluding to the biblical parable.
Prodigal is inseparable from its biblical association with the Prodigal Son, who squanders his inheritance before returning home to his father's forgiveness. In modern usage, 'prodigal' can describe either wasteful expenditure or, by extension, a person who returns after a long and perhaps reckless absence. Newspaper headlines frequently deploy 'prodigal' in connection with returning politicians, athletes, or cultural figures. The word can modify 'son,' 'daughter,' 'spending,' or 'use,' and it is more literary than 'wasteful' or 'extravagant.'
Ejemplos
- The prodigal spending of the previous administration had left the council with a substantial budget deficit. 前任政府的挥霍支出使市议会面临巨额预算赤字。El gasto pródigo de la administración anterior había dejado al ayuntamiento con un déficit presupuestario considerable.前政権の放漫な支出により、議会は多額の予算赤字を抱えることとなった。전 행정부의 방만한 지출로 인해 의회는 상당한 예산 적자를 떠안게 되었다.
- After a decade abroad, the prodigal director returned to the National Theatre to considerable fanfare. 在海外十年之后,这位浪子般的导演带着相当的声势回归了国家剧院。Tras una década en el extranjero, el pródigo director regresó al National Theatre con gran fanfarria.海外で10年を過ごした後、その放蕩の監督は大きな歓声の中でナショナル・シアターに復帰した。해외에서 10년을 보낸 후, 그 탕아같은 감독은 큰 환호 속에 국립극장으로 복귀했다.
- Critics accused the developer of a prodigal use of public land that could have been better allocated to affordable housing. 批评者指责开发商对公共用地的挥霍使用,认为本可将其更好地用于经济适用房。Los críticos acusaron al promotor de un uso pródigo de suelo público que podría haberse destinado mejor a vivienda asequible.批評家たちは、開発業者が公有地を浪費的に使用しており、手頃な住宅に充てるべきだったと非難した。비평가들은 개발업자가 공유지를 낭비적으로 사용했으며 저렴한 주택에 배분하는 것이 나았을 것이라고 비난했다.
Pronunciación
Guía de uso
Contexto: literary, journalism
Tono: disapproving
Origen e historia
From Latin prodigus (wasteful, lavish), from prodigere (to drive forth, to waste). Its prominence in English owes much to the Parable of the Prodigal Son in the King James Bible (Luke 15:11-32).
Contexto cultural
Era: Modern
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
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