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B1 noun, verb #9 最常用 12分钟阅读

rake

前9

At the A1 level, 'rake' is a simple noun. It is a word you learn when talking about the garden or home. A rake is a tool. It has a long handle. It has 'teeth' at the bottom. You use it for leaves. You can say, 'This is a rake.' You can say, 'I have a rake in my garden.' The word is easy to remember because it is short. You might see it in a picture book about a house. At this level, you don't need to worry about the other meanings. Just remember that a rake is for leaves and grass. It is like a big comb for the ground. When you see leaves on the grass, you need a rake. You can also use it as a very simple verb: 'I rake the leaves.' This is a basic action, like 'I eat' or 'I walk.' You do not need to use complex sentences. Just focus on the tool and the simple action of cleaning the yard. It is a useful word for basic conversations about chores and hobbies. Most A1 learners will see this word in a vocabulary list about 'The Home' or 'Gardening.' It is a concrete noun, which means you can touch it and see it. This makes it easier to learn than abstract words. Remember: Rake = Garden Tool.

At the A2 level, you can start to use 'rake' in more complete sentences. You can describe what you are doing in the garden. For example, 'I am raking the leaves because it is autumn.' You can also use it with other garden words like 'grass,' 'yard,' or 'pile.' You might say, 'I raked the leaves into a big pile.' At this level, you should know that 'rake' is both a noun (the tool) and a verb (the action). You can also start to use adjectives with it, like 'a plastic rake' or 'a heavy rake.' You might hear this word in a story about someone working outside. It is also useful for talking about chores. If someone asks, 'What did you do this weekend?', you can answer, 'I raked the yard.' You should also be aware of the past tense, 'raked.' For example, 'Yesterday, I raked the garden.' The pronunciation is important here; the 'ed' sounds like a 't' at the end. At A2, you are building your ability to describe daily life, and 'rake' is a perfect word for describing seasonal work around the house. You are not yet using the metaphorical meanings, but you are becoming very comfortable with the physical ones.

At the B1 level, you should be comfortable with the physical meaning of 'rake' and start learning some common phrasal verbs and idioms. The most important one is 'rake in,' which means to earn a lot of money easily. For example, 'That new shop is raking in the money.' This is a very common expression in everyday English. You should also understand 'rake through,' which means to search for something among many other things. For example, 'I had to rake through my bag to find my keys.' At this level, you can use 'rake' in different tenses and more complex sentence structures. You might say, 'If I had a better rake, I would finish this job faster.' You are also beginning to see 'rake' in different contexts, like news reports or more detailed stories. You should understand that 'rake' implies a specific kind of movement—pulling something toward you or moving something across a surface. You might also encounter the idiom 'to rake over the past,' which means to talk about things that happened a long time ago, usually bad things. B1 learners should be able to use 'rake' to describe both physical work and simple metaphorical situations involving money or searching.

At the B2 level, you should have a nuanced understanding of 'rake.' You can use it to describe light or gunfire moving across a surface. For example, 'The sun's rays raked across the mountain.' This adds a more descriptive, almost poetic quality to your writing. You should also be familiar with the idiom 'to rake someone over the coals,' which means to scold or criticize them very strongly. This is a more advanced idiom that shows a high level of English. At B2, you should also be aware of the noun 'rake' when it refers to an angle or slope. While this is more technical, it often appears in descriptions of buildings or ships. You might read, 'The theater had a raked stage.' You should be able to distinguish between the different meanings based on the context of the sentence. Your vocabulary is becoming more flexible. You can choose 'rake' instead of 'search' to sound more descriptive. You understand that 'raking through' sounds more intensive than just 'looking through.' You are also comfortable with the word in professional contexts, such as discussing a company's ability to 'rake in' profits. Your use of the word is now accurate, varied, and contextually appropriate.

At the C1 level, you should be aware of the historical and literary meanings of 'rake.' A 'rake' (short for rakehell) is a common character type in 17th and 18th-century English literature—a man who is immoral, spends too much money, and pursues many women. Understanding this meaning is essential for reading classic literature or watching historical dramas. You should also be able to use 'rake' in very specific technical contexts. For example, in nautical terms, 'the rake of the mast' refers to its angle. In architecture, you might discuss the 'rake' of a roof or a seating area. Your use of the verb should be sophisticated; you might use it to describe a searchlight 'raking' the horizon or a person 'raking' their fingers through their hair. You understand the subtle connotations of the word—how it suggests a certain intensity or thoroughness. You can use the word in academic or formal writing when appropriate, such as describing the 'raked' seating in an auditorium to explain why visibility is good. At this level, you are not just using the word; you are aware of its history, its technical applications, and its literary significance. You can use it with precision and flair.

