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MUSCOVITE Posted 14 years ago
Vocabulary

glutton

Hi,

Q#1:
1. glutton is a person who is said to eat/drink excessively
2. glutton is also the name of an animal.

Is there any logical connection between (1) and (2)?
Gluttons (animals) are called so because people think of them as being "too greedy for food"?

Q#2: Also, the plural for 'glutton' (2.) is 'glutton' or 'gluttons'?

Hope my questions make sense....

Thank you!

mus-te
  

Top answer

The animal is more formally called a wolverine , a carnivore of the weasel family. It is gluttonous in that it has been known to eat only some of its kill and then render the rest inedible by smearing it with glandular secretions. More likely, it is just marking its territory.

— Mister Micawber

  • The animal is more formally called a wolverine , a carnivore of the weasel family.
  • It is gluttonous in that it has been known to eat only some of its kill and then render the rest inedible by smearing it with glandular secretions.
  • More likely, it is just marking its territory.
  • Yes: one glutton, two gluttons.
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11 Answers
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The animal is more formally called a wolverine, a carnivore of the weasel family. It is gluttonous in that it has been known to eat only some of its kill and then render the rest inedible by smearing it with glandular secretions. More likely, it is just marking its territory.

Yes: one glutton, two gluttons.
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MUSCOVITE2. glutton is also the name of an animal.
I have never heard this in my life. I have heard 'wolverine', however.

CJ
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CalifJimI have never heard this in my life.
It is a very serious issue for me (and I guess many other English learners)
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I''m pretty sure it's the animal meaning of "glutton" that CJ has never heard of, not the meaning of someone who eats greedily. In that sense "glutton" is occasionally used. There's also a phrase "He's a glutton for punishment," which means that someone continues to seek out situations in which he will be hurt or criticized.
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Thanks, knoff!
Btw, if you could explain the difference between
(1) he is a glutton for punishment
and
(2) he is asking for it?
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MUSCOVITEBtw, if you could explain the difference between(1) he is a glutton for punishmentand(2) he is asking for it?
There is no difference in many contexts.
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There's really not much difference, except that you could imagine someone using the "glutton for punishment" phrase about himself.

"John, why do you keep playing tennis against Bob? He's much better than you are, he always wins, he teases you about it and your arm is always sore for two days afterwards."
"Oh, I guess I'm just a glutton for punishment!"
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khoff"John, why do you keep playing tennis against Bob? He's much better than you are, he always wins, he teases you about it and your arm is always sore for two days afterwards.""Oh, I guess I'm just a glutton for punishment!"
Perfect example.
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Sorry, I have no idea what you would call it. Of course, it needs some context -- here the context makes it clear that it means "He's much better than you are at tennis."
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In the US, the word "glutton" is all but unknown as an alternate name for the wolverine. Moreover, the wolverine is not characterized by its supposed gluttony, but rather by its unsurpassed ferocity. So, whatever connection there might have been between the two in the past, there is none today.
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