1
be fodder for sth
fodder 在本义中为不可数名词，比喻“被视为可牺牲的人”。
The new recruits were simply fodder for the enemy's machine guns.
新兵们不过是敌人机枪下的炮灰。
炮灰
fodders — plural of fodder
先理解核心含义，再看它在真实句子里的用法。
炮灰
soldiers who are considered expendable in battle, especially under artillery fire
The new recruits were simply fodder for the enemy's machine guns.
新兵们不过是敌人机枪下的炮灰。
常用于 cannon fodder 这一短语，指在战争中被视为可牺牲的士兵。
动物饲料；喂给牛、马、羊等的食物。
Food for animals; that which is fed to cattle, horses, and sheep, such as hay, cornstalks, vegetables, etc.
被视为在炮火面前可消耗的士兵
soldiers who are regarded as expendable in the face of artillery fire
素材；材料；尤指用于讽刺或幽默的灵感或鼓励。
Stuff; material; something that serves as inspiration or encouragement, especially for satire or humour.
粗饲料(尤其是用于牲畜),由整株植物或谷物作物的叶和茎组成
coarse food (especially for livestock) composed of entire plants or the leaves and stalks of a cereal crop
The commander treated the inexperienced recruits as fodder for the enemy's artillery.
指挥官把缺乏经验的新兵当作敌人炮火的炮灰。
The soldiers knew they were no more than fodder in the general's reckless plan.
士兵们知道，在将军鲁莽的计划中，他们不过是炮灰。
The army kept sending men into battle, using them as fodder to exhaust the enemy.
军队不断把人送进战场，用他们作炮灰来消耗敌人。
fodder 在本义中为不可数名词，比喻“被视为可牺牲的人”。
The new recruits were simply fodder for the enemy's machine guns.
新兵们不过是敌人机枪下的炮灰。
“把某人当作炮灰”可用 use sb as fodder，语气较负面。
The commander used the militia as fodder to slow the enemy advance.
指挥官把民兵当作炮灰，以延缓敌人的推进。
Not this
The farmer bought a fodder for his sheep.
Use this
The farmer bought some fodder for his sheep.
fodder 作“饲料”讲时是不可数名词，不能直接加不定冠词 a；应说 some fodder，或用 a bale/sack of fodder 等单位词。
Not this
The scandal was good fodder to the gossip columnists.
Use this
The scandal was good fodder for the gossip columnists.
fodder 表示“素材、谈资”时，后面搭配介词 for 引出使用对象，而不是 to。
Focus on the distinctions below. Other candidates are kept compact until a reliable usage note is available.
炮灰
The general treated the young soldiers as cannon fodder.
将军把这些年轻士兵当作炮灰。
牛饲料
They store cattle fodder in the barn for winter.
他们把牛饲料储存在谷仓里过冬。
饲料作物
Alfalfa and corn are common fodder crops.
苜蓿和玉米是常见的饲料作物。
青饲料
The cows were fed fresh green fodder.
奶牛吃的是新鲜青饲料。
小报素材
The scandal was tabloid fodder for weeks.
这起丑闻一连几周都是小报的素材。
辩论素材
The new policy provided plenty of fodder for debate.
新政策为辩论提供了大量素材。
炮灰
The young recruits were sent to the front line as cannon fodder.
年轻的新兵被派往前线充当炮灰。
流言蜚语的素材
The politician's scandal became fodder for the rumor mill.
这位政客的丑闻成了流言蜚语的素材。
思考的食粮
The lecture provided plenty of fodder for thought.
这场讲座提供了大量值得思考的食粮。
Use fodders naturally, then get feedback on meaning, tone, grammar, and phrasing.
Revisit a common error or keep this word in your review list.
联想：fodder 本义喂牲口的饲料；战场上士兵成了炮弹的饲料，即炮灰。
语域：informal 常见场景：military discussions、political commentary、anti-war rhetoric 此义通常以 cannon fodder 的形式出现，多用于带批判或贬义色彩的评论、新闻报道或口语中；正式写作中较少单独使用 fodder 表示“炮灰”。
fodder 的动词变形为 foddered / foddering，第三人称单数为 fodders。
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, WIKTIONARY.