At the C2 level, you have a complete mastery of the word 'rake' and all its obscure and technical meanings. You can use it effortlessly in any context, from a casual conversation about gardening to a technical discussion about naval architecture or a literary analysis of a Restoration comedy. You understand the etymology of the word—how it comes from the Old English 'raca' and is related to the Dutch 'raak' and German 'Rechen.' You can use the word in highly metaphorical ways, perhaps describing how a person's eyes 'raked' over a crowd, implying a sharp, predatory, or highly observant gaze. You are familiar with 'the rake' in gambling contexts, specifically in poker, and can discuss it fluently. You can use the word to create specific atmospheres in your writing, using its sharp, hard sound to convey tension or labor. You are also aware of very rare uses, such as 'rake' meaning to set a fire so that it burns slowly. Your command of the word is such that you can play with its multiple meanings, perhaps using it in a pun or a complex metaphor. For a C2 speaker, 'rake' is a small but powerful tool in a vast linguistic toolbox, used with perfect accuracy and stylistic sensitivity.

开始练习例句笔记与提示

rake 30秒了解

A rake is a long-handled garden tool with teeth used for gathering leaves or leveling soil.
As a verb, it means to use a rake or to search through something very carefully.
It is commonly used in the phrase 'rake in' to describe earning a lot of money.
In technical terms, it refers to a slope or angle, like on a ship or a stage.

The word rake is a versatile term in the English language, primarily recognized as a fundamental gardening tool. In its most basic noun form, a rake consists of a long handle, usually made of wood, fiberglass, or metal, attached to a head with several projecting teeth or tines. These tines can be rigid for moving soil and gravel, or flexible and fan-shaped for gathering light debris like fallen leaves or grass clippings. When you transition to the verb form, 'to rake' describes the physical action of using this tool to clear, smooth, or gather materials. However, the utility of the word extends far beyond the backyard. It is frequently used metaphorically to describe the act of searching through something meticulously or accumulating something in large quantities, such as money or information. Understanding the context is crucial because 'rake' can also refer to a historical character type—a 'rake' or 'rakehell'—which describes a man who was habituated to immoral conduct, particularly a womanizer or a gambler in 17th and 18th-century literature. Furthermore, in technical fields like architecture or nautical engineering, a 'rake' refers to an angle of slope or inclination, such as the rake of a ship's mast or the rake of a theater stage. People use this word most commonly during the autumn season when deciduous trees shed their foliage, requiring homeowners to engage in the rhythmic, often meditative task of clearing their lawns. It is a word that bridges the gap between manual labor, historical character studies, and modern financial idioms.

The Garden Tool: A long-handled implement with a row of teeth at the head, used for gathering leaves, hay, or grass, or for loosening or leveling the soil.
The Action: To draw together or smooth with a rake; to search or examine thoroughly; to scratch or scrape a surface.
The Sloped Angle: The angle of a mast, chimney, or other upright part, or the slope of a stage or floor in a building.

Every October, the sound of neighbors who rake their lawns becomes a familiar weekend soundtrack.

The detective had to rake through the old files to find the missing evidence.

The tech company began to rake in profits after the launch of their new app.

He was known as a bit of a rake in his younger days, spending every night at the casino.

The ship's mast had a distinct rake toward the stern, giving it a sleek appearance.

In everyday conversation, you will most likely encounter 'rake' in the context of yard work. If you live in a climate with four seasons, 'raking leaves' is a universal experience. In a professional setting, specifically in finance or sales, you might hear about 'raking in' revenue. In investigative journalism or police work, 'raking through' archives is a common phrase. The word carries a sense of repetitive, linear motion, whether it's the physical teeth of a tool moving across the ground or a person's eyes moving across lines of text. It is a robust, hardworking word that has survived for centuries, evolving from a simple agricultural necessity into a multifaceted descriptor of human behavior and technical design.

