2018-10-09 loom

Definition

[vi.] If something unpleasant or difficult looms, it seems likely to happen soon.

本义：以庞然大物的形状出现在前面。

延伸：出现在人们心中，既重大又令人惊恐不安；迫在眉睫；一触即发。主语一般是一些具有负向意义的词，比如crisis, problem, threat, danger。

Synonym

appear, emerge

A crisis is looming.

Another financial crisis is looming.

As the company grows, a number of potential problems loom.

loom常和large搭配，表示“问题、忧虑和威胁等挥之不去，萦绕心头”、“心病”。

The Gaokao, China's college entrance exam, looms large in the life of almost every Chinese student.

Practice

1. 人们开始担心人工智能的发展。

The threat of AI looms large in the minds of many people.

As artificial intelligence advances, concerns loom.

2. 场景：一场战争一触即发。

A war is looming.