des‧per‧ate S3 W3 / desp ə rət, desp ə rɪt / 形容词

1 willing to do anything to change a very bad situation, and not caring about danger :

I had no money left and was desperate.

Time was running out and we were getting desperate .

the missing teenager’s desperate parents

desperate with

She was desperate with fear.

2 needing or wanting something very much

desperate for

The team is desperate for a win.

I was desperate for a cigarette.

desperate to do something

He was desperate to get a job.

3 a desperate situation is very bad or serious :

a desperate shortage of doctors

We’re in desperate need of help.

4 a desperate action is something that you only do because you are in a very bad situation

desperate attempt/bid/effort

a desperate attempt to escape

We resorted to desperate measures .

desperate battle/struggle/fight

a desperate struggle to rescue the men

COLLOCATIONS

名词

a desperate attempt Brian’s parents agreed to the treatment in a desperate attempt to save his life.

a desperate bid (= attempt ) He was standing in the middle of the road in a desperate bid to get help.

a desperate effort A desperate effort was made to reach an agreement.

a desperate struggle/battle/fight The climbers faced a desperate struggle to reach safety.

desperate measures (= extreme things you do to stop a problem or bad situation ) They had to take desperate measures to stop the spread of the disease.

a desperate search The female bear has left her young in a desperate search for food.

THESAURUS

very bad

serious very bad – used about problems, accidents, illnesses, or crimes : Violent crime is a serious problem in and around the capital. | The boy was taken to hospital with serious head injuries. | Fortunately, the damage to the car was not serious.

severe very serious – used about problems, injuries, and illnesses : He suffered severe injuries in a car crash. | The problem became so severe that they had to bring water in from other countries. | severe epilepsy

grave used about a situation that is very serious and worrying, especially because it is dangerous or seems likely to get worse : A thick fog descended and I knew that we were in grave danger. | The situation is grave – war now seems inevitable.

acute used about an illness, problem, or situation that has become very serious or dangerous, and needs to be dealt with quickly : She was taken to the hospital suffering from acute appendicitis. | In San Diego, the shortage of skilled workers is acute.

desperate used about a situation or problem that is very serious or dangerous, especially because a lot of people need urgent help : The situation is desperate – people here need aid before the harsh winter sets in. | The hospital is full of people in desperate need of medical attention.

critical used about a situation that is very serious and dangerous and might get worse suddenly : In 1991, the food supply situation became critical. | Eight people were killed and four are still in a critical condition.

life-threatening used about a situation, illness, or condition in which someone could die : Her child had a potentially life-threatening illness. | The situation was not life-threatening, but it was very worrying.

be a matter of life and death spoken to be extremely serious – used when a situation is very urgent or important : For people living with HIV, getting the right treatment is literally a matter of life and death.