Using the word rake correctly depends heavily on whether you are using it as a noun or a verb, and which specific meaning you intend to convey. As a noun referring to the tool, it is a simple count noun. You can have one rake or several rakes. When used as a verb, it follows standard conjugation: rake, rakes, raked, and raking. The verb form is often paired with prepositions to change its nuance. For example, 'rake up' usually refers to gathering things into a pile, while 'rake through' implies a deep, often messy search. 'Rake over' is almost always used in the idiom 'to rake over the coals,' meaning to criticize someone severely or to obsessively discuss past mistakes. In technical contexts, 'rake' functions as a noun to describe a specific measurement of an angle. If you are describing a person as a 'rake,' it is an older, more literary usage, but it is still understood in discussions of history or classic novels. The versatility of 'rake' allows it to fit into casual, professional, and technical sentences with ease.

Transitive Verb Usage: The subject performs the action on an object. Example: 'She raked the gravel path until it was perfectly smooth.'
Intransitive Verb Usage: The action is performed without a direct object, often followed by a prepositional phrase. Example: 'He raked through the drawers looking for his keys.'
Phrasal Verb: Rake In: To earn or collect a large amount of something, usually money. Example: 'The blockbuster movie is raking in millions at the box office.'

Please use the rake to clear the pine needles from the driveway.

The sunlight raked across the valley as the sun began to set.

There is no need to rake over the details of our last argument.

The gardener rakes the bunkers on the golf course every morning.

The theater was built with a steep rake so that everyone could see the stage.

When constructing sentences, consider the 'teeth' of the rake. This imagery helps in metaphorical use. Just as a rake's teeth catch leaves but let small dirt particles through, 'raking through' information implies you are looking for specific 'large' items while ignoring the 'small' details. If you are writing about a person, using 'rake' as a noun is quite formal and slightly archaic, so it might feel out of place in a text message but perfect in a historical novel. In modern business English, 'raking it in' is a very common, though slightly informal, way to describe high earnings. Always ensure that the subject of your sentence is capable of the action—usually a person, though natural elements like light or wind can also 'rake' across a landscape.

In the real world, the word rake is most audible in suburban neighborhoods, hardware stores, and financial news reports. If you walk into a store like Home Depot or B&Q, you will hear staff and customers discussing different types of rakes—leaf rakes, bow rakes, or thatch rakes. In the autumn, the word becomes a staple of small talk: 'Have you raked your leaves yet?' or 'I spent all Saturday raking.' Beyond the garden, the word is a favorite in the world of finance and entertainment. Headlines often scream about a new movie 'raking in' record-breaking profits over a holiday weekend. You might also hear it in a more somber context in legal or investigative dramas, where a character might say, 'We need to rake through his financial records to find the motive.' This implies a level of scrutiny that is both exhaustive and perhaps a bit intrusive. The word also has a place in the world of sports, particularly golf, where 'raking the sand' is a required etiquette after a player hits a ball out of a bunker.

In the Garden Center: 'Which rake is better for wet leaves? The plastic one or the metal one?'
In Financial News: 'The CEO is raking in a massive bonus despite the company's poor performance.'
In Historical Contexts: 'The protagonist of the novel was a notorious rake who eventually found redemption.'

'I'm going to rake the yard before the storm hits,' my dad said as he grabbed his gloves.

The news anchor reported, 'The tech giant continues to rake in billions from cloud services.'

'Don't rake over the past,' she whispered, 'let's just focus on the future.'

You might also encounter the word in more specialized settings. In a theater, a stage manager might talk about the 'rake' of the stage, which refers to its slope toward the audience. In a maritime museum, a guide might point out the 'rake' of a clipper ship's masts, explaining how the backward tilt helped with speed and stability. Even in the world of gambling, 'the rake' is a well-known term; it refers to the commission fee taken by the cardroom operating a poker game. So, whether you are in a garden, a boardroom, a theater, or a casino, 'rake' is a word that appears in surprisingly diverse environments, always carrying its core meaning of gathering, searching, or sloping.

