undertone

1 SEEMa feeling or quality that is not directly expressed but can still be recognized 潜在的情感[特质]；含意 → overtone

undertone of

There was an undertone of sadness in her letter.

她的信中流露出忧伤的情绪。

Opponents claim the policy has racist undertones.

反对者声称那项政策有种族歧视意味。

2 QUIET literary if you speak in an undertone, you speak quietly 小声，低声

in an undertone

‘Don’t be too upset if he doesn’t come, ’ said Drew in an undertone.

“如果他不来你也不要太难过。”德鲁小声说道。

Examples from the Corpus

undertone• Balanced it was not, with acidic undertones so evident that it was hard to swallow.• In the prevailing hush of the room, it had an especially clumsy ring, an undertone of impermanence.• The darkness and space made us all speak in undertones.• a story with racist undertones• It is most definitely a thriller, but with strong romantic undertones.• With him, it's that certain words have terribly strong undertones.• He disregarded the Navigator's diminution of his name, perhaps sensing the undertone, this time, of almost fond indebtedness.• There was an unmistakable undertone of nationalist resentment in many of their remarks.• A pleasant floral aroma with woody undertones this tasted like a very dry pale sherry with bubbles which had a tannic aftertaste.

undertone of• There was an undertone of excitement among the passengers.

in an undertone• I pointed out to Sherlock in an undertone.• The darkness and space made us all speak in undertones.

Chinese

Syllable

Corpus

BNC: 18589 COCA: 18524

undertone

noun

ADJECTIVE | VERB + UNDERTONE | PREPOSITION

ADJECTIVE

➤dark, sinister邪惡的暗示；陰險的弦外之音

➤subtle隱約的弦外之音

➤bitter, sarcastic憤憤不平的／尖酸刻薄的弦外之音

▸➤racist, sexual種族主義的弦外之音；性暗示

◇The article was full of racist undertones.這篇文章充滿了隱晦的種族主義論調。

➤political, religious政治寓意；宗教暗示

◇There are hints of political undertones throughout the movie.這部電影從頭到尾都能找到帶有政治寓意的內容。

VERB + UNDERTONE

➤carry, have有弦外之音

◇His voice carried bitter undertones.他的聲音中帶着憤憤不平的弦外之音。

PREPOSITION

➤in an undertone用低音

◇'I don't think she's been told yet,' he said in an undertone.“我認為還沒有人告訴她呢。”他低聲說道。

◇The couple at the next table were speaking in undertones.鄰桌的夫婦在輕聲交談。

BNC: 18589 COCA: 18524

undertone

Slight signs of something: trace, glimpse, inkling...