rats
Pronunciation: [ræts]
Word
Context: "animals"
(noun) a type of small, furry animal that usually has a long tail. Rats are often found in homes and cities, and some people keep them as pets.
Example
The pet store has cute baby rats that people can adopt.
Example
I saw a rat in the alley, and it scared me because they are often dirty.
Example
Have you ever seen a rat in your neighborhood?
Context: "betrayal"
(verb) to betray someone or tell on them, especially in a sneaky way. It's like when someone tells the teacher about something bad you did, which makes you feel bad.
Example
He felt proud that he didn't rat on his friend during the argument.
Example
She didn't want to rat on her classmates, even though they were misbehaving.
Example
Why would someone rat on their friends instead of helping them?
Context: "informal slang"
(noun) a person who is untrustworthy or disloyal. Sometimes people call others 'rats' when they think they are not being good friends.
Example
He stood up for his friends and did not think of them as rats.
Example
After he betrayed the team, everyone thought he was a rat.
Example
Do you think it’s fair to call someone a rat for making a mistake?
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