While rake seems like a simple word, learners often make mistakes regarding its prepositions and its distinction from other garden tools. One of the most common errors is confusing a 'rake' with a 'broom' or a 'shovel.' While a broom 'sweeps' and a shovel 'digs,' a rake 'gathers' or 'scrapes.' Using the wrong verb with the tool—such as 'I am sweeping the leaves with a rake'—is a frequent slip-up. Another common mistake involves the phrasal verb 'rake in.' Learners sometimes forget the 'in' and just say 'The company is raking money,' which sounds incomplete and unnatural. Similarly, when talking about searching through something, the preposition 'through' is essential. Saying 'I raked the files' implies you physically used a garden tool on them, whereas 'I raked through the files' correctly conveys the metaphorical search. There is also the potential for confusion with the word 'rock,' though they sound quite different, the 'r' and 'k' sounds can sometimes lead to pronunciation errors for speakers of certain languages.

Confusing Tools: Mistake: 'I used a rake to dig a hole.' Correct: 'I used a shovel to dig a hole; I used a rake to level the soil.'
Preposition Omission: Mistake: 'He is raking cash.' Correct: 'He is raking IN cash.'
Tense Confusion: Mistake: 'I have rake the leaves.' Correct: 'I have raked the leaves.'

Incorrect: He rake the garden yesterday. (Missing past tense '-ed')

Incorrect: I need to rake up my bedroom. (Should be 'tidy up' or 'clean up')

Incorrect: She is raking through the grass with a broom. (Wrong tool for the action)

Another subtle mistake is using 'rake' when you mean 'hoe.' A hoe is used for weeding and breaking up hard soil, while a rake is for smoothing or gathering. In the metaphorical sense, 'raking over the coals' is a fixed idiom. You cannot say 'raking over the fire' or 'raking over the wood.' Using the wrong noun in an idiom is a common mistake for B1-B2 learners. Finally, be careful with the word 'rake' as a noun for a person. If you call someone a 'rake' today, they might not understand you unless they are well-read, or they might think you are calling them a garden tool. It is better to use modern terms like 'playboy' or 'womanizer' unless you are intentionally using a literary style. By paying attention to these nuances, you can avoid common pitfalls and use 'rake' with the precision of a native speaker.

When you want to avoid repeating the word rake, or if you need a word with a slightly different meaning, there are several alternatives depending on the context. For the physical action of gathering, words like 'collect,' 'gather,' 'accumulate,' or 'heap' are excellent substitutes. If you are talking about smoothing a surface, 'level,' 'flatten,' or 'even out' might be more precise. In the metaphorical sense of searching, you could use 'scour,' 'search,' 'comb through,' or 'examine.' Each of these alternatives carries a slightly different 'flavor.' For instance, 'comb through' suggests a very fine, detailed search, much like using a fine-toothed comb, whereas 'rake through' might imply a slightly more vigorous or messy process. If you are referring to the historical 'rake' (the person), synonyms include 'libertine,' 'profligate,' 'roué,' or the more modern 'playboy.' Understanding these synonyms helps you tailor your language to the specific situation and level of formality required.

Rake vs. Comb: A rake is larger and used for coarser materials like leaves; a comb is for fine materials like hair or fibers. Metaphorically, 'combing' is more detailed than 'raking.'
Rake vs. Scrape: To rake is to gather or smooth; to scrape is to remove a layer from a surface using force. Raking is usually gentler than scraping.
Rake vs. Gather: Gathering is a general term for bringing things together; raking specifies the tool or the linear motion used to do so.

Instead of raking the leaves, he used a leaf blower to clear the lawn.

The police combed through the area for clues, a much more thorough process than just raking through.

The investor began to accumulate shares in the company, similar to raking in profits.

In technical drawing or architecture, instead of 'rake,' you might use 'incline,' 'slope,' 'pitch,' or 'gradient.' For example, a roof has a 'pitch,' while a road has a 'gradient.' A 'rake' is specifically used for masts or theater stages. In the context of gunfire or light, 'sweep' is a very close synonym. 'The spotlight swept the stage' is almost identical to 'The spotlight raked the stage,' though 'raked' sounds more intense and thorough. By expanding your vocabulary with these alternatives, you can describe actions and objects with much greater variety and precision, ensuring your English sounds more natural and sophisticated.

How Formal Is It?

正式

中性

非正式

Child friendly

俚语

趣味小知识

The 'rake' who is a dissolute man comes from 'rakehell,' a 16th-century word for a man so bad he would be found 'raking' the coals of hell.

