grueling

英 ['grʊəlɪŋ] 好意思 ['gruːəlɪŋ]

adj.折磨东谈主的；令东谈主疲精竭力的

=gruelling（英）

◉词源

“grueling”源自英语动词“gruel”，意为“刑事职守、折磨”，可能与19世纪俚语“to get one’s gruel”（受到刑事职守）有关。该词在19世纪中世演变为描摹词“grueling”，意为“令东谈主疲精竭力的”或“费事的”，态状极具挑战性或破钞膂力的事物。

◉外刊例句

① 《The New York Times》 (2024年6月5日)

The marathon was a grueling test of endurance.

马拉松是一场费事的耐力覆按。

② 《The Guardian》 (2023年12月15日)

Nurses faced grueling shifts during the crisis.

照看在危境时间濒临费事的轮班使命。

◉经典名著

① 《野性的呼叫》（The Call of the Wild） by Jack London (1903)

The trail was a grueling ordeal for the dogs.

这条小径对狗来说是一场费事的折磨。

② 《女儿与情东谈主》（Sons and Lovers） by D.H. Lawrence (1913)

His work in the mines was grueling.

他在矿井里的使命极为费事。

◉Usage Examples

(1) The Hawaii Ironman is even more grueling.

(2) The presentation of future plans had been a grueling work.

(1) 夏威夷铁东谈主三项赛就更忙活了。

(2) 制定这些辩论是一项令东谈主疲精竭力的使命。

◉Usage Notes

If a job is grueling, that means it is really difficult. If a race is grueling, that means it is really difficult. If a trip to the dentist is grueling, that means you need to toughen up.

Once upon a time in a land far far away (like eighteenth century England) there was an expression, to “get one’s gruel,” which meant “receive one’s punishment.” This saying morphed into the word grueling, which can be applied to any punishing activity. Presumably, to “get one’s gruel” involved horrible punishments, but now the more pampered among us might even find a long tennis match grueling.