How do you use "Like a moth to a flame" in a sentence?

She was drawn to him like a moth to a flame. He's like a moth to a flame with gambling. Bad boys attract her like a moth to a flame.

Like a moth to a flame

Q: What does "Like a moth to a flame" mean?

Irresistibly attracted to something potentially harmful. Being drawn 'like a moth to a flame' means being irresistibly attracted to something dangerous—unable to resist despite the risk of harm.

Slang Term BritishAmericanAustralian ★★★★☆ Common Neutral

Practice this with flashcards, quizzes & audio on WordLoci →

Meaning: Irresistibly attracted to something potentially harmful.

不可抗拒地被有潜在危害的事物吸引。

Irresistiblemente atraído por algo potencialmente dañino.

害になりかねないものに抗えないほど惹かれること。

해로울 수 있는 것에 저항할 수 없이 끌리는.

Being drawn 'like a moth to a flame' means being irresistibly attracted to something dangerous—unable to resist despite the risk of harm.

被吸引'like a moth to a flame（像飞蛾扑火一样）'意味着不可抗拒地被危险的东西吸引——尽管有受伤的风险，却无法抵抗。

Sentirse atraído 'like a moth to a flame' (como una polilla a la llama) significa sentir una atracción irresistible hacia algo peligroso, siendo incapaz de resistirse a pesar del riesgo.

「like a moth to a flame（蛾が炎に引き寄せられるように）」は、危険なものに抗えないほど惹かれること——害のリスクがあるにもかかわらず、抵抗できないことです。

'like a moth to a flame'은 위험한 것에 저항할 수 없이 끌린다는 뜻으로—해를 입을 위험에도 불구하고 거부할 수 없는 것을 말한다.

Examples

She was drawn to him like a moth to a flame.
她像飞蛾扑火一样被他吸引。
Se sintió atraída por él como una polilla por la luz.
彼女は蛾が炎に引き寄せられるように彼に惹かれた。
그녀는 불나방처럼 그에게 끌렸다.
He's like a moth to a flame with gambling.
他对赌博就像飞蛾扑火。
Con el juego es como una polilla atraída por la llama.
彼はギャンブルに蛾が炎に引き寄せられるように惹かれる。
그는 도박에 불나방처럼 빠져든다.
Bad boys attract her like a moth to a flame.
坏男孩对她有飞蛾扑火般的吸引力。
Los chicos malos la atraen como la luz a las polillas.
不良少年に彼女は蛾のように引き寄せられる。
나쁜 남자들에게 그녀는 불나방처럼 끌린다.

Pronunciation

/laɪk ə mɒθ tʊ ə fleɪm/

Usage Guide

Context: attraction, danger, romance

Tone: warning, descriptive

✓ Do Say

Like a moth to a flame
像飞蛾扑火
como una polilla a la llama
蛾が炎に引き寄せられるように
불나방처럼 끌리다
Moth to a flame
飞蛾扑火
polilla a la llama
飛んで火に入る夏の虫
불나방

Common Mistakes

About dangerous attraction

Origin & History

Moths are famously drawn to lights, often fatally. The image of irresistible attraction to danger has made this a lasting metaphor.

Etymology: Moths' fatal attraction to flames

First recorded: Historical expression

Cultural Context

Era: Historical to present

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Pop culture: Poetry; Romance

Regional notes: English-language universal.

Variations

Like a moth to a flameMoth to a flame