发音指南

UK /reɪk/

US /reɪk/

The word is a single syllable, so the stress is on the entire word.

押韵词

cake lake make take wake fake shake brake

常见错误

Pronouncing it like 'rack' (short 'a').
Pronouncing it like 'lake' (confusing 'r' and 'l').
Adding an extra vowel sound at the end (e.g., 'rake-uh').
Confusing it with 'rock' in fast speech.
Mispronouncing the past tense 'raked' as 'rake-ed' instead of 'raykt'.

难度评级

阅读 2/5

The basic meaning is easy, but technical and historical meanings require more context.

写作 3/5

Using phrasal verbs like 'rake in' and 'rake through' correctly takes practice.

口语 2/5

The pronunciation is simple, but the 'ed' ending in 'raked' can be tricky.

听力 2/5

Easily understood in context, though 'rake' and 'rack' can sound similar.

接下来学什么

前置知识

garden tool leaves clean money

接下来学习

shovel hoe mow accumulate libertine

高级

inclination profligate roué tine bunker

需要掌握的语法

Phrasal Verbs with Rake

Rake in, rake through, rake up.

Past Tense Pronunciation

Raked is pronounced /reɪkt/.

Transitive vs Intransitive

I raked the leaves (T). I raked through the box (I).

Adjective Formation

Adding -ish to make 'rakish'.

Noun as Adjective

A 'raked' stage uses the past participle as an adjective.

按水平分级的例句

I have a rake.

J'ai un râteau.

Simple subject-verb-object structure.

The rake is blue.

Le râteau est bleu.

Using 'is' to describe a noun.

I rake the leaves.

Je râtelle les feuilles.

Present simple for a regular action.

Where is the rake?

Où est le râteau ?

Basic question formation.

Use the rake now.

Utilise le râteau maintenant.

Imperative mood for a command.

The rake has teeth.

Le râteau a des dents.

Describing parts of an object.

He needs a rake.

Il a besoin d'un râteau.

Third person singular 'needs'.

It is a big rake.

C'est un grand râteau.

Using an adjective before a noun.

I am raking the garden today.

Je râtelle le jardin aujourd'hui.

Present continuous for an action happening now.

She raked the grass yesterday morning.

Elle a râtelé l'herbe hier matin.

Past simple with a time expression.

Put the rake in the shed.

Mets le râteau dans la remise.

Prepositional phrase 'in the shed'.

We need to rake the dead leaves.

Nous devons râteler les feuilles mortes.

Infinitive 'to rake' after the verb 'need'.

Is that your rake or mine?

Est-ce ton râteau ou le mien ?

Possessive pronouns 'your' and 'mine'.

He rakes the yard every Saturday.

Il râtelle la cour chaque samedi.

Present simple for a habit.

The rake is broken, so I need a new one.

Le râteau est cassé, j'en ai donc besoin d'un nouveau.

Compound sentence using 'so'.

Can you help me rake these leaves?

Peux-tu m'aider à râteler ces feuilles ?

Modal verb 'can' for a request.

The company is raking in huge profits this year.

L'entreprise engrange d'énormes bénéfices cette année.

Phrasal verb 'rake in' used metaphorically.

I had to rake through the drawer to find my passport.

J'ai dû fouiller dans le tiroir pour trouver mon passeport.

Phrasal verb 'rake through' meaning to search.

Don't rake over the past; it's better to move on.

Ne remue pas le passé ; il vaut mieux aller de l'avant.

Idiomatic use of 'rake over'.

He raked the gravel to make the path look neat.

Il a râtelé le gravier pour que l'allée paraisse soignée.

Using 'rake' for smoothing a surface.

After the storm, we spent hours raking up the debris.

Après la tempête, nous avons passé des heures à ramasser les débris.

Phrasal verb 'rake up' for gathering.

The children enjoyed jumping into the leaves we had raked.

Les enfants ont aimé sauter dans les feuilles que nous avions râtelées.

Past perfect 'had raked' for an action completed before another.

She is raking in the awards for her latest performance.

Elle collectionne les récompenses pour sa dernière performance.

Metaphorical 'rake in' for non-monetary items.

You should rake the soil before you plant the seeds.

