1
pay a retainer (to sb)
retainer 作“预付聘用金”解时，常与 pay 连用。
The company paid a retainer to the lawyer.
公司向律师支付了预付聘用金。
牙齿保持器
先理解核心含义，再看它在真实句子里的用法。
牙齿保持器
a removable dental device that keeps teeth in position after orthodontic treatment
The company paid a retainer to the lawyer.
公司向律师支付了预付聘用金。
任何具有保持作用的事物或人。
Any thing or person that retains.
身份高者的依附者或随从。
A dependent or follower of someone of rank.
雇佣的仆人,尤指已工作多年的仆人。
A paid servant, especially one who has been employed for many years.
为预约对方服务时间而支付的费用。
A fee one pays to reserve the other's time for services.
The lawyer asked for a monthly retainer of $2,000 before taking on the case.
律师在接手这个案子之前要求每月预付2000美元的聘用金。
After getting my braces off, I have to wear a retainer every night to keep my teeth straight.
拆掉牙套后，我每晚都要戴保持器来保持牙齿整齐。
In medieval times, a knight's retainer would accompany him into battle and serve his needs.
在中世纪，骑士的家臣会陪同他上战场并服侍他的需求。
retainer 作“预付聘用金”解时，常与 pay 连用。
The company paid a retainer to the lawyer.
公司向律师支付了预付聘用金。
retainer 指牙齿保持器时，常用 wear 搭配。
She wears a retainer every night to keep her teeth straight.
她每晚戴保持器以保持牙齿整齐。
retainer 作“家臣”解时，常与 serve as 搭配。
He served as a retainer for the noble family for decades.
他为那个贵族家庭做了几十年的家臣。
Not this
I need to retainer my teeth after orthodontic treatment.
Use this
I need to wear a retainer for my teeth after orthodontic treatment.
错误：将名词“retainer”误用作动词。正确用法是使用动词“wear”搭配名词“retainer”。
Not this
I hired a retainer lawyer to handle my case.
Use this
I hired a lawyer on retainer to handle my case.
错误：将“retainer”误用作形容词修饰“lawyer”。正确表达是“lawyer on retainer”或“retainer fee”，表示预付聘用金。
Focus on the distinctions below. Other candidates are kept compact until a reliable usage note is available.
牙齿保持器
She got a dental retainer after her braces were removed.
她摘下牙套后配了一个牙齿保持器。
佩戴保持器
The orthodontist told me to wear a retainer every night.
正畸医生告诉我要每晚佩戴保持器。
聘用定金；预付服务费
The consultant requires a retainer fee before starting the project.
顾问要求在项目开始前支付一笔预付服务费。
忠实的侍从；忠仆
The loyal retainer served the family for generations.
这位忠实的仆人世代为这个家族服务。
受聘待命；长期聘用
They have a lawyer on retainer for all their legal matters.
他们常年聘请一名律师处理所有法律事务。
Use retainer naturally, then get feedback on meaning, tone, grammar, and phrasing.
Revisit a common error or keep this word in your review list.
联想 retain（保持）加 -er：牙套保持牙齿位置，定金留住服务，随从依附主人。
语域：neutral 常见场景：牙科诊所、正畸治疗 作“牙齿保持器”讲时，多用于看牙医或谈论牙齿矫正治疗的场景，属于日常中性词；语气自然，不限于正式场合。
可数名词
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, WIKTIONARY.