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a checkered career/past/history
这是比喻用法，指经历好坏交替、充满波折，而不是指格子图案。
He had a checkered career in journalism.
他在新闻界的职业生涯起伏不定。
盛衰无常的；多波折的
先理解核心含义，再看它在真实句子里的用法。
盛衰无常的；多波折的
marked by changeable fortune
He had a checkered career in journalism.
他在新闻界的职业生涯起伏不定。
此处指经历、命运等时好时坏，不同于‘方格图案的’。
分成颜色或深浅交替的方格,或分成明暗斑块的。
Divided into a grid of squares of alternating colours or shades, or into light and dark patches.
多变的；不一致的；不确定的；多波折的。
Changeable; inconsistent; having variations or uncertainty; marked by many problems or failures.
The neighborhood's checkered history includes both prosperous years and difficult times.
这个社区曾有多波折的历史，既经历过繁荣的岁月，也经历过艰难的时期。
His business career was checkered, with quiet years followed by sudden success.
他的商业生涯多波折，有沉寂的几年，也有突如其来的成功。
The band's checkered journey took them from small clubs to huge stadiums and then back to small stages.
这支乐队多波折的历程把他们从小俱乐部带到巨大的体育场，然后又回到小舞台。
这是比喻用法，指经历好坏交替、充满波折，而不是指格子图案。
He had a checkered career in journalism.
他在新闻界的职业生涯起伏不定。
该结构用于描写某处表面被不同颜色、光影或事物交错分割的景象。
The hillside was checkered with small farms and woods.
山坡上小农场和树林交错分布。
Not this
His career checkered with ups and downs.
Use this
His career was checkered with ups and downs.
checkered 是形容词，不能单独作谓语；表达“充满波折”时需用 be 动词加 checkered with 结构。
Not this
My mood is very checkered today.
Use this
My mood is very changeable today.
checkered 指命运或经历的好坏交替，不表示情绪多变；形容人心情善变应使用 changeable 或 moody。
Focus on the distinctions below. Other candidates are kept compact until a reliable usage note is available.
波折起伏的历史；盛衰无常的往事
The company has had a checkered history.
这家公司历经波折。
坎坷多变的事业；几起几落的职业生涯
After a checkered career, he finally found stability.
在经历了坎坷多变的事业后，他终于找到了安稳。
不光彩的过往；有污点的过去
The new CEO has a checkered past.
这位新任首席执行官有一段不光彩的过往。
棋盘格图案；方格花纹
She wore a dress with a checkered pattern.
她穿了一条带棋盘格图案的连衣裙。
（赛车终点的）方格旗
The winner took the checkered flag.
获胜者冲过终点拿下了方格旗。
充满波折的过去
Despite his checkered past, he is now a respected community leader.
尽管他过去充满波折，他现在是一位受人尊敬的社区领袖。
跌宕起伏的职业生涯
She had a checkered career in politics, winning and losing several elections.
她的政治生涯跌宕起伏，赢得又输掉了几次选举。
曲折的历史
The company has a checkered history of mergers and scandals.
这家公司有着合并与丑闻交织的曲折历史。
Use checkered naturally, then get feedback on meaning, tone, grammar, and phrasing.
Revisit a common error or keep this word in your review list.
格子（checker）黑白交错，如同人生的成败起伏交错，所以 checkered 表示盛衰无常、多波折。
语域：formal 常见场景：historical accounts、biographies、editorial commentary 该词表示“盛衰无常的、多波折的”时，通常用于正式或书面语境，多出现在传记、历史叙述或新闻评论中；日常口语中较少使用。
没有与 checkered /ˈtʃekəd/ 完全押韵的常用词。bickered 和 tuckered 虽然拼写都以 -ckered 结尾，但重读元音不同（/ɪ/、/ʌ/），只是形似词。checker 和 checked 以 check- 开头，读音前半相同，但结尾不同。
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, WIKTIONARY.