Tu devrais râteler le sol avant de planter les graines.

Modal verb 'should' for advice.

The boss raked him over the coals for missing the deadline.

Le patron l'a passé un savon pour avoir manqué l'échéance.

Idiom 'rake over the coals' for severe criticism.

The searchlight raked the dark water, looking for survivors.

Le projecteur a balayé l'eau sombre, à la recherche de survivants.

Descriptive verb 'rake' for light movement.

The theater has a raked floor so that everyone has a good view.

Le théâtre a un sol en pente pour que tout le monde ait une bonne vue.

Adjective 'raked' referring to a slope.

Machine-gun fire raked the beach during the invasion.

Des tirs de mitrailleuse ont balayé la plage pendant l'invasion.

Military usage of 'rake' for sweeping fire.

He raked his fingers through his hair in frustration.

Il a passé ses doigts dans ses cheveux par frustration.

Describing a physical gesture using 'rake'.

The investigator raked through the evidence for any small clue.

L'enquêteur a passé les preuves au peigne fin pour trouver le moindre indice.

Intensive search meaning of 'rake through'.

The mast had a slight rake toward the back of the ship.

Le mât avait une légère inclinaison vers l'arrière du navire.

Noun 'rake' meaning technical inclination.

They are raking in millions from their online subscriptions.

Ils engrangent des millions grâce à leurs abonnements en ligne.

Continuous form of 'rake in' for ongoing profit.

The protagonist was a notorious rake who squandered his family fortune.

Le protagoniste était un débauché notoire qui a gaspillé la fortune familiale.

Historical noun 'rake' for a dissolute man.

The wind raked the surface of the lake, creating tiny ripples.

Le vent a balayé la surface du lac, créant de minuscules ondulations.

Poetic/descriptive use of 'rake' for natural forces.

She felt as though his eyes were raking her, searching for a lie.

Elle avait l'impression que ses yeux la scrutaient, cherchant un mensonge.

Metaphorical use for an intense gaze.

The architect insisted on a specific rake for the auditorium seating.

L'architecte a insisté sur une inclinaison spécifique pour les sièges de l'auditorium.

Technical noun 'rake' in architecture.

The gambler was annoyed by the high rake taken by the casino.

Le joueur était agacé par la commission élevée prélevée par le casino.

Specialized noun 'rake' in gambling/poker.

The historical novel depicts the 'Rake's Progress' in vivid detail.

Le roman historique dépeint la 'Carrière d'un libertin' avec des détails frappants.

Reference to the famous series of paintings/prints.

The sun's low angle raked the fields with long, dramatic shadows.

L'angle bas du soleil balayait les champs de longues ombres dramatiques.

Advanced descriptive imagery.

He spent the afternoon raking over the embers of the dying fire.

Il a passé l'après-midi à remuer les braises du feu mourant.

Literal use of 'rake over' with fire.

The vessel's aesthetic was defined by the aggressive rake of its prow.

L'esthétique du vaisseau était définie par l'inclinaison agressive de sa proue.

Highly technical nautical usage.

To rake the entire length of the enemy ship was a decisive naval tactic.

Balayer toute la longueur du navire ennemi était une tactique navale décisive.

Specific historical military tactic (raking fire).

The critic raked the director's latest effort, calling it a 'vapid exercise'.

Le critique a démoli le dernier effort du réalisateur, le qualifiant d'« exercice insipide ».

Metaphorical use for harsh intellectual criticism.

The play's rake was so steep that the actors struggled to maintain balance.

L'inclinaison de la scène était si forte que les acteurs avaient du mal à garder l'équilibre.

Noun 'rake' in a specific theatrical context.

He had a rakish tilt to his hat that suggested a carefree disposition.

Il avait une inclinaison cavalière de son chapeau qui suggérait un tempérament insouciant.

Adjective 'rakish' derived from the noun 'rake'.

The scholarly article rakes through the minutiae of 14th-century tax records.

L'article savant scrute les détails des registres fiscaux du XIVe siècle.

Formal metaphorical use for academic scrutiny.

The engine's timing was adjusted to account for the rake of the cylinders.

Le calage du moteur a été ajusté pour tenir compte de l'inclinaison des cylindres.

Technical mechanical engineering usage.

