complain
verb [ I ] uk/kəmˈpleɪn/ us/kəmˈpleɪn/
B1 抱怨;发牢骚;诉苦
to say that something is wrong or not satisfactory
Lots of people have complained about the noise. 许多人抱怨过这噪声。
You're always complaining! 你总是牢骚满腹！
[ + that ] He complained that his boss was useless and he had too much work. 他抱怨说老板无能，而且他干的活太多。
B1 投诉;控告;申诉
to tell someone formally that something is wrong
If the service was so bad why didn't you complain to the manager? 如果服务质量这么差的话，你为什么不向经理投诉呢？
- More examples
- Over three hundred listeners phoned in to complain about the programme.
- Teachers complain that more of their time is taken up with administration than with teaching.
- They were afraid to complain about the noise in case they annoyed the neighbours.
- She was complaining about all the sex and violence on television.
- After her fall she complained that she couldn't bend her leg properly.
Phrasal verb
complain of somethingB1 （病人）主诉，诉说
to tell other people that something is making you feel ill
She's been complaining of a bad back recently. 她近来一直说自己的背疼得厉害。