Word · Frequency #26549
primly
一本正经地；整洁地
primly
- 1.
In a prim manner.
以拘谨的方式。
以拘谨的方式。；循规蹈矩地；整洁地
In use
She sat primly on the edge of the chair, folding her hands in her lap.
The receptionist primly straightened the papers on her desk.
"I never gossip," she said primly, raising her chin.
verb + primly
primly 作方式副词放在动词后，表示动作拘谨、刻板。
She sat primly on the edge of the chair.
她一本正经地坐在椅子边缘。
be + primly + past participle (dressed/groomed)
此结构用 primly 修饰过去分词，强调外表整洁、一丝不苟。
The children were primly dressed in matching school uniforms.
孩子们穿着相配的校服，打扮得整整齐齐。
Common mistakes
She sat prim in the corner.She sat primly in the corner.
这里需要副词修饰动词 sat，说明坐的姿态；prim 是形容词，不能修饰动作，应换成副词 primly。
She looked primly in her new dress.She looked prim in her new dress.
looked 在这里是系动词，后面应接形容词作表语，描述主语的样子；primly 是副词，修饰动作，用在此处不自然。
Connections
Collocations
- primly dressed
- 衣着整洁得体
- She was primly dressed in a gray suit.她穿着灰色套装，整洁得体。
- primly seated
- 端坐
- The guests sat primly seated on the edge of their chairs.客人们端坐在椅子边上。
- primly said
- 一本正经地说
- He primly said that he never told lies.他一本正经地说他从不撒谎。
- primly folded
- 规规矩矩地叠着
- Her hands were primly folded in her lap.她双手规规矩矩地叠放在膝上。
- primly proper
- 一本正经的
- The old lady remained primly proper throughout the conversation.那位老太太在谈话过程中始终一本正经。
Synonyms
Learner notes
Memory Tip
记住 prim 是“整洁古板”，加 -ly 成副词，就是“一本正经地”；想象一个人衣领笔挺、端坐不动。
Context & Register
语域：formal 常见场景：描写人物拘谨的举止或姿态、文学或叙事性文本、书面评论或人物刻画 primly 多用于书面或文学语境，常描写某人举动拘谨、过分守规矩或衣着整洁；口语中较少见，正式程度较高，有时带轻微的保守或挑剔意味。
Grammar Note
多用于描述以过分讲究规矩或整洁的方式做某事，常含轻微贬义。
Pronunciation & Spelling
Rhymes: dimly, grimly, slimly, trimly all end with /ɪmli/ and match primly's ending sound. Lookalikes that sound different: simply (/ˈsɪmpli/, has /p/ before /li/) and firmly (/ˈfɜːrmli/, has a different vowel /ɜːr/).
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, WIKTIONARY.