The poet used the image of a rake to symbolize the relentless passage of time.

Le poète a utilisé l'image d'un râteau pour symboliser le passage implacable du temps.

Symbolic/literary analysis.

常见搭配

rake leaves

rake in money

rake through files

rake over the coals

garden rake

rake the gravel

rake in profits

rake through memories

plastic rake

rake the sand

常用短语

rake in the cash

rake through the ashes

rake the yard

rake something up

rake the soil

rake the fire

rake in the chips

rake across

rake through the past

rake it in

容易混淆的词

rake vs hoe

A hoe is for digging/weeding; a rake is for gathering/smoothing.

rake vs broom

A broom is for sweeping hard surfaces; a rake is for grass/soil.

rake vs shovel

A shovel is for moving large amounts of dirt/snow; a rake is for surface work.

习语与表达

"rake over the coals"

To criticize or scold someone severely for a mistake.

The manager raked him over the coals for the lost shipment.

informal

"rake in the dough"

To earn a massive amount of money.

That tech startup is raking in the dough.

slang

"rake up the past"

To mention unpleasant things that happened in the past.

I don't want to rake up the past, but we need to talk about what happened.

neutral

"thin as a rake"

Very thin or skinny (usually used for a person).

After his illness, he was as thin as a rake.

informal

"rake through the muck"

To look for scandals or negative information about someone.

The journalists were raking through the muck of the politician's life.

informal

"the rake's progress"

A person's decline from wealth and status to ruin due to immoral living.

His life was a classic example of the rake's progress.

literary

"rake the field"

In sports, to dominate the competition completely.

The champion raked the field in the final race.

informal

"rake someone's name through the dirt"

To destroy someone's reputation by telling bad things about them.

They raked his name through the dirt during the election.

informal

"rake it off"

To take a cut or commission, often dishonestly.

He was raking it off the top of every transaction.

slang

"rake the deck"

In naval terms, to fire along the length of a ship's deck.

The cannons raked the deck of the enemy frigate.

technical

容易混淆

rake vs rack

Similar sound.

A rack is a shelf or frame for holding things; a rake is a tool for gathering.

Put the rake on the tool rack.

rake vs rock

Similar sound for some learners.

A rock is a stone; a rake is a tool.

Don't hit that rock with the rake.

rake vs rakehell

Related origin.

Rakehell is the full, archaic version of 'rake' (the person).

He lived the life of a rakehell.

rake vs harrow

Similar agricultural tool.

A harrow is a heavy machine for breaking up soil; a rake is a smaller hand tool.

The tractor pulled the harrow, but I used a rake for the corners.

rake vs scrape

Similar action.

Scraping is more aggressive and removes material; raking gathers it.

I raked the leaves, then scraped the ice off the path.

句型

I have a [noun].

I have a rake.

I am [verb-ing] the [noun].

I am raking the leaves.

[Subject] is raking in [noun].

The company is raking in profits.

[Subject] raked through [noun].

She raked through the papers.

[Subject] raked [Object] over the coals.

The boss raked him over the coals.

The [noun] has a [adjective] rake.

The stage has a steep rake.

He was a notorious [noun].

He was a notorious rake.

The [noun] raked the [noun] with [noun].

The cannons raked the deck with fire.

词族

名词

动词

形容词

如何使用

frequency

High in autumn and business news; low in technical architecture.

常见错误

I'm going to rake the floor. → I'm going to sweep the floor.
Rakes are for gardens and loose materials; brooms are for flat, hard floors.
The company raked millions. → The company raked IN millions.
The phrasal verb 'rake in' requires the preposition 'in' to mean earning money.
He rake the leaves yesterday. → He raked the leaves yesterday.
The past tense of 'rake' is 'raked'.
I raked the files to find the letter. → I raked THROUGH the files to find the letter.
To search, you must use 'rake through'. Without 'through', it sounds like you used a garden tool on the files.
He is thin as a rock. → He is thin as a rake.
The correct idiom for being very skinny is 'thin as a rake'.

小贴士

Choose the right rake

Use a fan-shaped rake for leaves and a straight, heavy rake for soil. Using the wrong one makes the job much harder.

Raking in profits

This is a great phrase for business English. It sounds more dynamic than just saying 'making a lot of money'.

