1[countableC usually singular]FUTURE the things that happen to someone or something, especially unpleasant things that end their existence or end a particular period 命中注定的事,命运的安排〔尤指不好的结局〕
I wouldn’t wish such a fate on my worst enemy.
就算是我不共戴天的仇敌,我也不希望他遭遇这样的命运。
fate of
No one knows what the fate of the hostages will be.
2[uncountableU]CHANCE/BY CHANCE a power that is believed to control what happens in people’s lives 天命,命运,运数
Fate plays cruel tricks sometimes.
有时命运的捉弄很残酷。
a twist/quirk of fate (=something unexpected that happens) 命运的奇特安排
By a strange twist of fate, Smith’s first match is against the team that gave him the sack last season.
由于命运的奇特安排,史密斯首场比赛的对手正是上个赛季将他除名的那个队。
3a fate worse than deathHARM/BE BAD FORsomething terrible that might happen to you – often used humorously 比死还糟糕的事情,极可怕的事〔常作幽默用法〕
He had rescued an innocent girl from a fate worse than death.
他将一个无辜的女孩子救出苦海。
Examples from the Corpus
a fate worse than death• After all, she didn't know him, and a fate worse than death might just be awaiting her.• I knew that Grandma's visit would be a fate worse than death.• There are various Pelagias who are known as penitentharlots or virginmartyrs who died to escape a fate worse than death.• It certainly wasn't because he was trying to save her from a Fate Worse than Death.• We've even growled at the horse, and threatened it with a fate worse than death, but to no avail!