Don't forget the 'in'

When talking about money, always say 'rake in'. 'He is raking money' sounds like he is physically moving cash with a garden tool.

Over the coals

Use 'rake over the coals' when someone is being punished or criticized very harshly for a specific mistake.

Long 'A' sound

Make sure 'rake' rhymes with 'cake'. If you say it with a short 'a', it sounds like 'rack', which is a different word.

Metaphorical searching

Use 'rake through' to describe a search that is messy or involves a lot of physical items, like a trash can or a pile of papers.

Autumn vibes

In the US and UK, 'raking leaves' is the quintessential autumn activity. Use it to set the scene in your writing.

Angle of the rake

If you are studying architecture or ships, remember that 'rake' refers to the angle of slope, not just a tool.

Literary rakes

When reading 18th-century novels, a 'rake' is a character type. He's usually charming but very bad news.

The Comb Analogy

Always think of a rake as a 'ground comb'. This helps you remember both the shape and the action.

记住它

记忆技巧

Think of the 'teeth' of a rake. A rake GATHERS things with its teeth. R-A-K-E: Really Always Keeps Everything (together).

视觉联想

Imagine a giant comb for the grass. Just as you comb your hair to make it neat, you rake the garden to make it neat.

Word Web

garden leaves teeth handle money search slope autumn

挑战

Try to use 'rake' as a noun, a physical verb, and a metaphorical verb in one short paragraph about your weekend.

词源

The word 'rake' comes from the Old English 'raca' (masculine) or 'racu' (feminine). It has roots in Proto-Germanic '*rakō'.

原始含义： The original meaning was a tool with teeth for gathering or smoothing, which has remained remarkably consistent for over a millennium.

Germanic (Old English, related to Dutch 'raak' and German 'Rechen').

文化背景

The term 'rake' for a person is gendered (male) and can imply predatory behavior in a historical context.

Raking leaves is a social activity in some US suburbs, where neighbors work on their lawns at the same time.

A Rake's Progress (Hogarth) The Rake (magazine) The Rake (character in Regency romance)

在生活中练习

真实语境

Gardening

rake the lawn
gather leaves
level the soil
metal rake

Business

rake in profits
rake in the cash
rake in revenue
raking it in

Investigation

rake through files
rake through the evidence
rake through the past
rake through the trash

Theater/Architecture

raked stage
raked seating
angle of the rake
steep rake

Nautical

rake of the mast
raking fire
rake of the bow
stern rake

对话开场白

"Do you enjoy raking leaves in the autumn, or do you find it a boring chore?"

"Have you ever seen a movie that was raking in millions but you thought was terrible?"

"Do you think it's better to rake over the past to learn from it, or just forget it?"

"What kind of rake is best for a very large garden with many trees?"

"In your country, is it common for kids to earn money by raking yards?"

日记主题

Describe the feeling of raking leaves on a crisp autumn day. Focus on the sounds and smells.

Write about a time you had to rake through a lot of information to find one specific thing.

If you were raking in a million dollars a month, how would your life change?

Discuss the pros and cons of 'raking over the coals' in a professional environment.

Write a short story about a historical 'rake' who decides to change his ways.

常见问题

10 个问题

A leaf rake is usually plastic or flexible metal, shaped like a fan, and used for light debris. A garden rake (or bow rake) is heavy metal with rigid teeth, used for moving soil and gravel.

No, that would sound very strange. You should use 'tidy,' 'clean,' or 'sweep' (if using a broom). 'Rake' is only for specific materials like leaves or gravel.

When referring to a person, it's not exactly a slur, but it's not a compliment. It implies someone is immoral or irresponsible. However, it's mostly used in historical contexts now.

It means to earn a lot of money very quickly and easily. It's a common way to describe a successful product or company.

It is pronounced with a 't' sound at the end: /reɪkt/. It rhymes with 'baked' and 'faked'.

It is a theater stage that is higher at the back than at the front, helping the audience see the actors better.

Yes, you can 'rake your fingers through your hair,' which means running your hands through it like a rake.

Yes, in golf, you must rake the sand in a bunker after you hit your ball out of it.

It is the small percentage of the pot that the casino or house takes as a fee for running the game.

It's short for 'rakehell,' suggesting a person so immoral they would rake the fires of hell.